It aint like you to hit'n'run. You asked me a few questions, on page three, with no explanation of why.
Mind elaborating on where you were going with them, or where you just asking for a position statement?
I wanted to get your views on when you believe that you were born again. I have heard of some who claim to have been born again while still believing WT doctrine (for example the 8,000 JWs who claim to be anointed also claim to be "born again").
I too equate being saved with being born again. I believe that we are born again by faith in Jesus Christ by the gospel (1 Peter 1:23-25).
23: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24: For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
The probem is, is that I think that the WT preaches "another Jesus" (a created angel who is not the LORD) and "another gospel" (that his body was not raised but that he was recreated as a spirit).
2 Corinthians 11
3: But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4: For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Therefore I have difficulty accepting that a person holding such beliefs (ie: a created angel Jesus and a disposed of body) and also denying the biblical Jesus (the LORD, who body was raised), can have truly been born again.
Romans 10
9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11: For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
You have mentionded the thief on the cross:
The thief knew of Jesus' claim to be the Son of God (MT 27:41-44), and everyone believes that the thief had the real Jesus, not "another Jesus." It is also important to keep in mind that these events happened before the death and resurrection of Jesus. After these events the gospel preached incuded these things. The theif certainly did not have "another Jesus" (like the WT does), nor did he have "another gospel" as (the WT does).
And the thief certainly was not preaching another gospel from door to door as (I'm afraid) JWs do !
Galatians 1
8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9: As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Many people from verious beliefs claim to have been "born again." New agers, JW anointed, etc. However we must scripturaly discern being born again.
I believe that you are sincere in your beliefs, however I cannot agree with them. Anyway, If It were me, and if I had since came to a true faith after leaving the WT (I have never been a JW), I would make sure and call upon the resurrected Lord to save me.
