How to Become Born Again

28 March

Holy SpiritGeneral Conference, ‘Ye Must Be Born Again,’ April 2007; “The Holy Spirit of Promise is the ratifying power of the Holy Ghost. When sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, an ordinance, vow, or covenant is binding on earth and in heaven. (See D&C 132:7.)

Receiving this “stamp of approval” from the Holy Ghost is the result of faithfulness, integrity, and steadfastness in honoring gospel covenants “in [the] process of time” (Moses 7:21).

However, this sealing can be forfeited through unrighteousness and transgression. Purifying and sealing by the Holy Spirit of Promise constitute the culminating steps in the process of being born again.” – David A. Bednar

John 14:16; “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”

2 Corinthians 1:22; “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

Ephesians 4:30; “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Believers become born again and receive the Holy Spirit the very moment they make a confession of Jesus, and ask Him into their heart. This happens without exception and with no strings attached outside a simple confession of faith –John 7:37-39.

The indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit is a permanent one, and His residence inside the believer isn’t predicated upon whether or not we sin. We’re all born with a sin nature (Romans 7:18), but as we grow in Him we’re more inclined to refrain from sin, and turn to Him instead of ourselves.

Our ‘stamp of approval’, as Mr. Bednar put it, is based solely on the promise Jesus gave us in His word. As it says in Ephesians, we are ‘sealed unto the day of redemption’. PTL!

Pray for the Mormon who believes they have to do all these things in order to have God’s presence in their personal life. As a Mormon, I was never taught Jesus could, or even would, reside inside my heart. Think about it – if you’re a Christian, how would you live your life without His HS inside of you? Furthermore, how do you do this without believing the Bible is inspired of God?

One last thing, Jesus said He’d never leave, nor forsake us in Hebrews 13:5. This is exactly the opposite of what Mr. Bednar said here.

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