The best question…

[Darrell C]

Matthew 7:21, . . . but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

1 John 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: . . .

Matthew 7

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I would view this as evidentiary, rather than conditional. The point is that believers do His will.

The same is true of 1 John 5:1.


1 John 5

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?


Those who are born again overcome the world, as opposed to born again because they overcome the world. The means of overcoming is faith, and faith cometh by the hearing of the Word.

Belief in Christ is an impossibility for the natural man, and requires the enlightening ministry of the Comforter, thus we attribute the process of salvation wholly to God. Apart from His intervention there is no salvation. One must first be told of the Son of God before belief is possible. When God enlightens the heart there is no controversy—the unbeliever cannot argue with God. An example might be like this: we don't have to have someone tell us it is daytime when we stand out under the sun. It is truth that goes without saying. The unbeliever knows they are a sinner, they know Christ is righteous and they are not, they know they are headed for eternal judgment, and participates in this way: they do not reject that truth.


God bless.

 

[kyredneck]

Of his own will

That's what I'm saying. It's God's will, not man's. Are trying to make it appear I'm saying otherwise?

I'm curious as to why you removed the verse. Definitely relevant to regeneration being God's will.

I didn't 'remove' a verse.

 

[Darrell C]

We were discussing John 3. Where is regeneration mentioned in Jn 3?

Okay, put me on ignore.

Do it now.




God bless.

 

[kyredneck]

I view regeneration as the result of God's ministry in the lives of natural men.

We were discussing John 3. Where is regeneration mentioned in Jn 3?

 

[Darrell C]

That's what I'm saying. It's God's will, not man's. Are trying to make it appear I'm saying otherwise?



I didn't 'remove' a verse.

If you look at your post then at Post #135 you will see a verse in my quote. You didn't remove it? Strange.


God bless.

 

[Darrell C]

We were discussing John 3. Where is regeneration mentioned in Jn 3?

You do not consider being born from above as regeneration? This should be interesting.

John 1 and John 3 both refer to regeneration, the New Birth. Both mean the same thing: to be born of God (as opposed to being born physically).


God bless.

 

[kyredneck]

Okay, put me on ignore.

Do it now.

Regeneration is mentioned only twice in the scripture, and Jn 3 is not one of them.

 

[Darrell C]

That's what I'm saying. It's God's will, not man's. Are trying to make it appear I'm saying otherwise?

It should be pretty clear that I have not imposed anything into your statements. The reverse is not true and pointed out directly. Again, you charged me with saying or implying commandments were necessary because I included v.15. Does the record not show that?


God bless.

 

[37818]

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1 John 3:23, And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

 

[Darrell C]

Regeneration is mentioned only twice in the scripture, and Jn 3 is not one of them.

I've already shown you you one passage, Colossians 1:25-27. The indwelling of Christ is regeneration. That is why we have new life, because we have the life of Christ. Something we have not had before. I take that back, I think I presented James 1:18 as well: being born of God is regeneration.

The fact that the word regeneration isn't mentioned doesn't negate the fact that regeneration is in view.

Here's another one:


1 Peter 1:3-5
King James Version

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


And another:

1 Peter 1

21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.


The New Birth is Regeneration, and is accomplished through the eternal indwelling of God through which we receive eternal life, because we are placed in Him and receive His Life.


God bless.

 

[Darrell C]

1 John 3:23, And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

John 1:7
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.


1 Peter 1:20-21
King James Version

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Let us never forget ...


Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.


God is sovereign in salvation. But for Him, we would not believe. We would not repent. We would not have faith.

We would not be saved.


God bless.

 

[kyredneck]

If you look at your post then at Post #135 you will see a verse in my quote. You didn't remove it? Strange.

??? If you think I'm a moderator you're wrong.

 

[kyredneck]

You do not consider being born from above as regeneration?

No. It's the first and foremost requirement to 'enter into' the regeneration, i.e., the Kingdomm of God.

 

[Darrell C]

John 1:7
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

I wanted to add to this a little:


Romans 10

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Seems conditional, right? That men must call on the name of the Lord in order to be saved.

Read on:

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.


The condition isn't there: it is God that makes believing possible.

A primary distinction today is that the revelation we (Man) are receiving wasn't revealed in the Old Testament to men, namely, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Do you have faith? Thank God for that faith.

Do you believe? Thank God that you do.

Our perspectives of Scripture must relate to that which is actually taught. Placing conditions on men in order to be saved is not a Biblical teaching. While men do repent, believe, and have faith, those elements of our salvation were results of the work of God in our hearts.


God bless.

 

[Darrell C]

??? If you think I'm a moderator you're wrong.

It was your post it was removed from, lol. I'll repost it so you can see it.


God bless.

 

[kyredneck]

I've already shown you you one passage, Colossians 1:25-27. The indwelling of Christ is regeneration.

Agree that the regenerate are indwelt but indwelt is not the same as born of the Spirit.

 

[Darrell C]

No. It's the first and foremost requirement to 'enter into' the regeneration, i.e., the Kingdomm of God.

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but regeneration is generally accepted as being decribed as the new birth, being born of God, being born from above, etc.

Not sure how you can think being regenerate is the first and foremost "requirement" to entering into regeneration.


God bless.

 

[Darrell C]

Agree that the regenerate are indwelt but indwelt is not the same as born of the Spirit.

It's part of the same process.

Being baptized into Christ, and, despite the teaching of our charismatic brethren, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit also speak of regeneration.

Ephesians 4:4-6
King James Version

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.


This Baptism is not a "subsequent blessing," for God has often empowered men throughout all economies. But, it is not until Pentecost that He begins reconciling men to Himself and bringing them into eternal union.

And the "how?"

The Lifting up of Christ.




God bless.

 

[Darrell C]

The creature doesn't choose to be born, neither physically nor spiritually.

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Jn 1

Okay, maybe I'm seeing things, lol.

I could swear I didn't see v.13 after I quoted it, but seeing it now.

My mistake.


God bless.

 

[kyredneck]

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but regeneration is generally accepted as being decribed as the new birth, being born of God, being born from above, etc.

And that's 'generally' wrong.

'Regeneration' is corporate. Christianity, the New Covenant, IS 'the regeneration' [Matthew 19:28], the kingdom of God/heaven/Christ [2 Peter 1:11], the 'building again' of the house of David [Acts of the Apostles 15:14-18], the Church that Christ built [Matthew 16:18].

To be able to discern 'the regeneration' one must first be 'born from above' [Galatians 4:26]:

3 Jesus answered and said to him, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;` Jn 3 YLT

...and to actually enter in to 'the regeneration' (and become regenerate) one must not only be born from above but washed with the water of the word (read gospel) [Ephesians 5:25-26]:

5 Jesus answered, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born of water, and the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the reign of God; Jn 3 YLT

I've mulled over and waffled over the years what 'born of water' means and have basically settled that it jibes with:

24 For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
29 And I will save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the grain, and will multiply it, and lay no famine upon you. Ezekiel 36

5 not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3

IOW, I believe in order to be 'regenerated', to enter into the regeneration, one must first and foremost be 'born from above', and then save themselves from their former vain manner of life through obedience to the gospel and faith in Jesus Christ.