being born again is like being born physically.  Once you're born, you're born.  That's it.  Just like you're physically born, there's no going back.  It's the same with the spiritual.  When you become born AGAIN there's no turning back.  To be born again, means to become one of God's children in the family of God.  We can't undo this.  Just like my children, no matter how bad they get or how much they disappoint me they are still my family.  Nothing changes that. 

That's why Paul wrote this:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus." 

John wrote this about some of those they thought were born again but were not which could be like Lula's example:

"They went out from us, (lost their salvation?) but they did not really belong to us.  For if they had belonged to us they would have remained with us, but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

That's why I keep telling Lula, our perserverance and our works is evidence of our salvation.  We don't become saved by our works but our works prove us.   She's been taught by the RCC that you can lose your salvation (become unborn) and this is impossible just like it's impossible for us to be unborn physically. 

Just like a baby learns to walk, so too does a Christian learn how to walk in the faith.  We all learn to walk differently.  Just like some babies walk at 8 months, others at 10 months and even others at 18 months it's the same with the Christians in their spiritual walk.  Some go very slowly and crawl.  Some skip the crawling stage and go right into pulling themselves up and walking and others seem to learn to run almost as soon as they begin walking. 

For the Christian who is very weak, he needs extra support to be able to walk alone.  When something big like what Lula mentioned comes into his life, he gets knocked down hard and is hesitant to get back up again.  For the stronger Christian who has been walking longer, he knows how this works and gets right back on his feet again even during the roughest rocking of the boat.   I've seen some Christians weather some pretty rocky terrain but they keep at it trusting that God is with them.

Those that don't get  back up and show no interest in doing so, probably were not walkers in the first place. 

I guess I should rephrase the question: How does anyone know how strong their faith has to be beforehand?

I think it's disgusting that there's a banner for Scientology.

Why?

I'm going to assume you're saying this out of utter ignorance, because when it comes down to it - you're not them. I feel that you're applying your warped view of what internal peace really is. I find that sad KFC.

~A

Perhaps, and by your own comment there would be an exception to everything, including that which falls within your beliefs. Right?

Either way KFC, you're doing it for yourself. You may cover it up with the claim that you're doing it in his name, but you are stilling beinf selfish as you're putting your desire to glorify God first. Or, at least up front. 

~A

I don't know for sure that we do know.  That's why God tests our faith from time to time.  He does so to prove us.  It's not for his benefit but for ours.   The strongest and the weakest Christian go thru trials and tribulations.  Not only does this show us how strong or weak we are but it strengthens us for the next trial sure to come. 

We don't know what we're made of until we get tried.  It's like taking a course.  We don't know how much we've retained until we take a test.  The test shows us how much we've taken in. 

huh? 

I'm not sure what you're getting at?  Like what? 

I know the diff before I became a Christian and afterwards.  Before, sure I might do a good deed once in a while but I was much more concerned with myself than others.  Now, I find that I'm much more willing to put myself on the back burner because I absolutely can't do enough for God and his glory.  It's a joy to do for others, not a burden like it was before.  I don't grumble; instead I look for opportunities to serve God. 

Geeze Lucas, why all the one liners? 

Mm, let me think about that. It could've been a random crossed wire after this weekend.

You know this can be true without finding God or a God. Not to boast or anything, but I actively volunteer. I don't do it for me, and I don't grumble. I could be wrong, but it's coming across as if those who do good deads supposibly in the name of God are doing it selflessly. That's not necessarily true; there's the likelyhood that they're doing it because they desire it.Think about it: to be selfish means to be doing something for ones desired goal, or own interests. some do it for the glory of God - that's their desire. Is that not selfish or self serving?

I'm not discounting what you've done, or pointing my finger at you and yelling "selfish," I'm just saying that to imply what I feel you're implying...is silly.

As per the one liners - I'm exhausted after a very, very long weekend, but I forced myself to get up today since I've work and class. I guess I'm just off a bit today.

Well, I for one would not say that.  It is quite possible for Christians to have their priorities wrong.  We're no better than anyone else.

Yes, it is, if said Christian has his own interests in mind rather than God's.

Because Scientology has to be the most B.S. "religion" there is.

How many tests can one person endure? Some people have killed themselves because God tested them too many times.

People kill themselves for all sorts of reasons.  God never gives us more than we can handle.  He says even in our testing he provides a way out.  Look at what Job endured yet, he did not take his own life.   God knew he was strong enough to handle it.   There are many examples for us of people who went thru hard trials both scriptually (look at Joseph in the book of Genesis or Paul-1 Cor 11-12) and in our everyday life yet perservered to see a brighter day.  The darkness always comes before the dawn.    

Most who take their lives do not even have a relationship with God.  They've tried everything else, drugs, alchohol, relationships, etc to curb the pain and don't give God a chance.  We should turn to God as our first response, not our last hope. 

I tell people to make sure they make those deposits (spiritually speaking)  so when it comes down to those trying days they will have something to withdraw from.  The problem is most don't bother making those deposits and when it gets bad, they have nothing to withdraw.  

Infidel (why did you pick that name?)  I just received this devo on my email today and thought it was very timely and helps answer your question:

A man had a grandfather clock. One day he felt sorry for the grandfather clock because it had a weight on it, and that weight was always pulling on the clock. The man said, “Oh, Mr. Clock, you’ve held this weight so long; I’m going to remove it and let you rest.” The clock protested, saying, “Don’t take that weight from me. That’s what keeps me going.” In the same way, the trials and tests of life are there for your endurance. They’re to keep you going, keep you trusting, keep you praying, and keep you depending upon God.