REGENERATION

REGENERATION

Regeneration is taught in the scriptures, being one in the same with the "new creation," "new birth," "being born again" and "resurrection." It has to do with the imparting of life to the elect individual, chosen in Christ before the world began, {Ephesians 1:4} secured in Christ by the merit of God the Father’s sovereign choice, lost and corrupted in Adam, sinners by nature and practice, dead in trespasses and sin, {Ephesians 2:1} void of good, aliens from God {Ephesians 4:18} in mind, heart, soul, spirit, and body, unable to know God or be taught of Him, not subject to His law or can be, {Romans 8:7} can not receive of the things of the Spirit of God, {1 Corinthians 2:14} yet beloved of God in Christ, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, {Romans 8:17} covenant children (although not pre-existing) in the purpose and pleasure of God, asked for by the Son, kept in Christ and preserved, {Jude 1:1} atoned, redeemed, justified, sanctified, saved, delivered, purchased possessions of God by the legal, literal, spiritual, effectual work of Christ Jesus at Calvary, on the cross, in the dark before God alone, as sacrifice, substitute, Saviour, High Priest, Lamb, Lion, seed of the woman, Son of God, Son of Man, through His blood, in His body, being made sin for them {2 Corinthians 5:21} (the elect) and obtaining victory, pardon, eternal life, forgiveness of sin, fellowship, communion, freedom, acceptance and citizenship by His blood out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people in all ages of time from Adam to the end. {Revelation 5:9} This work of the Son is made vital, real, personal, experiential, effectual, lasting, complete, by the Holy Ghost, Spirit by the sovereign power of the voice of God as He speaks to the dead in Adam, {John 5:25} chosen of God, purchased by Christ and says to them "LIVE!" They are not made willing to respond nor can they respond on their own, but by the power of God, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, these are born again, created anew, resurrected from the death inherited from Adam to a new life in Christ Jesus their Lord. No means is used to bring this to pass, nor is this a process that is begun in them and is completed in time or eternity. God does not procreate His children by taking of the old man, flesh, carnal nature and starting in them a process to be worked out by them by the gospel or obedience. It is a complete, perfect work by God alone in the inner, new man. The body of sin is not changed, but is purchased and adopted and awaits the time of change to that perfect image of Christ at the resurrection or His coming. The old nature remains in that body with the several lusts thereof. The abilities of the old man, outer man, the flesh, the carnal man are still intact and working. Yet, within them is new life in the inner man. A new nature exists with heart, mind, character, ability, attributes, spirit and soul of it’s Father and that is God. It is born of God and can not sin because His seed remains in him. {1 John 3:9} Both of these beings are wrapped up in the same body of flesh and struggle for dominion of the earth, body, flesh. Thus the war rages! It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. {John 6:63} This union will continue as long as this life, existence lasts in this world. But, at death here that inner man returns to God and the old man is swallowed up, the body awaits the resurrection when it too will be changed for eternity. If still here when the Lord returns, it will be changed in a moment, a twinkling of the eye. {1 Corinthians 15:52} It shall be raised incorruptible {1 Corinthians 15:52} and reunited with the soul and spirit of the elect child to dwell eternally with God in glory. {1 Thessalonians 4:17} Until that day that person is bound to this earth by a body of death, yet longs for and can have fellowship with God and Saviour through the Spirit that dwells with them here. Their prayers are heard and interpreted by the Holy Ghost and nothing in this world or the one to come can separate them from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord. {Romans 8:39} No trial is too great, no test too hard, and the joy of that soul is to serve God out of love not law. They love God’s word and seek His presence and the fellowship of kindred souls in this world. They are children of light and find light {2 Timothy 1:10} of and for their lives in the word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ. By the gospel and their acceptance of it and it’s principles they find freedom, liberty, salvation, and abundant life in following the Great Shepherd of the sheep into the rich pastures of this life. By their lives they give testimony and witness to Him who is their life and evidence to who they are, not to make them who they are or more of who they are. They find strength, meat and drink, in this life, His life, as they have been reconciled, they are reconciled by the ministry and word of reconciliation. If blessed to find the assembly of fellow saints, they can be a world changing force. Their privilege is to be mother to thousands of millions as they reach our and fill the world with the message of their God and Husband. Their influence can be seen through the body and in the world. Though sin will bring the body down at last, they are more than conquerors through Christ. {Romans 8:37} They can do all things through Him. {Php 4:13} They may not always be found in right paths in the flesh, but the soul is never lost. {John 10:28} Misunderstood and rejected as their Lord in this world, yet loved and preserved of God, zealous of good works, yet plagued by sin in the old man. Poor and afflicted in this world, yet rich in God. Free of law, but never without law to Christ, {1 Corinthians 9:21} who is their life {Colossians 3:4} and all in all. For by Him, through Him, and to Him are all things. {Romans 11:36} For in Him they move and have their being. {Acts 17:28}