Featured Regeneration

Regeneration is man being brought back into spiritual union with God through Christ as a creative act of God. Spiritual separation from God is separation from the life, light and holiness of God. Regeneration/quickening/new birth are all terms that describe spiritual reunion with God or reunion with life, light and holiness of God.

This is a perfect tense completed action that is not progressive or linear (Eph. 2:5; 8). As a creative act of God it comes into existence by God speaking it into existence, just as he spoke light into existence in Genesis 1:3 according to Paul in 2 Cor. 4:6 (James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23,25). When God does not empower the gospel as His creative word, the gospel comes in word only. When God does empower the gospel it comes "in power, and in the Spirit".a new inward man is created in the image of God (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10)

The new birth transfers us into the kingdom, meaning THE RULE of God, as the new birth IS the SPIRITUAL REUNION with God, the life of God, the light of God and the holiness of God. This life, light and holiness IS the moral image of God restored in man. By new birth His RULE in man is sustained by spiritual union. His rule THROUGH man as expressed in words and deeds is progressive as the the moral image of God is PUT ON in the mind, affections and will manifested in words and deeds. This is how we redeem the time (Eph. 5:16). This is what is meant by being "filled with the Spirit."

When the intellect, affections and will are not under the control of the moral image of God or the new creation within the redeemed man, then the expression of the intellect, affections and will in words and deeds is SEPARATED from God and that portion of the redeemed manifest life is lost forever. When the intellect, will and affections are under the control of the inward created man by the power of the Spirit then that portion of the manifest life is redeemed (Eph. 5:16) or saved in the form of rewards on judgment day. Judgment day for the redeemed is not about determining destinations as they already possess a glorified body BEFORE they stand before Christ. It is about judging rewarding the believer according to his works in the new world to come.

In direct contrast, spiritual death is separation from the life, light and holiness of God. Therefore, the unregenerate man is without the life of God, without the light of God and without the holiness of God precisely as Paul expresses in Ephesians 4:18-19. Therefore God does not dwell IN the unregenerate and therefore God does not rule THROUGH the unregenerate and therefore the mind, affections and will of the unregenerate is expressed in words and deeds that are SEPARATED FROM GOD, and therefore evil regardless of how "good" they may appear to men, simply because they do not have their source, motive, or power with God.

 

Let me put this into a broader perspective of God's kingdom on earth. God determined that Adam would rule over the works of His hands. However, that rule would be the manifest rule of God IN and THROUGH Adam. God was IN Adam by means of spiritual union. Adam was created in spiritual union with the life, light and holiness of God, and it is this threefold characterization that the MORAL image of God in man consisted and it is through spiritual union with God it was sustained as a MUTABLE and CONDITIONAL state. The continuation of that spiritual union was conditioned upon Adam's obedience to the revealed will of God. Moreover, "in Adam" consisted the whole of humanity as one undivided human nature that existed and acted as one man (Rom. 5:12-19). His Adam's success or failure in meeting the conditional test was the success and failure of all who were created "in Adam."

This MORAL IMAGE of God (God's life, light, holiness) sustained by spiritual union IN ADAM was the means for God ruling THROUGH Adam. As long as Adam's mind, affections and will chose to express that MORAL IMAGE in thoughts, words and deeds, the rule of God became manifest in the daily life of Adam.

The moment that sin was volitionally conceived in Adam, the spiritual union of God was dissolved between Adam and God, he spiritually was SEPARATED from the LIFE, and the LIGHT and the HOLINESS of God as the IMMUTABLE human condition thereby removing the RULE of God IN and THROUGH man. It was replaced by the RULE of Satan IN and THROUGH man which is a rule without life, light or holiness.

This SPIRITUAL SEPARATION from life, light and holiness produced in the physical man the principle of indwelling "corruption" which progressively resulted in SEPARATION of the material from the immaterial aspects of his human nature resulting in biological death.

Also the SPIRITUAL SEPARATION fro life, light and holiness abolished the RULE of God THROUGH man's intellect, affections and will removing God as the source and thus removing any motive to glorify God by anything expressed THROUGH man in words or deeds. Thus his manifest life ceased to glorify God regardless of how "good" it may appear unto men or how "good" it may be judged in comparison with the works of other men. Therefore, the manifest life of unregenerate man is separated from God and regarded as "evil" works.

The restoration of the RULE of God in man must originate with SPIRITUAL UNION or the creation of the MORAL image of God in man and that is what is called the new birth/regeneration/quickening as it imparts the moral IMAGE of God (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). To be "created in Christ" is to be brought into SPIRITUAL UNION with God through the Second Adam.

Christ as the Second Adam, obeyed the revealed will of God and thereby secured the IMMUTABLE and UNCONDITIONAL status of Spiritual union with God for all who are "created in Christ" by new birth. Spiritual union sustains the moral image of God within the spirit of man, which is regarded as the "new inward man." As the mind, affections and will of the regenerated man PUTS ON the moral image of God in thoughts, words and actions, God's rule THROUGH man is proportionately manifested. Hence, regeneration establishes God rule IN man which is a perfect tense completed action, which in turn is progressively made manifest THROUGH man as it is worked out in the thoughts, words and actions of man by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Every day, you either lose your daily life or redeem it according as you live "after the Spirit" or "after the flesh." All who are "born of the flesh" are "in the flesh" just as all who are "born of the Spirit" are "in the Spirit." However, the redeemed man still has two LAWS existing in him. The Law of Sin works in connection with the yet unredeemed body and its natural cravings against the soul of man. The Law of the Life of the Spirit also works in connection with the new inward man and so the redeemed man can walk after either the flesh or the Spirit. Spiritual growth is defined by the measure of one's life brought under the control of the Spirit.

Hence, what was lost "in Adam" is restored "in Christ" The rule of God in and through Adam lost in Eden is restored in Christ in the new heaven and earth.

 

So I think you are saying then is, in the new heaven and new earth man will be restored to a position equal unto the created Adam of Gen 1:26 who BTW I think at that time was made a little lower than the angels. Not even equal unto the angels who can not die.

For some reason I have always thought that in the new heavens and new earth we would be greater than the angels.

Just what was Christ the firstfruits thereof? Was Jesus the firstfruit in the concept of Romans 6:9 And Acts 13:34? Joint heirs with Christ Romans 8 who is the heir of God Heb, 1:2. Is that not greater than being restored to Adam of Gen 1:26 made a little lower than the angels?

 

Surely the whole point of the Sprit's use of anothen is its double meaning?

1 Peter 1:3. 'Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who .......has begotten us again.....'
2 Cor. 5:17. 'If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation......'

The fact that this birth is 'new' is just as important as that it is 'from above.' It is likely that the conversation between our Lord and Nicodemus took place in Aramaic, but the Holy Sprit chose anothen to render whatever Aramaic word the Lord Jesus used precisely because of its double meaning.

 

No, not equal. The new creation and what we have "in Christ" is far superior to what we had "in Adam" and in the original paradise in Genesis 1-2. My point was what was lost in Adam is regained in Christ, but not that it will be equal to what we lost in Adam.

The "firstfruit" is a reference to the early harvest of a crop, the actual first fruits produced. Christ's resurrected glorified body was the actual first human body raised from the dead that was glorified, ready to enter heaven and did enter heaven. None resurrected prior to him were resurrected in a glorified body.

 

Amen, But only the children of the heavenly Zion can take part in that grandest of privileges.

 

the Spirit where he willeth doth blow, and his voice thou dost hear, but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit. Jn 3:8 YLT

Was this a 'new' thing that Christ was implementing? Something that only applies to the 'new' covenant? OT saints had no need of the 'heart change'?

It was a mystery revealed; it had always been the case. Nothing 'new' here.

 

I know this is probably outside your box and a foreign concept to you (most likely due to the influence of 'born anew' translations), but if one is born from above while in the womb it can hardly be considered 'born anew', now can it.

 

15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother`s womb. Lu 1

Hard for me to think of that as being a dead alien sinner bound for hell. He leapt for joy in the womb at the presence of Christ!

 

OK. So 1 Peter 1:3 and 2 Corinthians 5:17 have got it wrong then?

 

????? Of course not. You're reading the individual's birth from above into these passages when that's not the topic or intent.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Pet 3

14 Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,
18 Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old Acts 15

18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Mt 16

1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith Jehovah.
2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.
3 For thou shalt spread aboard on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall possess the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth; and the reproach of thy widowhood shalt thou remember no more.
5 For thy Maker is thy husband; Jehovah of hosts is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall he be called. Isa 54


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17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. 2 Cor 5

14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,
15 having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; Eph 2

15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
16 And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. Gal 6

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. Jn 10

 

OK, so:

the Spirit where he willeth doth blow, and his voice thou dost hear, but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit. Jn 3:8 YLT

Was this a 'new' thing that Christ was implementing? Something that only applies to the 'new' covenant? OT saints had no need of the 'heart change'?

It was a mystery revealed; it had always been the case. Nothing 'new' here.

 

I have not said that the doctrine was new or that it belonged only to the new covenant, I have said that the birth was new. 'That which is born of the flesh is flesh.' It will always be flesh and can't be anything else but flesh. We need a new birth, a spiritual one. Yes, one that comes from above. Sleep

 

If the truth be known and you were humble enough to accept it, your bias from translations rendering 'born anew' in Jn 3 led you there. You should let 'born from above' lead you to Gal 4:26. It will open up a whole new vista for you. (oh, I don't expect that you would actually do that, but I'm duty bound to point you in that direction)

 

Note the last four words, "according to the Scriptures":

27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
32 And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures? Lu 24

Now make the connection between the heart burn referred to above and the good news of the gospel.

Evangelicals have mimimized the gospel to an equation/formula/incantation whereby one may acquire immortality if they follow the instructions. They've made it a tool for the Church to make sheep/populate heaven with. The gospel is sheep food, not an instrument to make sheep.

 

Too many persons deny the transforming power of the Gospel which is clearly evidence of conversion, 2 Corinthians 3:18ff. 'There need be no evidence of salvation!' is generally the statement used to defend this unbiblical position.

There is no need to ramble on about when conversion takes place as much as to whether or not it did take place IMO.

The evidence of salvation (many hate that as well and mock evidence, examination, conflate evidence with works) is not in the joy of receiving the Gospel and clinging to that experience of reception (Matthew 13) but is rather seen in whether or not there is fruit stemming from this, which is none other than sanctification. If there is no sanctifying process taking place there is and never was genuine conversion; Hebrews 12:14, Romans 6:20-23 (particularly verse 22).

Now brother jonc please don't take my statements as anything against your good OP, I am simply attempting to make another point.

 

The Biblicist,

yes...psalm8;
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

yes...

the deeds of the body must be mortified

yes....prov21
4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

also; Heb:2
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

yes

We have already put on, and put off the old man. What remains is growth in grace and obedience....or sinful failings and repentance. We are no longer bound by sin. While still in this body we are very capable of sinning but we are no longer bound under it's evil reign.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Paul is not speaking of sinless perfection.....Yet he says being made free from sin

We are to be about Kingdom activity.

No...not possible...I do not" lose my life"
...............................I do not "redeem my life"

I have died with Christ and now live with Him.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Yes...there are only two conditions....In Adam or In Christ

yes...

I do not want to quibble with words.....there is flesh/ spirit to be dealt with.

No....we are not free to sin. We are able to sin but we are commanded to mortify sin.
Sin is to be replaced by obeying all lawful commands. We are now law keepers as love is a fulfilling of the law.

B....your other statement was much stronger in my opinion;
you said;

In this I understand and find more agreement....

I believe in a positive obedience as expressed here, if being brought under control equals obeying....

 

I did not read this thread, already on page 3, but I see in the Op the definition of "regeneration" is in dispute.

Regeneration simply means "originated again." Thus a one time event. Same action is termed "born anew" and "made alive." OTOH, the second facet of salvation is called progressive sanctification and is an on going process.

Rebirth occurs when God transfers a person spiritually into Christ. Not in Christ = unregenerate; in Christ = regenerated. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us we become new creations in Christ.

Someone mentioned justification. This occurs when God transfers a person into Christ. They undergo the circumcision of Christ and arise in Christ a new creation. Their sin burden removed, forgiven, and justified. God puts us into Christ based on crediting our faith as righteousness, therefore we are justified based on faith.

In Christ = born anew, justified, made holy, made perfect, made righteous, created for good works. Not in Christ = in Adam, in darkness, lost, dead in sin, unregenerate.

Only after a person is placed in Christ, are they made firm in Christ (regenerated made alive together with Christ) and then sealed in Christ forever by the Holy Spirit as a pledge to our resurrection in glorified bodies.