Continuing with 1Corinthians 15:22-23 where we find this as a pre-qualifier; "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ." We are actively learning what is meant by being One in Christ and Christ's being actively within us as promised eons ago by GOD in Genesis 3:15. Today's subject is "Regeneration" revealed by teachings on this very point and then I may look at a few conditions to our receiving Eternal Life.
Regeneration, the teaching concerning this,
Birth of an awaken spirit often called a "New Spirit,"
Ezekiel 36:21, 22-32 "For I had concern for My Holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: 'It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of My Holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. I will vindicate the Holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the LORD GOD, when through you I vindicate My Holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey My rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be My people, and I will be your GOD. And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations. It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.'"
Of Divine Origin,
John 1:9-13 "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. (Deuteronomy 18:15-22 [18-20]) But to all who did [do] receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave [gives] the right to become children of GOD, those who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
Essential to Spiritual Vision,
John 3:1-11 and 2Corinthians 3:3 "Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from GOD, for no one can do these signs that You do unless GOD is with Him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of GOD." To this Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of GOD. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak of what We know, and bear witness to what We have seen, but you do not receive Our testimony."
2Corinthians 2:14-3:3 "But thanks be to GOD, Who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by GOD, in the sight of GOD we speak Christ. Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letters of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living GOD, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." (Ezekiel 32:22-32 [26])
A New Creature,
2Corinthians 5:16-19 "From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according [by what HE is in our flesh] to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer (separated from us). Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, (has the Spirit Christ in him) he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (Isaiah 43:14-21 [18-19a]) All this is GOD, Who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ GOD was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their (our) trespasses against them (us), and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
Necessary for Salvation,
Titus 3:1-11 with James 1:18, and 1Peter 1:3 "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, HE saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Whom HE (continues to give us as being) poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His Grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed GOD may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."
James 1:12-18 "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and HE Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of His own will HE brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures."
1Peter 1:3-9 "Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, HE has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us, who by GOD's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this we rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, we have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of our faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of our faith, the salvation of your souls."
By the Word of GOD,
1Peter 1:22-2:3 with 1John 2:29, 3:9, 4:7 "Having purified your souls by our obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of GOD; for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the LORD remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the LORD is good."
1John 2:25, 26-29, 3:9, 4:7 "And this is the promise that HE made to us—Eternal Life.
I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing (Christ) that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it [HE] has taught you, abide in Him. And now, as little children, abide in Him, so that when HE appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that HE is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him."
1John 3:4-10 "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that HE appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as HE is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of GOD appeared to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of GOD makes a practice of sinning, for GOD's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of GOD, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."
1John 4:7-14 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of GOD and know GOD. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because GOD is Love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that HE loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if GOD so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen GOD; if we love one another, GOD abides in us and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and HE in us, because HE has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world."
Obtained by Faith,
1John 5:1-3, 4 "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of GOD, and everyone who loves the Father, loves whoever has been born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of GOD, when we love GOD and obey His commandments. For this is the love of GOD, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
For everyone who has been born of GOD overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."
Think back over no better yet look back at my intro to section 13a where I revealed the meaning of "faith and the Amen."
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