The 3rd type of Christ, as The Son of Man to supply the need of His people, in our Earthly
Pilgrimage, foreshadowed the provision of The Priesthood-
Numbers 29;7-11-[Turn].
The Wilderness was the place, where the true character of the flesh, came into full view.
Israel was at the end of her Wilderness Journey, but, her flesh WAS UNCHANGED.
that which is born of the flesh, is flesh.
Now The 2nd Generation, committing the same sins, as they first did, 40 years before, just as soon as they left Egypt, by The Power of God, through The Red Sea, PROVES WE LEARN LITTLE
FROM HISTORY. [Hegel]
The 2nd Test of No Water, was to bring out THE PROVISION AND VALUE OF CHRIST'S
PRIESTHOOD, typified by Aaron.
There was no need to smite The Rock, one had to ONLY SPEAK TO IT--
These types were fulfilled in Christ in John 10 and 17.
In Hebrews 7, 10, The Priesthood is viewed in its perfect form--Melchisadek--Eternal Security
[The Holy Spirit]-9 sacrifices we offer daily.
FOURTH-THE BRASS SERPENT SYMBOLIZED THE PROVISION FOR REVEALING THE NATURE OF SIN IN GOD'S PEOPLE, AND ITS REMEDY.
In John 3;14-15, Christ was not telling Nicodemus, What he had to do, to be born from Above.
Neither did He quote a OT Passage that told A Redeemed People, how they could be born from Above.
The interpretation usually given, is that Christ likened Nicodemus to the dying Israelite, whose look of faith on The Brass Serpent, brought health and life.
Conversely, John 3;14-15 DOES NOT TELL What a passive sinner must do, to be born from
Above.
Conversion and Regeneration do not come in the same manner.
Regeneration is the act of The Holy Spirit on the passive sinner, by which He imparts The Principle of Life.
Whereas Conversion is the act of The Regenerated Sinner, by the power of The Indwelling Spirit of Life, to embrace Jesus Christ as Lord, through The Gospel Message.
This is the first conversion experience, and many will follow in The Christian Life.
Adam's Descendants have been infected with The Serpent's venom, so as to be called, A
Generation of Vipers [Matthew 23;33].
Original Sin DOES NOT LOSE Its fermentation, in The Redeemed.
By trials alone, the saints learn experientially, that the nature of sin NEVER CHANGES FOR THE BETTER, and that Sin, which brought The Death Sentence on all men, is alive in all men, even in The Elect, who have been delivered from Its Penalty.
Sin is not abolished in those who have been born from Above, but, It has been condemned.
Christians know the sin principle in them has been condemned;
they also know they have the last word, in the dialogue with Death-2 Timothy 1;10-[Turn].. .
The Brass Serpent foreshadowed Jesus Christ, as He was lifted up, on The Cross.
As The Serpent was a reminder of the curse, so the cross, on which Christ suffered reminds The
Elect, that He became a curse for us-[Galatians 3;13].
God condemned Sin, on The Crucified One, at The Cross.
Sin's heinous nature came by man, and deliverance from its guilt and its consequences, MUST ALSO COME BY THE MAN, WHO IS MORE THAN MAN, JESUS CHRIST, The God-Man.
The Kinsman Redeemer is the nearest relative, any person can have.
The Serpent symbolized the curse, caused by sin, and The Brass typified God's Judgment,
falling on The One, made a Sin Offering.
Deliverance was experienced by The Israelites' looking at The Brass Serpent, lifted upon a pole [Numbers 21], and Deliverance is experienced by Regenerated Sinners, looking at the objective Saviour, lifted up on the cross.
Numbers 21 clearly reveals that, at this point, in Israel's History, the people were characterized by overcoming their enemies.
Their enemies represent the fleshly principles, which are opposed to that, which is spiritual, in God's people.
GOD NEVER PURPOSED to bring His people into what His Love desires, until we have learned the fight we must wage, to gain the spiritual height, that pleases Him.
Spiritual life is in The Risen Saviour;
therefore, it is outside of the life, in the flesh, because, believers live in The Sphere of The
Resurrection, since we've been raised by God's Grace [Colossians 3;1].
The bite of the serpent is the Divine Conviction of what the flesh truly is, in the source of its being.
God's design is to bring His people, to judge the root of our problem, the principle of sin, that remains in us, AFTER OUR REGENERATION, AND CONVERSION.
[We will continue on the brass serpent, in our next post].
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
THE OBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE--PART 4
The 2nd type of Christ as The Son of Man, to supply His People's need in our earthly pilgrimage was The Red Heifer Offering, typifying Christ as The Provision for our daily sins of the flesh--
Numbers 19;1-10-[TURN].
This Offering IS NOT MENTIONED, among the offerings, when The Tent of Meeting was first instituted.
Since The Wilderness was the place, where the true character of the flesh showed itself, The
Offering was God's Provision for The Wilderness.
Israel's Flesh desired human guidance;
it murmured, lusted, preferred Egypt's food, and rebelled against God's Authority.
BELIEVERS CANNOT SAY, that we have never come into moral contact, with what Paul calls,
''The body of this death'' [Romans 7;24].
Now the things of the flesh, demonstrated by Israel, show up in our lives as Christians.
As God provided The Red Heifer Offering for Israel's sins of the flesh, so He has made provision, in Christ's Offering, for the sins of the flesh in Christians.
Now, I want to say. very clearly that-When believers let fleshly motives and desires work in our lives, we have touched that wh1ch is dead.
Death is The Seal of God's Curse.
Nothing can affect Our Standing in Christ.
But, Our Day by Day condition [state] can be affected, by our sinning, so that, we lose our Daily Fellowship with God.
Our Position [Standing] is stationary, but our condition [state] fluctuates.
Since The Levitical System could not accomplish permanent purification, all Its Offerings were needed to fully describe, The One Perfect Offering, once for all.
In the one person of Christ is found the essential truth, that He fully revealed God, and fully redeemed The Elect of God.
As The Elect's Substitute, the judicial claim against us, has been removed by the satisfaction of God's Justice, in The Person of The Father's Eternal Son--
Hebrews 9;12-14-[Turn],
Hebrews 10;10-14-[Turn].
The Red Heifer Offering was different from the other Sacrifices, in that, when once offered, It did not need, to be repeated.
It was for A Redeemed People.
Its virtue remained, because the ashes were the memorial of an accepted sacrifice-
Numbers 19;9, 10, 17, 21-[Turn].
A female was used, because God's Redeemed are referred to, in the feminine order--
Nation of Israel-Wife of Jehovah in the OT-
The Church-The Bride of Christ, in the NT.
The Ashes represent The Power of a completed sacrifice.
The Running Water[Living Water, not Blood] represents The Spirit of Christ cleansing the unclean Christian-[Spirit uses Word, to reveal sin to Christian].
Both the unclean and clean persons, The one who had been contaminated by the dead, and the clean person, who sprinkled the water on the unclean, shall cleanse themselves.
The closer to Christ, believers get, the more we are afflicted with a sense of our uncleanness-
[The closer we get to Jesus, the further away from sin;
the more we love Christ, more hate our sins].
Now get this truth; THE NEW NATURE CANNOT RISE TO NEW HEIGHTS, WITHOUT THE CHRISTIAN MORTIFYING THE DEEDS OF THE OLD SIN NATURE.
PURIFYING IS NOT OPTIONAL;
IT'S FOR ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE-
2 Corinthians 7;1--''Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.''
Numbers 19;1-10-[TURN].
This Offering IS NOT MENTIONED, among the offerings, when The Tent of Meeting was first instituted.
Since The Wilderness was the place, where the true character of the flesh showed itself, The
Offering was God's Provision for The Wilderness.
Israel's Flesh desired human guidance;
it murmured, lusted, preferred Egypt's food, and rebelled against God's Authority.
BELIEVERS CANNOT SAY, that we have never come into moral contact, with what Paul calls,
''The body of this death'' [Romans 7;24].
Now the things of the flesh, demonstrated by Israel, show up in our lives as Christians.
As God provided The Red Heifer Offering for Israel's sins of the flesh, so He has made provision, in Christ's Offering, for the sins of the flesh in Christians.
Now, I want to say. very clearly that-When believers let fleshly motives and desires work in our lives, we have touched that wh1ch is dead.
Death is The Seal of God's Curse.
Nothing can affect Our Standing in Christ.
But, Our Day by Day condition [state] can be affected, by our sinning, so that, we lose our Daily Fellowship with God.
Our Position [Standing] is stationary, but our condition [state] fluctuates.
Since The Levitical System could not accomplish permanent purification, all Its Offerings were needed to fully describe, The One Perfect Offering, once for all.
In the one person of Christ is found the essential truth, that He fully revealed God, and fully redeemed The Elect of God.
As The Elect's Substitute, the judicial claim against us, has been removed by the satisfaction of God's Justice, in The Person of The Father's Eternal Son--
Hebrews 9;12-14-[Turn],
Hebrews 10;10-14-[Turn].
The Red Heifer Offering was different from the other Sacrifices, in that, when once offered, It did not need, to be repeated.
It was for A Redeemed People.
Its virtue remained, because the ashes were the memorial of an accepted sacrifice-
Numbers 19;9, 10, 17, 21-[Turn].
A female was used, because God's Redeemed are referred to, in the feminine order--
Nation of Israel-Wife of Jehovah in the OT-
The Church-The Bride of Christ, in the NT.
The Ashes represent The Power of a completed sacrifice.
The Running Water[Living Water, not Blood] represents The Spirit of Christ cleansing the unclean Christian-[Spirit uses Word, to reveal sin to Christian].
Both the unclean and clean persons, The one who had been contaminated by the dead, and the clean person, who sprinkled the water on the unclean, shall cleanse themselves.
The closer to Christ, believers get, the more we are afflicted with a sense of our uncleanness-
[The closer we get to Jesus, the further away from sin;
the more we love Christ, more hate our sins].
Now get this truth; THE NEW NATURE CANNOT RISE TO NEW HEIGHTS, WITHOUT THE CHRISTIAN MORTIFYING THE DEEDS OF THE OLD SIN NATURE.
PURIFYING IS NOT OPTIONAL;
IT'S FOR ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE-
2 Corinthians 7;1--''Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.''
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
THE OBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE--PART 3
We said that The Book of Numbers records 5 great types of Jesus Christ, as The Son of Man, to supply the needs of His people, in our pilgrimage.
The 1st type was The Manna for Israel's physical sustenance, which portrayed Jesus Christ, as The
Bread of Life, for the sustenance of His people.
NUMBERS 11;7-9-[TURN].
JOHN 6;31-35-[TURN].
The Israelites had many distractions from without , and from within, on Their pilgrimage to
Canaan.
From without, they were pursued by Pharoah, and intercepted by Amalek.
From within, They had a mixed multitude, and many Israelites listened to their murmurings.
Now, get this truth; THE HANGERS ON, ARE USUALLY THE ORIGINATORS OF MOST
PROBLEMS, IN THE LOCAL CHURCH.
Discontented people have no problem, finding The Discontented.
Therefore, they will join in argument with God's Provisions.
Wickedness NEVER PLAYS a negative game.
When people start complaining about God, they will soon show hostility against His Will--
NUMBERS 11;4--''And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom; and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.''
There is nothing so damaging to The Spiritual Growth of God's people, as their association with people of mixed principles.
From murmuring to lusting, to the tearful expression of extreme vexation, is a terrible downgrade.
Now, flesh in Christians, IS NO BETTER than flesh in the unregenerate.
Thus, Israel began to crave THE VERY SAME THINGS, as the mixed multitude.
Furthermore, their weeping, WAS NOT over their sins, but, because, THEY COULD NOT HAVE, WHAT THEY DESIRED.
Surely, we haven't forgotten the spirit of discontent, about the order of God's House, in the churches of Jerusalem and Corinth.
Human orders would rob some saints of spiritual joy and privilege, and CONTINUE TO PREVAIL in Christendom.
Complaining is a sign of ingratitude.
Israel could see nothing other than, she had no flesh to eat.
Murmuring is always one-sided;
therefore the Jews only saw the lights, NOT THE SHADOWS OF EGYPT.
Their thoughts turned to the absence of flesh to eat, and they were not thankful for THE MANNA, God's Provision for their need.
THEY DID NOT RELY ON GOD'S PROMISE TO SUPPLY THEIR EVERY NEED-
PHIL. 4;19-[Quote].
Although Israel complained many times, between EXODUS 14, and the completion of God's Law, at the close of LEVITICUS, the kind of judgment we read of, in Numbers 11;1-3, WAS NOT EXECUTED.
The Israelites were new converts at their first complaining. During the time between their first and second complaints, about no water, they had received much instruction, and had received God's Leadership, according to The Truth.
But now, 20 years had separated them, from their first complaint of no water. And there was a two-fold difference between then, and this point, in Israel's Sojourn.
[1] She had promised to obey The Law, which God had spoken through Moses, but, she soon
FORGOT that pledge, WHEN God put her to the test.
[2] She had been given good instructions for her physical and spiritual good, along with the promises, which should have motivated her.
NOW, LISTEN TO THIS;
There were no conditions to what The Sovereign God had done for Israel, as there are no conditions to Our Being Born from Above.
But God requires things of those, who have been from Above.
Every Christian, in every area, is under The Moral Law of God.
New Testament applications of Judgment are made on God's children, who know The Truth, but fail to obey it.
They will be chastened, and some will be killed-
I Corinthians 11;30--''For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.''
I John 5;16-[Turn].
Today's Evangelicals commit the same sin, as the murmuring Jews, when they desire license to sin, over God's Will.
When confronted with Christian Responsibility to obey Christ's commands, they cry, ''Legalism''.
But, in contrast, to their definition of Legalism, The Bible defines it, as the result of people taking
What God has told His people to do for their conditional Spiritual Benefit, and making those commands necessary for One's Salvation, from The Penalty of Sin.
God's Law, given to Israel, WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A MEANS of Positional Deliverance, but it was given, as a result, of such Deliverance.
Now, I want to say, DOING WHAT ONE LOVES TO DO, IS NOT LEGALISM.
John 14;15-''If ye love me, keep my commandments.''
Psalm 119;97-104-[Turn].
You see, the Biblical teaching of Progressive Sanctification is not ''Rely and Relax,'' but ''Trust and obey.''
The 1st type was The Manna for Israel's physical sustenance, which portrayed Jesus Christ, as The
Bread of Life, for the sustenance of His people.
NUMBERS 11;7-9-[TURN].
JOHN 6;31-35-[TURN].
The Israelites had many distractions from without , and from within, on Their pilgrimage to
Canaan.
From without, they were pursued by Pharoah, and intercepted by Amalek.
From within, They had a mixed multitude, and many Israelites listened to their murmurings.
Now, get this truth; THE HANGERS ON, ARE USUALLY THE ORIGINATORS OF MOST
PROBLEMS, IN THE LOCAL CHURCH.
Discontented people have no problem, finding The Discontented.
Therefore, they will join in argument with God's Provisions.
Wickedness NEVER PLAYS a negative game.
When people start complaining about God, they will soon show hostility against His Will--
NUMBERS 11;4--''And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom; and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.''
There is nothing so damaging to The Spiritual Growth of God's people, as their association with people of mixed principles.
From murmuring to lusting, to the tearful expression of extreme vexation, is a terrible downgrade.
Now, flesh in Christians, IS NO BETTER than flesh in the unregenerate.
Thus, Israel began to crave THE VERY SAME THINGS, as the mixed multitude.
Furthermore, their weeping, WAS NOT over their sins, but, because, THEY COULD NOT HAVE, WHAT THEY DESIRED.
Surely, we haven't forgotten the spirit of discontent, about the order of God's House, in the churches of Jerusalem and Corinth.
Human orders would rob some saints of spiritual joy and privilege, and CONTINUE TO PREVAIL in Christendom.
Complaining is a sign of ingratitude.
Israel could see nothing other than, she had no flesh to eat.
Murmuring is always one-sided;
therefore the Jews only saw the lights, NOT THE SHADOWS OF EGYPT.
Their thoughts turned to the absence of flesh to eat, and they were not thankful for THE MANNA, God's Provision for their need.
THEY DID NOT RELY ON GOD'S PROMISE TO SUPPLY THEIR EVERY NEED-
PHIL. 4;19-[Quote].
Although Israel complained many times, between EXODUS 14, and the completion of God's Law, at the close of LEVITICUS, the kind of judgment we read of, in Numbers 11;1-3, WAS NOT EXECUTED.
The Israelites were new converts at their first complaining. During the time between their first and second complaints, about no water, they had received much instruction, and had received God's Leadership, according to The Truth.
But now, 20 years had separated them, from their first complaint of no water. And there was a two-fold difference between then, and this point, in Israel's Sojourn.
[1] She had promised to obey The Law, which God had spoken through Moses, but, she soon
FORGOT that pledge, WHEN God put her to the test.
[2] She had been given good instructions for her physical and spiritual good, along with the promises, which should have motivated her.
NOW, LISTEN TO THIS;
There were no conditions to what The Sovereign God had done for Israel, as there are no conditions to Our Being Born from Above.
But God requires things of those, who have been from Above.
Every Christian, in every area, is under The Moral Law of God.
New Testament applications of Judgment are made on God's children, who know The Truth, but fail to obey it.
They will be chastened, and some will be killed-
I Corinthians 11;30--''For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.''
I John 5;16-[Turn].
Today's Evangelicals commit the same sin, as the murmuring Jews, when they desire license to sin, over God's Will.
When confronted with Christian Responsibility to obey Christ's commands, they cry, ''Legalism''.
But, in contrast, to their definition of Legalism, The Bible defines it, as the result of people taking
What God has told His people to do for their conditional Spiritual Benefit, and making those commands necessary for One's Salvation, from The Penalty of Sin.
God's Law, given to Israel, WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A MEANS of Positional Deliverance, but it was given, as a result, of such Deliverance.
Now, I want to say, DOING WHAT ONE LOVES TO DO, IS NOT LEGALISM.
John 14;15-''If ye love me, keep my commandments.''
Psalm 119;97-104-[Turn].
You see, the Biblical teaching of Progressive Sanctification is not ''Rely and Relax,'' but ''Trust and obey.''
Saturday, August 23, 2008
THE OBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE--PART 2
Last time, We were looking at; THE OBJECTIVE REVELATION OF CHRIST.
Now, we move on to consider;
2. OBJECTIVE LIFE EXPERIENCED
JOHN 3;14-15--'And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life''.
Christ here refers to the significance of the brazen serpent, in the life of Israel [Numbers 21;1-9].
Now, both The Israelites, Who had been delivered by Blood [Passover] and Power [Red Sea], and
Regenerated Sinners, Who looked by faith, and experienced Salvation [Deliverance],
Through God-Given Faith realized The Power to live.
Now to understand John3;14-15, one must consider the relation to and the significance of, The
Brass Serpent, in the life of Israel.
The Serpent was lifted up, at the conclusion of The Wilderness Journey.
Those who lived, by looking on The Brass Serpent, lived in view of their entering Canaan.
''Look and Live'' in Conversion, must be distinguished from ''LIVE'' in order to look [In Regeneration=Ezekiel 16;6.]
GOD DOES NOT BRING HIS PEOPLE INTO WHAT HIS LOVE PURPOSED TO GIVE US, WITHOUT FIRST TEACHING US, WHAT THE FLESH IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, IN ITS CORRUPT NATURE.
Spiritual life is in The Risen and Glorified Christ, because of His Sacrificial Death at Calvary.
The type, we're considering in Numbers 21, teaches that sinful flesh has been condemned, and condemned flesh will never be changed.
ROMANS 8;3-''FOR WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT DO, IN THAT IT WAS WEAK THROUGH THE FLESH, GOD SENDING HIS SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, AND FOR SIN CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH.''
Life involves the gift of The Holy Spirit;
and by the power of The Spirit, the regenerated person must put to death, the deeds of the body-
ROMANS 8;10, 13 [TURN].
This is accomplished by looking to The One, symbolized by The Serpent of Brass. . . .
Hence, The Remedy provided in Christ's death, heals The Repentant and believing Sinner as many times as needed--I JOHN 1;7 [TURN].
Now, having introduced The subject of JOHN 3;14-16, taken from the type of Numbers 21,
contextual evidence must first be considered, in the relation of the brass serpent to Israel, BEFORE IT IS APPLIED TYPICALLY TO THE SUBJECT OF CONVERSION IN JOHN 3.
NUMBERS 21;1-9-[TURN].
''Numbers'' is the ''Book of The Wilderness'' because it describes, the experiences of Israel in The
Wilderness.
It is the book of order, service, failure and victory.
Since service is impossible without Order, God described in detail, the order for Israel's
Pilgrimage-[Numbers 1-4].
Numbers 1-10 , portrays the truth, that, ORDER IS HEAVEN'S FIRST LAW.
No failure, that has happened, or may happen, should be allowed, to hinder Christians from seeking God's Order.
The Book of Numbers assumes that, The Israelites had knowledge of their redemption, the covenant, and their identification, with The Tabernacle.
These 3 Subjects are fully discussed in EXODUS. After The Tabernacle was completed [Exodus 40], all the detailed instructions in LEVITICUS, were given in one month, to prepare The Israelites, for their identification, with The Tabernacle, and their wilderness journey.
The entire life of Israel was built around The Tabernacle.
Likewise, The Whole life of Christians, should be built around the local church [TIME, LABOR, TALENTS, TREASURES].
The Tabernacle typifies not only THE PLACE OF WORSHIP, But, also, the place from which, we serve the Lord.
Now, get this truth; NO SERVICE APART FROM A LOCAL CHURCH, IS ACCEPTABLE TO
GOD.
We are not detached units, to do as we please.
Since NUMBERS is The Book, which narrates The History of Israel, in her testing and preparation for entering into Canaan, and it covers her history from The Law-Giving at Sinai, to The Borders of Canaan.
NUMBERS should be contemplated in Its Relation to GENESIS, EXODUS, and LEVITICUS.
This scrutiny will lead one from created Man's Fall and Depravity in GENESIS, to his redemption by blood, and deliverance by power, at The Red Sea in EXODUS, to access to God, in worship, and laws that regulate access in LEVITICUS , and then, to service and provision for it in NUMBERS.
This Book of Service records five great types of Jesus Christ, as The Son of Man, to supply the need of His people on Earth, in our pilgrimage;
[1] The Manna portrayed provision for physical sustenance [Numbers 11;7-9].
[2] The Red Heifer Offering typified provision for the daily sins of the flesh [19;1-10].
[3] Water From The Rock foreshadowed the provision of The Priesthood [20;7-11].
[4] Brass Serpent symbolized provision for revealing the nature of sin, and its remedy [21;1-9].
[5] The Star of Jacob prefigured provision for hope in wilderness journey [24].
NEXT TIME, WE WILL LOOK AT THEM.....
Now, we move on to consider;
2. OBJECTIVE LIFE EXPERIENCED
JOHN 3;14-15--'And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life''.
Christ here refers to the significance of the brazen serpent, in the life of Israel [Numbers 21;1-9].
Now, both The Israelites, Who had been delivered by Blood [Passover] and Power [Red Sea], and
Regenerated Sinners, Who looked by faith, and experienced Salvation [Deliverance],
Through God-Given Faith realized The Power to live.
Now to understand John3;14-15, one must consider the relation to and the significance of, The
Brass Serpent, in the life of Israel.
The Serpent was lifted up, at the conclusion of The Wilderness Journey.
Those who lived, by looking on The Brass Serpent, lived in view of their entering Canaan.
''Look and Live'' in Conversion, must be distinguished from ''LIVE'' in order to look [In Regeneration=Ezekiel 16;6.]
GOD DOES NOT BRING HIS PEOPLE INTO WHAT HIS LOVE PURPOSED TO GIVE US, WITHOUT FIRST TEACHING US, WHAT THE FLESH IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, IN ITS CORRUPT NATURE.
Spiritual life is in The Risen and Glorified Christ, because of His Sacrificial Death at Calvary.
The type, we're considering in Numbers 21, teaches that sinful flesh has been condemned, and condemned flesh will never be changed.
ROMANS 8;3-''FOR WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT DO, IN THAT IT WAS WEAK THROUGH THE FLESH, GOD SENDING HIS SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, AND FOR SIN CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH.''
Life involves the gift of The Holy Spirit;
and by the power of The Spirit, the regenerated person must put to death, the deeds of the body-
ROMANS 8;10, 13 [TURN].
This is accomplished by looking to The One, symbolized by The Serpent of Brass. . . .
Hence, The Remedy provided in Christ's death, heals The Repentant and believing Sinner as many times as needed--I JOHN 1;7 [TURN].
Now, having introduced The subject of JOHN 3;14-16, taken from the type of Numbers 21,
contextual evidence must first be considered, in the relation of the brass serpent to Israel, BEFORE IT IS APPLIED TYPICALLY TO THE SUBJECT OF CONVERSION IN JOHN 3.
NUMBERS 21;1-9-[TURN].
''Numbers'' is the ''Book of The Wilderness'' because it describes, the experiences of Israel in The
Wilderness.
It is the book of order, service, failure and victory.
Since service is impossible without Order, God described in detail, the order for Israel's
Pilgrimage-[Numbers 1-4].
Numbers 1-10 , portrays the truth, that, ORDER IS HEAVEN'S FIRST LAW.
No failure, that has happened, or may happen, should be allowed, to hinder Christians from seeking God's Order.
The Book of Numbers assumes that, The Israelites had knowledge of their redemption, the covenant, and their identification, with The Tabernacle.
These 3 Subjects are fully discussed in EXODUS. After The Tabernacle was completed [Exodus 40], all the detailed instructions in LEVITICUS, were given in one month, to prepare The Israelites, for their identification, with The Tabernacle, and their wilderness journey.
The entire life of Israel was built around The Tabernacle.
Likewise, The Whole life of Christians, should be built around the local church [TIME, LABOR, TALENTS, TREASURES].
The Tabernacle typifies not only THE PLACE OF WORSHIP, But, also, the place from which, we serve the Lord.
Now, get this truth; NO SERVICE APART FROM A LOCAL CHURCH, IS ACCEPTABLE TO
GOD.
We are not detached units, to do as we please.
Since NUMBERS is The Book, which narrates The History of Israel, in her testing and preparation for entering into Canaan, and it covers her history from The Law-Giving at Sinai, to The Borders of Canaan.
NUMBERS should be contemplated in Its Relation to GENESIS, EXODUS, and LEVITICUS.
This scrutiny will lead one from created Man's Fall and Depravity in GENESIS, to his redemption by blood, and deliverance by power, at The Red Sea in EXODUS, to access to God, in worship, and laws that regulate access in LEVITICUS , and then, to service and provision for it in NUMBERS.
This Book of Service records five great types of Jesus Christ, as The Son of Man, to supply the need of His people on Earth, in our pilgrimage;
[1] The Manna portrayed provision for physical sustenance [Numbers 11;7-9].
[2] The Red Heifer Offering typified provision for the daily sins of the flesh [19;1-10].
[3] Water From The Rock foreshadowed the provision of The Priesthood [20;7-11].
[4] Brass Serpent symbolized provision for revealing the nature of sin, and its remedy [21;1-9].
[5] The Star of Jacob prefigured provision for hope in wilderness journey [24].
NEXT TIME, WE WILL LOOK AT THEM.....
Friday, August 22, 2008
THE OBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE--PART 1
JOHN 3;9-15
We saw in John 3;1-8, ''THE SUBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE''--Now in John 3;9-15, we see ''THE OBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE.
In this section, we shall look at;
1. THE OBJECTIVE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
2. OBJECTIVE LIFE EXPERIENCED.
3. OBJECTIVE LIFE REALIZED.
Now, let's look at; I. THE OBJECTIVE REVELATION OF CHRIST
John 3;9-13-[Read]
Nicodemus was without The Subjective Work of Grace, by Which, he could hear and understand
What Christ was teaching.
He wasn't hearing Christ's Voice, because The Holy Spirit had not breathed His Life into him.
JOHN 3;8-[TURN]-The Greek word for ''sound'' is ''phone,'' meaning voice, or language.
Christ used this word again- JOHN 10;3-''To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.''
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF REGENERATED SHEEP ARE;
1. THEY RECOGNIZE THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE-JOHN 10;3
2. THEY BELIEVE HIS TEACHING-
JOHN 17;8--''For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.''
3. THEY HAVE SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT-I COR. 2;12-[TURN];HEB.5;14-[TURN].
4. THEY HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST-
I Corinthians 2;16--''For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him/ but we have the mind of Christ.''
5. THEY TRY THE SPIRITS--
I John 4;1-''Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world.''
6. THEY FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD-
JOHN 10;4-''And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice.''
7. THEY FLEE FROM FALSE SHEPHERDS--
JOHN 10;5--''And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.''
Some say, that Nicodemus had been led by Jesus into a psychological attitude of Teachability.
Their argument is based on what they describe as a change of attitude between the question of
John 3;4 and 3;9.
In a day, When Religionists have substituted psychology for the Holy Spirit, it's no wonder, they should say that, about Nicodemus.
Sinners are being told that they, must have self-esteem, because of their importance as somebody.
Preachers, who,tell the people, what they want to hear, become successful in the eyes of men.
One's depraved ego is inflated to think his destiny is left to his decision.
Now, I want to say, very clearly, that religious excitement, great crowds, and many decisions are no criterion, for Spiritual Awakening.
Today's Religionists have been influenced by the same psychological training, given to business men.
To be successful in the business place, men are taught the following 10 things;
[1] SELF-CONFIDENCE-You are able, or you can do this Job.
[2] SELF-IMAGE-Have a good picture of yourself.
[3] SUCCESS MOTIVATION-Your desire must be stronger than your fear
[4] ENTHUSIASM-You must think that nothing is impossible for you, in this Job.
[5] CREATIVITY-You must have an imagination to be creative.
[6] WINNER'S ATTITUDE-No such thing as a good loser.
[7] STOP PROCRASTINATING-Don't put off until Tomorrow, what you should do today.
[8] EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION-With fellow-workers,
[9] DECISION MAKING-Make them on your own.
[10] PERSONAL DYNAMICS-Be driven by the force of your Religious Faith
Now, Every Christian has no problem knowing, that some of these things, do not relate to The
Christian Life.
Promoters of these rules, in the work place say,
''If you change your mind, you'll change your course;
you will have a wonderful life, if you feel good about yourself;
you're as good as anyone else, because God made you good.''
After Christ said that Nicodemus was a Teacher, and had no such knowledge of such things, He went on, to give the objective truth about Himself, which The Un-regenerated Teacher was not receiving-
JOHN 3;11--''Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know; and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.''
Christianity is a positive message, because It is founded upon The Positive Being of God.
Since man is a positive sinner, admitting no question, before he can give the positive, unquestionable message, of The Gospel, he must have the positive Breath of Life breathed into
him.
And when this takes place, he will receive The Word for himself, thus experiencing A Conversion which cannot be questioned.
JOHN 3;12-''If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not; how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things/''
Preachers, who think, they can make The Bible relevant to The UnRegenerate, are forced to admit, Whether they believe it, or not, that they have exchanged God's Word for their own depraved opinions--ROMANS 1;25-[TURN].
Now, get this truth; WHATEVER IS RELEVANT TO THE UNREGENERATE IS NOT RELATIVE TO THE BIBLE, AND WHATEVER IS SUITABLE TO THE BIBLE, IS NOT RELATIVE TO THE UNREGENERATE--
1 COR. 2;14-[TURN].
Any Person, who thinks, he can make Spiritual Things suitable to The Natural Man, understands neither Man's depraved condition, nor The Spirituality of Heavenly things. . .[Bible Versions]...
Apart from Being Born From Above, One, possessed by his fleshly nature, has his heart ruled, by his depraved nature, and is a slave, to its corruptions.
The Revelation of God in The Son is The Heart of The Gospel-JOHN 3;13-[TURN].
The Son of God assumed the human nature, provided Him, by The Father.
We have A Saviour, Who pre-existed, as The Son of God, and became The One Mediator of God and of Men., The Man, Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself. A Ransom for all of God's Elect--
I TIMOTHY 2;5-6-[TURN].
Christianity involves a change, which may be compared to a birth from Above.
That birth is accomplished, by the work, of The Sovereign Holy Spirit.
However, it could never be accomplished by The Spirit, apart from The Eternal Son of God, becoming The Son of Man, in one mediator of God and of Men, for the purpose of becoming A Ransom for The Sheep.
In speaking of The Subjective Work of Christianity, Christ only mentioned the initial act of being born from Above.
The cause of The Subjective Work was Christ's Objective Work on The Cross.
The Regenerated Man doesn't rest on anything in himself.
The Holy Spirit leads him to look outside of himself to Christ, in a conversion experience.
We saw in John 3;1-8, ''THE SUBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE''--Now in John 3;9-15, we see ''THE OBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE.
In this section, we shall look at;
1. THE OBJECTIVE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
2. OBJECTIVE LIFE EXPERIENCED.
3. OBJECTIVE LIFE REALIZED.
Now, let's look at; I. THE OBJECTIVE REVELATION OF CHRIST
John 3;9-13-[Read]
Nicodemus was without The Subjective Work of Grace, by Which, he could hear and understand
What Christ was teaching.
He wasn't hearing Christ's Voice, because The Holy Spirit had not breathed His Life into him.
JOHN 3;8-[TURN]-The Greek word for ''sound'' is ''phone,'' meaning voice, or language.
Christ used this word again- JOHN 10;3-''To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.''
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF REGENERATED SHEEP ARE;
1. THEY RECOGNIZE THE SHEPHERD'S VOICE-JOHN 10;3
2. THEY BELIEVE HIS TEACHING-
JOHN 17;8--''For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.''
3. THEY HAVE SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT-I COR. 2;12-[TURN];HEB.5;14-[TURN].
4. THEY HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST-
I Corinthians 2;16--''For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him/ but we have the mind of Christ.''
5. THEY TRY THE SPIRITS--
I John 4;1-''Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world.''
6. THEY FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD-
JOHN 10;4-''And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice.''
7. THEY FLEE FROM FALSE SHEPHERDS--
JOHN 10;5--''And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.''
Some say, that Nicodemus had been led by Jesus into a psychological attitude of Teachability.
Their argument is based on what they describe as a change of attitude between the question of
John 3;4 and 3;9.
In a day, When Religionists have substituted psychology for the Holy Spirit, it's no wonder, they should say that, about Nicodemus.
Sinners are being told that they, must have self-esteem, because of their importance as somebody.
Preachers, who,tell the people, what they want to hear, become successful in the eyes of men.
One's depraved ego is inflated to think his destiny is left to his decision.
Now, I want to say, very clearly, that religious excitement, great crowds, and many decisions are no criterion, for Spiritual Awakening.
Today's Religionists have been influenced by the same psychological training, given to business men.
To be successful in the business place, men are taught the following 10 things;
[1] SELF-CONFIDENCE-You are able, or you can do this Job.
[2] SELF-IMAGE-Have a good picture of yourself.
[3] SUCCESS MOTIVATION-Your desire must be stronger than your fear
[4] ENTHUSIASM-You must think that nothing is impossible for you, in this Job.
[5] CREATIVITY-You must have an imagination to be creative.
[6] WINNER'S ATTITUDE-No such thing as a good loser.
[7] STOP PROCRASTINATING-Don't put off until Tomorrow, what you should do today.
[8] EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION-With fellow-workers,
[9] DECISION MAKING-Make them on your own.
[10] PERSONAL DYNAMICS-Be driven by the force of your Religious Faith
Now, Every Christian has no problem knowing, that some of these things, do not relate to The
Christian Life.
Promoters of these rules, in the work place say,
''If you change your mind, you'll change your course;
you will have a wonderful life, if you feel good about yourself;
you're as good as anyone else, because God made you good.''
After Christ said that Nicodemus was a Teacher, and had no such knowledge of such things, He went on, to give the objective truth about Himself, which The Un-regenerated Teacher was not receiving-
JOHN 3;11--''Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know; and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.''
Christianity is a positive message, because It is founded upon The Positive Being of God.
Since man is a positive sinner, admitting no question, before he can give the positive, unquestionable message, of The Gospel, he must have the positive Breath of Life breathed into
him.
And when this takes place, he will receive The Word for himself, thus experiencing A Conversion which cannot be questioned.
JOHN 3;12-''If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not; how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things/''
Preachers, who think, they can make The Bible relevant to The UnRegenerate, are forced to admit, Whether they believe it, or not, that they have exchanged God's Word for their own depraved opinions--ROMANS 1;25-[TURN].
Now, get this truth; WHATEVER IS RELEVANT TO THE UNREGENERATE IS NOT RELATIVE TO THE BIBLE, AND WHATEVER IS SUITABLE TO THE BIBLE, IS NOT RELATIVE TO THE UNREGENERATE--
1 COR. 2;14-[TURN].
Any Person, who thinks, he can make Spiritual Things suitable to The Natural Man, understands neither Man's depraved condition, nor The Spirituality of Heavenly things. . .[Bible Versions]...
Apart from Being Born From Above, One, possessed by his fleshly nature, has his heart ruled, by his depraved nature, and is a slave, to its corruptions.
The Revelation of God in The Son is The Heart of The Gospel-JOHN 3;13-[TURN].
The Son of God assumed the human nature, provided Him, by The Father.
We have A Saviour, Who pre-existed, as The Son of God, and became The One Mediator of God and of Men., The Man, Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself. A Ransom for all of God's Elect--
I TIMOTHY 2;5-6-[TURN].
Christianity involves a change, which may be compared to a birth from Above.
That birth is accomplished, by the work, of The Sovereign Holy Spirit.
However, it could never be accomplished by The Spirit, apart from The Eternal Son of God, becoming The Son of Man, in one mediator of God and of Men, for the purpose of becoming A Ransom for The Sheep.
In speaking of The Subjective Work of Christianity, Christ only mentioned the initial act of being born from Above.
The cause of The Subjective Work was Christ's Objective Work on The Cross.
The Regenerated Man doesn't rest on anything in himself.
The Holy Spirit leads him to look outside of himself to Christ, in a conversion experience.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
THE SUBJECTIVE LIFE--Part 7
MARK 1;40-42--''And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him,If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will;be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.''
Leprosy pictures the character and consequences of sin.
Although the men in The Synagogue, refused Divine Sovereignty,the leper submitted to it.
This event followed Christ's Baptism-The people maravelled at His Word-look with me at Luke
4;24-27-[Turn].
Now, a message on Grace, in general, will be tolerated almost everywhere. But a message on
Grace, in Particular, is hated by everyone, who embraces Decision, or Gospel Regeneration-
Proof-Luke 4;28-[TURN].
The leper knew God was able to heal him-but didn't know that He was WILLING TO HEAL HIM.
Luke 5;12--''And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy who seeing Jesus, fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.''
His healing depended on God's Will, NOT HIS OWN.
Luke 4;29--''And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill, whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down head long;''--
This shows the hatred of the Religionists, for The Doctrine of Election of Grace.
The leper, by God's Grace, had surpassed the religious training of Christ's enemies.
Unlike Those, who are the corrupt fruit of easy believingism, the leper didn't presume anything;
but he learned experientially, that he had been cleansed.
By Grace, he knew that, The Old Sin Nature had been born out of the source of the flesh-
Luke 5;12-13--[TURN].
His Physical Healing demonstrated His Spiritual Cleansing, on the basis of Jesus Christ's Sacrifice, to be made upon The Cross-
Mark 1;43-44-''And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man; but go thy way; shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.''
The things presented to the priest, had the same relation to the cleansed leper, as gladly receiving The Word, Baptism, and continuing in Doctrine.
The Person, who has been born out of God, can testify that he has a spiritual nature, existing in a continuous state.
John 3;6-[Turn].
Roman Catholicism has a doctrine, called ''Immaculate Conception,'' which means Mary didn't have a depraved human nature, for she had no original sin.
But, The Bible proves Mary rejoiced in God, Her Saviour-Luke 1;46-47-[Turn].
If Mary was free from Original Sin, why did she speak of her purification-
Luke 2;21-22--''And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcizing of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;''
Mary, like us, was associated with that which is ''born of the flesh is flesh.''
Apart from The Holy Spirit coming upon her, Mary never could have conceived, and brought forth The Sinless Person, Who assumed human nature, in her womb.
Christ's human nature was from God The Father, through The Son, and by The Holy Spirit.
The Holy One came into Personal contact with sins, only by Divine Imputation, in Gethsemane, and on The Cross.
Upon The Cross, Jesus Christ, vicariously and sacrificially bore sin and sins, on behalf of The Elect.
A Person, with God-given Faith, believes, but cannot comprehend it, by reasoning.
According to Luke 1;26-35, Mary had to be informed, of The Gift of Grace.
And its significance was confusing to her, as it is, to all, who receive God's undeserved favor.
GRACE IS NOT A REWARD FOR FAITH, BUT IT PRODUCES FAITH.
To miss The Meaning of Grace, is to miss The Total Revelation of God to Man.
Christians can relate to being born of the flesh and of the Spirit.
Having been born of the Spirit, we have a new nature;
however, we still have our old sin nature, which by Grace, we are not under its dominion.
Flesh alone satisfies flesh; Spirit alone, satisfies Spirit.
The more Spiritual. the worship by Christians, the less attractive, it is, to the flesh.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
I. Prayer is 1st, because by The Spirit of Adoption, we cry, ''Abba, Father'' [Romans 8;15].
We approach God by agency of The Holy Spirit within-Romans 8;26-27-[Turn].
II. Worship is not in the realm of Spiritual Things-John 4;20-27-[Turn].
It is in the sphere of The Renewed Spirit of Man.
III. Worship is the source of power for service and warfare-its absence signifies the absence of acceptable service.
The Son came to seek and save the lost.
The Holy Spirit regenerates the ones, for whom Christ died.
The Father seeks true Worshipers.
Worship signifies reverence, honor, and adoration. It agrees with Him, Who is worshiped.
The Spirit Alone, can give the renewed Person, the knowledge of what is right or wrong.
Worship is Spiritual, when the door of the new heart is closed to all intruders, and open to God's
Truth.
Since God is Spirit, we must worship Him with our renewed spirits, according to God's Revealed
Truth. God is Spiritual by nature.
He is nonmaterial substance of a pure, unmixed essence, and not limited by material substance, or nature.
His essence is Indivisible.
Since God is Spirit, our approach and apprehension of Him, must be spiritual in its character;
I.E. Must have A Spiritual Nature-Must be born again.
THE THEORY THAT MAN COOPERATES IN BEING BORN AGAIN BY BELIEVING IS HERESY.
Two persons cannot cooperate, unless they are equal in rank, and occupy the same relative position.
Therefore God and Man can never work together, in either the purposing, purchasing, or applying of Christ's Redemptive Work.
6. NECESSITY FOR REGENERATION
John 3;7-8-[Turn].
There are 3 basic views of The New Birth;
1. PELAGIAN-What must I do, to be saved/
2. CONCURRENT-Man cooperates with God to bring it about.
3. FREE GRACE-Salvation is all of God.
Christ didn't teach, doing and leaving undone. His principle was of being and receiving.
The new work is created, before it can be lived.
There's nothing in John 3;1-8 that says that Christ changes the old nature.
Regeneration IS NOT CHANGING THE OLD NATURE, BUT IT IS THE IMPARTATION OF A
GOD-LIKE NATURE.
The Lord gave us The Principle of Spiritual Life, in The New Birth, and by the power, of that life,
He enables us, to overcome The Old Nature, that remains in Sin.
John 3;7--''Marvel not that, I said unto thee, ye must be born again.'' The Word, ''MUST, is used in connection with Man's Duty.
But man has no more to do with His Spiritual Birth, as he did, with his Physical Birth.
Every physical birth, produces a life, that didn't previously exist, except in purpose.
The Birth out of The Spirit is a person's coming into existence, as a Christian, who didn't exist before, except in God's Eternal Covenant of Grace.
Birth from above is supernatural, instantaneous, invisible, and eternal.
Now, Get this truth; NO WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY, TO BE ''BORN OF GOD'' IS MAN'S
DUTY.
Confusion about the subjects of God's Sovereignty and Man's Birth from Above, is evidenced, by
people who say, ''The Sinner must invite Christ into his heart,'' and ''Open Your Heart's Door, and let Christ come in.''
These Statements are totally UN-SCRIPTURAL, but not as absurd as that, given by these, who give lip serviced to God's Sovereignty in Regeneration.
''Don't wait to think about The New Birth until you understand it, as Nicodemus did, or you may never experience it''.
The 1st statements are made by people, who believe, that the lost sinners are active, in The New
Birth.
The last statement is declared by those who say, God takes the initiative in The New Birth, but they refute their declaration in discussing it. These talk out of both sides of their mouth.
In Verse 7, Christ said in effect, to Nicodemus, ''Don't wonder because I said unto you; it's necessary for all of you to be born from above.''
VERSE 7 DOESN'T REFER TO MAN'S DUTY, BUT IT REFERS TO GOD'S PURPOSE.
All of God's Chosen Ones will be born from Above, thus making one flock with one shepherd of both Jews and Gentiles.
ACTS 13;48-[TURN].
God's Purpose determines that The Elect shall believe, and His Purpose shall be fully accomplished.
The Lord closed His discourse on The Necessity of The New Birth by showing how sovereignly and mysteriously, it is accomplished-John 3;8-[TURN].
As God breathed physical life into man, formed out of dust [Genesis 2;7] so The Holy Spirit breathes spiritual life, into whom He desires.
You see, Heaven is a prepared place for a people, purposed by God, in Eternity Past.
Christ's work on the cross in time, was God''s provision for accomplishing His Purpose.
The application of the purpose by The Holy Spirit, is the beginning of Spiritual life, in the sheep.
Regeneration is not the result of The Spirit's use of means [Conversion is].
No desire for the Word exists in the spiritually dead person.
The new life is not implanted because man perceives God's Truth, but he perceives it for his life.
GOD'S PURPOSE does not begin when one understands truth.
Regeneration; is the result of God's Purpose, is complete in itself, as a single act, and is never repeated. it's synoyms are quickening, awakening, make alive, the new birth.
Leprosy pictures the character and consequences of sin.
Although the men in The Synagogue, refused Divine Sovereignty,the leper submitted to it.
This event followed Christ's Baptism-The people maravelled at His Word-look with me at Luke
4;24-27-[Turn].
Now, a message on Grace, in general, will be tolerated almost everywhere. But a message on
Grace, in Particular, is hated by everyone, who embraces Decision, or Gospel Regeneration-
Proof-Luke 4;28-[TURN].
The leper knew God was able to heal him-but didn't know that He was WILLING TO HEAL HIM.
Luke 5;12--''And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy who seeing Jesus, fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.''
His healing depended on God's Will, NOT HIS OWN.
Luke 4;29--''And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill, whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down head long;''--
This shows the hatred of the Religionists, for The Doctrine of Election of Grace.
The leper, by God's Grace, had surpassed the religious training of Christ's enemies.
Unlike Those, who are the corrupt fruit of easy believingism, the leper didn't presume anything;
but he learned experientially, that he had been cleansed.
By Grace, he knew that, The Old Sin Nature had been born out of the source of the flesh-
Luke 5;12-13--[TURN].
His Physical Healing demonstrated His Spiritual Cleansing, on the basis of Jesus Christ's Sacrifice, to be made upon The Cross-
Mark 1;43-44-''And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man; but go thy way; shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.''
The things presented to the priest, had the same relation to the cleansed leper, as gladly receiving The Word, Baptism, and continuing in Doctrine.
The Person, who has been born out of God, can testify that he has a spiritual nature, existing in a continuous state.
John 3;6-[Turn].
Roman Catholicism has a doctrine, called ''Immaculate Conception,'' which means Mary didn't have a depraved human nature, for she had no original sin.
But, The Bible proves Mary rejoiced in God, Her Saviour-Luke 1;46-47-[Turn].
If Mary was free from Original Sin, why did she speak of her purification-
Luke 2;21-22--''And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcizing of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;''
Mary, like us, was associated with that which is ''born of the flesh is flesh.''
Apart from The Holy Spirit coming upon her, Mary never could have conceived, and brought forth The Sinless Person, Who assumed human nature, in her womb.
Christ's human nature was from God The Father, through The Son, and by The Holy Spirit.
The Holy One came into Personal contact with sins, only by Divine Imputation, in Gethsemane, and on The Cross.
Upon The Cross, Jesus Christ, vicariously and sacrificially bore sin and sins, on behalf of The Elect.
A Person, with God-given Faith, believes, but cannot comprehend it, by reasoning.
According to Luke 1;26-35, Mary had to be informed, of The Gift of Grace.
And its significance was confusing to her, as it is, to all, who receive God's undeserved favor.
GRACE IS NOT A REWARD FOR FAITH, BUT IT PRODUCES FAITH.
To miss The Meaning of Grace, is to miss The Total Revelation of God to Man.
Christians can relate to being born of the flesh and of the Spirit.
Having been born of the Spirit, we have a new nature;
however, we still have our old sin nature, which by Grace, we are not under its dominion.
Flesh alone satisfies flesh; Spirit alone, satisfies Spirit.
The more Spiritual. the worship by Christians, the less attractive, it is, to the flesh.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
I. Prayer is 1st, because by The Spirit of Adoption, we cry, ''Abba, Father'' [Romans 8;15].
We approach God by agency of The Holy Spirit within-Romans 8;26-27-[Turn].
II. Worship is not in the realm of Spiritual Things-John 4;20-27-[Turn].
It is in the sphere of The Renewed Spirit of Man.
III. Worship is the source of power for service and warfare-its absence signifies the absence of acceptable service.
The Son came to seek and save the lost.
The Holy Spirit regenerates the ones, for whom Christ died.
The Father seeks true Worshipers.
Worship signifies reverence, honor, and adoration. It agrees with Him, Who is worshiped.
The Spirit Alone, can give the renewed Person, the knowledge of what is right or wrong.
Worship is Spiritual, when the door of the new heart is closed to all intruders, and open to God's
Truth.
Since God is Spirit, we must worship Him with our renewed spirits, according to God's Revealed
Truth. God is Spiritual by nature.
He is nonmaterial substance of a pure, unmixed essence, and not limited by material substance, or nature.
His essence is Indivisible.
Since God is Spirit, our approach and apprehension of Him, must be spiritual in its character;
I.E. Must have A Spiritual Nature-Must be born again.
THE THEORY THAT MAN COOPERATES IN BEING BORN AGAIN BY BELIEVING IS HERESY.
Two persons cannot cooperate, unless they are equal in rank, and occupy the same relative position.
Therefore God and Man can never work together, in either the purposing, purchasing, or applying of Christ's Redemptive Work.
6. NECESSITY FOR REGENERATION
John 3;7-8-[Turn].
There are 3 basic views of The New Birth;
1. PELAGIAN-What must I do, to be saved/
2. CONCURRENT-Man cooperates with God to bring it about.
3. FREE GRACE-Salvation is all of God.
Christ didn't teach, doing and leaving undone. His principle was of being and receiving.
The new work is created, before it can be lived.
There's nothing in John 3;1-8 that says that Christ changes the old nature.
Regeneration IS NOT CHANGING THE OLD NATURE, BUT IT IS THE IMPARTATION OF A
GOD-LIKE NATURE.
The Lord gave us The Principle of Spiritual Life, in The New Birth, and by the power, of that life,
He enables us, to overcome The Old Nature, that remains in Sin.
John 3;7--''Marvel not that, I said unto thee, ye must be born again.'' The Word, ''MUST, is used in connection with Man's Duty.
But man has no more to do with His Spiritual Birth, as he did, with his Physical Birth.
Every physical birth, produces a life, that didn't previously exist, except in purpose.
The Birth out of The Spirit is a person's coming into existence, as a Christian, who didn't exist before, except in God's Eternal Covenant of Grace.
Birth from above is supernatural, instantaneous, invisible, and eternal.
Now, Get this truth; NO WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY, TO BE ''BORN OF GOD'' IS MAN'S
DUTY.
Confusion about the subjects of God's Sovereignty and Man's Birth from Above, is evidenced, by
people who say, ''The Sinner must invite Christ into his heart,'' and ''Open Your Heart's Door, and let Christ come in.''
These Statements are totally UN-SCRIPTURAL, but not as absurd as that, given by these, who give lip serviced to God's Sovereignty in Regeneration.
''Don't wait to think about The New Birth until you understand it, as Nicodemus did, or you may never experience it''.
The 1st statements are made by people, who believe, that the lost sinners are active, in The New
Birth.
The last statement is declared by those who say, God takes the initiative in The New Birth, but they refute their declaration in discussing it. These talk out of both sides of their mouth.
In Verse 7, Christ said in effect, to Nicodemus, ''Don't wonder because I said unto you; it's necessary for all of you to be born from above.''
VERSE 7 DOESN'T REFER TO MAN'S DUTY, BUT IT REFERS TO GOD'S PURPOSE.
All of God's Chosen Ones will be born from Above, thus making one flock with one shepherd of both Jews and Gentiles.
ACTS 13;48-[TURN].
God's Purpose determines that The Elect shall believe, and His Purpose shall be fully accomplished.
The Lord closed His discourse on The Necessity of The New Birth by showing how sovereignly and mysteriously, it is accomplished-John 3;8-[TURN].
As God breathed physical life into man, formed out of dust [Genesis 2;7] so The Holy Spirit breathes spiritual life, into whom He desires.
You see, Heaven is a prepared place for a people, purposed by God, in Eternity Past.
Christ's work on the cross in time, was God''s provision for accomplishing His Purpose.
The application of the purpose by The Holy Spirit, is the beginning of Spiritual life, in the sheep.
Regeneration is not the result of The Spirit's use of means [Conversion is].
No desire for the Word exists in the spiritually dead person.
The new life is not implanted because man perceives God's Truth, but he perceives it for his life.
GOD'S PURPOSE does not begin when one understands truth.
Regeneration; is the result of God's Purpose, is complete in itself, as a single act, and is never repeated. it's synoyms are quickening, awakening, make alive, the new birth.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
THE SUBJECTIVE LIFE--Part 6
V. FLESH AND SPIRIT
John 3;6-''That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.''
Now, The One, who understands this verse NEVER QUESTIONS Man's Depravity, Peccability,
Concurrence in sin, Fleshly Religion,
or, Christ's conception by The Holy Ghost, Christian Warfare and Worship, and The Eternal
Preservation of The Saints.
''Born from Above'' is one of the great mysteries of The Bible.
The mysteries of The Bible have a two-fold Purpose--To hide the truth from some, and to make it known to others-Matthew 13;11-[Turn].
Some of the mysteries of God's Works Are;
THE MYSTERY OF GOD--COLOSSIANS 2;2
THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST--COL. 4;3
GOD'S WILL--EPH. 1;9
FAITH--I TIMOTHY 3;9
INIQUITY-MAN OF SIN-I THESS 2;7
ISRAEL AND KINGDOM--ROM 11;25-26.
We are going to look at the mystery-''Christ in you the hope of glory''-Col 1;27
Nicodemus had acknowledged that Jesus Christ had come from Above--So, why did he question,
in the words of Christ, about being born from Above/
Christ's Works, which Nicodemus recognized, confirmed His Message--
Mark 16;20--[Turn].
John 5;36--''But I have greater witness than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me; that the Father hath sent me.''
Nicodemus questions manifested his depravity of heart.
Only those who have experienced The Mystery of Christ WITHIN, can understand what is said, or written about Regeneration--
Matthew 11;25-27-[Turn].
John 6;45-''It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.''
I Corinthians 2;12-16; I John 2;20-27-[TURN].
We will now conclude this section of John 3, which focuses upon Regeneration.
In The OT, God first said, ''Live'' [Ezekiel 16;16] before He said ''Look'' [Isaiah 45;22].
It's the same order in John 3;1-16; life is necessary for one to see, and embrace The Saviour.
In John 3;6, The word ''Flesh'' refers to the sinful nature of fallen man.
The human nature which has been born out of the flesh [sinful nature] is in a continuous state of being depraved.
Verse 6 says that sinful human nature can produce nothing but sinful human nature-
Genesis 5;3--''And Adam lived an hundred and 30 years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image, and called his name Seth''.
Psalm 51;5--''Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.''
Job 14;14-''Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean/ not one.''
Since sinful human nature is in a continuous state of sinfulness, it cannot contribute to One's Being Born Again.
Therefore, The Passive Sinner is at the mercy of the sovereign God of Grace, Who chooses and saves, whim He Will.
John 3;6-''That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.''
Now, The One, who understands this verse NEVER QUESTIONS Man's Depravity, Peccability,
Concurrence in sin, Fleshly Religion,
or, Christ's conception by The Holy Ghost, Christian Warfare and Worship, and The Eternal
Preservation of The Saints.
''Born from Above'' is one of the great mysteries of The Bible.
The mysteries of The Bible have a two-fold Purpose--To hide the truth from some, and to make it known to others-Matthew 13;11-[Turn].
Some of the mysteries of God's Works Are;
THE MYSTERY OF GOD--COLOSSIANS 2;2
THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST--COL. 4;3
GOD'S WILL--EPH. 1;9
FAITH--I TIMOTHY 3;9
INIQUITY-MAN OF SIN-I THESS 2;7
ISRAEL AND KINGDOM--ROM 11;25-26.
We are going to look at the mystery-''Christ in you the hope of glory''-Col 1;27
Nicodemus had acknowledged that Jesus Christ had come from Above--So, why did he question,
in the words of Christ, about being born from Above/
Christ's Works, which Nicodemus recognized, confirmed His Message--
Mark 16;20--[Turn].
John 5;36--''But I have greater witness than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me; that the Father hath sent me.''
Nicodemus questions manifested his depravity of heart.
Only those who have experienced The Mystery of Christ WITHIN, can understand what is said, or written about Regeneration--
Matthew 11;25-27-[Turn].
John 6;45-''It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.''
I Corinthians 2;12-16; I John 2;20-27-[TURN].
We will now conclude this section of John 3, which focuses upon Regeneration.
In The OT, God first said, ''Live'' [Ezekiel 16;16] before He said ''Look'' [Isaiah 45;22].
It's the same order in John 3;1-16; life is necessary for one to see, and embrace The Saviour.
In John 3;6, The word ''Flesh'' refers to the sinful nature of fallen man.
The human nature which has been born out of the flesh [sinful nature] is in a continuous state of being depraved.
Verse 6 says that sinful human nature can produce nothing but sinful human nature-
Genesis 5;3--''And Adam lived an hundred and 30 years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image, and called his name Seth''.
Psalm 51;5--''Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.''
Job 14;14-''Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean/ not one.''
Since sinful human nature is in a continuous state of sinfulness, it cannot contribute to One's Being Born Again.
Therefore, The Passive Sinner is at the mercy of the sovereign God of Grace, Who chooses and saves, whim He Will.
Friday, August 15, 2008
THE SUBJECTIVE LIFE--Part 5
IV. BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT
John 3;5-''Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Now, 4 Major Views of the Science of Salvation [Soteriology] rely on this verse, as their proof text;
A. Baptismal Regenerationalists claim that God would not have said ''water,'' if He didn't mean
water.
They explain that Baptism, alone is not REGENERATION, But it is an essential part of The New
Birth.
B. Then, Those, who teach that, water refers to One's Physical Birth, and The Spirit applies to
Spiritual Birth, believe The Context proves both Births.
C. Next, Today, many Fundamentalists say, Water symbolizes God's Word, that is used by The
Spirit in Regeneration.
They say, The Baptism of The Spirit is Here, which is, Regeneration by The Word of God-But We see that, James 1;18 refers to the bringing forth of life, not its conception;
And I Peter 1;23-25 refers to Divine Seed, implanted by The Holy Spirit, according to what God's
Word says.
D. According to The Text and Context, John 3;3-5 teaches that, The Holy Spirit cleanses like
Water-
Nicodemus knew The Old Testament-Ezekiel 36;25-26-[Turn].
Verse 25 teaches that God justifies all those, He elects.
Verse 26 teaches that Regeneration is by God.
Only One Birth is referred to in John 3;5, and it is, The Birth out of Our God, by The
Regenerating Holy Spirit.
Neither 2 Births-Physical and Spiritual, nor 2 Baptisms, Water and Spirit, are taught Here.
Now, a distinction must be made between Regeneration, which is accomplished solely by The
Sovereign God, and Water Baptism-an ordinance, that those converted by The Gospel, after being Born Again, should obey.
CONTRASTS;
1. Regeneration is by the agency of The Holy Spirit;
Baptism is in water, administered by a man of God, of a local Church.
2.Regeneration is instantaneous;
Baptism must wait for The Baptizer and Water.
3. Regeneration changes the nature of the heart;
Baptism is the outward sign of that change, in an act of obedience.
4. The Spirit of Regeneration is irresistible;
Baptism can be denied until One's Regeneration is evidenced.
5. Regeneration takes place in the sphere of man's subconsciousness;
Baptism takes place in his consciousness.
6. Regeneration is the gift of life;
Baptism is an act of obedience of that life.
7. Regeneration gives a good conscience;
Baptism is the answer of that conscience.
8. Regeneration is not dependent upon The Gospel;
Baptism depends upon The Preaching of The Gospel.
9. Regeneration enables one to put away the filth of the flesh;
Baptism does not put it away.
10. Regeneration is the application of Christ's Blood;
Blood always precedes water.
Some have been so anxious to show that JOHN 3;5 DOES NOT TEACH Baptismal Regeneration,
that they have failed to consider the Greek Text-''een me tis gennethe ex hudatos kai pnemajos''
UNLESS ONE MAY BE BOEN OUT OF WATER AND SPIRIT.''
Since ''OUT OF WATER'' DOES NOT MEAN bAPTISM, WHAT DOES IT SIGNIFY/
There is only one birth in the text.
The single preposition ''ex'' describes the event.
John didn't put a 2nd ''ex'' before ''SPIRIT'' as they were two events.
Only one event is described in this verse.
John 3;5-''Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Now, 4 Major Views of the Science of Salvation [Soteriology] rely on this verse, as their proof text;
A. Baptismal Regenerationalists claim that God would not have said ''water,'' if He didn't mean
water.
They explain that Baptism, alone is not REGENERATION, But it is an essential part of The New
Birth.
B. Then, Those, who teach that, water refers to One's Physical Birth, and The Spirit applies to
Spiritual Birth, believe The Context proves both Births.
C. Next, Today, many Fundamentalists say, Water symbolizes God's Word, that is used by The
Spirit in Regeneration.
They say, The Baptism of The Spirit is Here, which is, Regeneration by The Word of God-But We see that, James 1;18 refers to the bringing forth of life, not its conception;
And I Peter 1;23-25 refers to Divine Seed, implanted by The Holy Spirit, according to what God's
Word says.
D. According to The Text and Context, John 3;3-5 teaches that, The Holy Spirit cleanses like
Water-
Nicodemus knew The Old Testament-Ezekiel 36;25-26-[Turn].
Verse 25 teaches that God justifies all those, He elects.
Verse 26 teaches that Regeneration is by God.
Only One Birth is referred to in John 3;5, and it is, The Birth out of Our God, by The
Regenerating Holy Spirit.
Neither 2 Births-Physical and Spiritual, nor 2 Baptisms, Water and Spirit, are taught Here.
Now, a distinction must be made between Regeneration, which is accomplished solely by The
Sovereign God, and Water Baptism-an ordinance, that those converted by The Gospel, after being Born Again, should obey.
CONTRASTS;
1. Regeneration is by the agency of The Holy Spirit;
Baptism is in water, administered by a man of God, of a local Church.
2.Regeneration is instantaneous;
Baptism must wait for The Baptizer and Water.
3. Regeneration changes the nature of the heart;
Baptism is the outward sign of that change, in an act of obedience.
4. The Spirit of Regeneration is irresistible;
Baptism can be denied until One's Regeneration is evidenced.
5. Regeneration takes place in the sphere of man's subconsciousness;
Baptism takes place in his consciousness.
6. Regeneration is the gift of life;
Baptism is an act of obedience of that life.
7. Regeneration gives a good conscience;
Baptism is the answer of that conscience.
8. Regeneration is not dependent upon The Gospel;
Baptism depends upon The Preaching of The Gospel.
9. Regeneration enables one to put away the filth of the flesh;
Baptism does not put it away.
10. Regeneration is the application of Christ's Blood;
Blood always precedes water.
Some have been so anxious to show that JOHN 3;5 DOES NOT TEACH Baptismal Regeneration,
that they have failed to consider the Greek Text-''een me tis gennethe ex hudatos kai pnemajos''
UNLESS ONE MAY BE BOEN OUT OF WATER AND SPIRIT.''
Since ''OUT OF WATER'' DOES NOT MEAN bAPTISM, WHAT DOES IT SIGNIFY/
There is only one birth in the text.
The single preposition ''ex'' describes the event.
John didn't put a 2nd ''ex'' before ''SPIRIT'' as they were two events.
Only one event is described in this verse.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
THE SUBJECTIVE LIFE--Part 4
Now, so far, in our study of The Subjective Life, we have looked at A Depraved Religionist, and
A Passive Sinner, we move on, to look at;
3. UNSANCTIFIED REASON
John 3;3-4-[Turn].
In verse 3, The Lord Jesus Christ only stated a fact, without explanation, because Regeneration is something, which God Alone, can perform.
A Birth From Above was as foreign to Nicodemus, The Teacher of Israel, as it is, to most
professors of Christ, Today.
Now, I want to say, that The Popularity of the statement, ''Born Again,'' proves it is not understood.
For if it were comprehended, to be God's Exclusive Work,it would not be popular.
''Born from Above'' presupposes that man is so sinful, and so depraved, that he can''t understand anything, of a spiritual nature.
Now, this truth is obnoxious, to the depraved reasoning, intellectualism, and philosophy of The
World's Wisdom.
Religionists, Who equate being saved, with being born again, in John 3;1-6, teach certain things, that one must do, to be saved.
They affirm that Salvation consists in a person's belief, of these four things;
[1] God loves him
[2] He is lost
[3] Christ died for him
[4] God will save him, on the condition, he believes on Jesus Christ, as his Saviour.
Although multitudes of young people, college students, have made decisions for Christ, on the basis of these 4 laws, all the decisions are false and empty, apart from Regeneration [born from above].
Now, Get This Truth; IF A PASSIVE SINNER NEEDS NO MORE THAN, BELIEVING GOD
LOVES HIM, ADMITTING HE IS LOST, SAYING CHRIST DIED FOR HIM, AND THEN, BELIEVING ON HIM, REGENERATION IS UNNECESSARY, TO GIVE TO HIM, A NEW NATURE.
You see, only in the power of a new nature, can one understand The Truth of The Gospel, and be capable of repenting, on account of his grief, according to God, Who works
Repentance to Salvation, never to be regretted, and believe on Christ, with God-given
faith.
For, you see, REPENTANCE AND FAITH, are fruits of One, Who has been born out of
God, by the power of The Holy Spirit.
JOHN 3;8-[TURN].
Many teach that, for One to be born from above, that he must first hear and believe The Gospel.
[must do this to be converted].
These believe in ''Gospel Regeneration,'' that The Gospel is essential to Regeneration--which they claim, is both God's and Man's subjective work.
Therefore, the term ''born again,'' must be determined by one's response, upon hearing The
Gospel, God's Objective Message.
However, the act of The Holy Spirit, Who gives life to the spiritually dead, is as distinct from the
truth of The Gospel, as seeing is different from light.
Now. Did the sowing of the seed, on the good ground, CHANGE The Nature of the soil/ No, it did not.
If God's Word regenerate, Why doesn't it produce the same results, in all exposed to It/
The Problem lies not in the nature of THE GOSPEL, but in the nature of the human heart.
The Gospel preached, does not change the nature of man's heart.
If A Sinner's heart hasn't been changed, by The Spirit of Grace, their response will be that of the wayside, thorny, and stony soils of Matthew 13;3-7, 18-22.
The Bible teaches that The Elect are involved in Regeneration, but It doesn't teach that we participate in being born from Above.
The passive voice, Where we see the word, ''Gennaeo,'' PROVES THIS.
Thus, no one can refute The Truth, that the sinner is passive in Regeneration.
Those, insisting that the sinner, is not wholly depraved, insist that he is active, when he is persuaded by The Gospel, in the illuminating power of The Holy Spirit.
But since he doesn't have The Holy Spirit, how can he be illumined by It/
John 14;17-''Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.''
Romans 8;9-[Turn]
A Passive Sinner, we move on, to look at;
3. UNSANCTIFIED REASON
John 3;3-4-[Turn].
In verse 3, The Lord Jesus Christ only stated a fact, without explanation, because Regeneration is something, which God Alone, can perform.
A Birth From Above was as foreign to Nicodemus, The Teacher of Israel, as it is, to most
professors of Christ, Today.
Now, I want to say, that The Popularity of the statement, ''Born Again,'' proves it is not understood.
For if it were comprehended, to be God's Exclusive Work,it would not be popular.
''Born from Above'' presupposes that man is so sinful, and so depraved, that he can''t understand anything, of a spiritual nature.
Now, this truth is obnoxious, to the depraved reasoning, intellectualism, and philosophy of The
World's Wisdom.
Religionists, Who equate being saved, with being born again, in John 3;1-6, teach certain things, that one must do, to be saved.
They affirm that Salvation consists in a person's belief, of these four things;
[1] God loves him
[2] He is lost
[3] Christ died for him
[4] God will save him, on the condition, he believes on Jesus Christ, as his Saviour.
Although multitudes of young people, college students, have made decisions for Christ, on the basis of these 4 laws, all the decisions are false and empty, apart from Regeneration [born from above].
Now, Get This Truth; IF A PASSIVE SINNER NEEDS NO MORE THAN, BELIEVING GOD
LOVES HIM, ADMITTING HE IS LOST, SAYING CHRIST DIED FOR HIM, AND THEN, BELIEVING ON HIM, REGENERATION IS UNNECESSARY, TO GIVE TO HIM, A NEW NATURE.
You see, only in the power of a new nature, can one understand The Truth of The Gospel, and be capable of repenting, on account of his grief, according to God, Who works
Repentance to Salvation, never to be regretted, and believe on Christ, with God-given
faith.
For, you see, REPENTANCE AND FAITH, are fruits of One, Who has been born out of
God, by the power of The Holy Spirit.
JOHN 3;8-[TURN].
Many teach that, for One to be born from above, that he must first hear and believe The Gospel.
[must do this to be converted].
These believe in ''Gospel Regeneration,'' that The Gospel is essential to Regeneration--which they claim, is both God's and Man's subjective work.
Therefore, the term ''born again,'' must be determined by one's response, upon hearing The
Gospel, God's Objective Message.
However, the act of The Holy Spirit, Who gives life to the spiritually dead, is as distinct from the
truth of The Gospel, as seeing is different from light.
Now. Did the sowing of the seed, on the good ground, CHANGE The Nature of the soil/ No, it did not.
If God's Word regenerate, Why doesn't it produce the same results, in all exposed to It/
The Problem lies not in the nature of THE GOSPEL, but in the nature of the human heart.
The Gospel preached, does not change the nature of man's heart.
If A Sinner's heart hasn't been changed, by The Spirit of Grace, their response will be that of the wayside, thorny, and stony soils of Matthew 13;3-7, 18-22.
The Bible teaches that The Elect are involved in Regeneration, but It doesn't teach that we participate in being born from Above.
The passive voice, Where we see the word, ''Gennaeo,'' PROVES THIS.
Thus, no one can refute The Truth, that the sinner is passive in Regeneration.
Those, insisting that the sinner, is not wholly depraved, insist that he is active, when he is persuaded by The Gospel, in the illuminating power of The Holy Spirit.
But since he doesn't have The Holy Spirit, how can he be illumined by It/
John 14;17-''Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.''
Romans 8;9-[Turn]
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
THE SUBJECTIVE LIFE--Part 3
Since God never starts something, He doesn't finish, Jesus Christ is made known, to The One, Who has been made to feel The Weariness of His Sins.
He comes in the power of The Regenerating Spirit to Christ, as A Repentant Person--
Matthew 11;25-27-[Turn].
As The Father is a mystery, made known to Jesus Christ, Christ is made known to faith, which is the fruit of One's having been born of God.
Now, that which is outside the understanding of human reason is not outside the comprehension of God-given faith, to The Elect.
Trinitarian knowledge is made known to The Elect.
We saw in Matthew 11;27-The Father knows The Son, and The Son knows The Father.
God knows the mind of The Spirit, and The Spirit knows The Depths of God.
The Elect know God experimentally, because Christ desires, to make Himself known,
According to The Bible, this knowledge is not presumptuous-
I John 2;3-4--[Turn].
Verse 3 is positive, but verse 4 is contrapositive.
Although Verse 3 speaks of Experiential Knowledge, John calls One, a liar, who is always saying, and not doing, and told him,The Truth didn't exist in him.
Verses1-2--One must not presume, that he is safe, prior to God's Grace making him long, to br
Sinless.
One must resolve not to sin, but he must be able to recognize sin , when he commits it. .
Now, Listen to this Truth; JESUS CHRIST NEVER COMMANDS AN UN-REGENERATED PERSON, AS HE DOES, A REGENERATED PERSON, TO TAKE HIS YOKE AND LEARN FROM HIM--
Matthew 11;29-''Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls''.
Wearing Christ's Yoke is A Symbol of Submission.
I Timothy 6;1--''Let as many as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.''
If Christian slaves are to regard their masters worthy, for the sake of God's honor, What about
Christ's yoke, which is said by Him, to be easy, or pleasant [Matthew 11;30] /
Now, not only is Christ's Yoke pleasant, but His burden, is easy to bear.
And these are insignificant compared to our future glory, when we see Christ and His glory.
Christians find rest while bearing the yoke of a slave, and loaded with burdens.
Believers can bear burdens while they are slaves, because of The Rest, The Saviour gives to every repenting and believing Person.
He comes in the power of The Regenerating Spirit to Christ, as A Repentant Person--
Matthew 11;25-27-[Turn].
As The Father is a mystery, made known to Jesus Christ, Christ is made known to faith, which is the fruit of One's having been born of God.
Now, that which is outside the understanding of human reason is not outside the comprehension of God-given faith, to The Elect.
Trinitarian knowledge is made known to The Elect.
We saw in Matthew 11;27-The Father knows The Son, and The Son knows The Father.
God knows the mind of The Spirit, and The Spirit knows The Depths of God.
The Elect know God experimentally, because Christ desires, to make Himself known,
According to The Bible, this knowledge is not presumptuous-
I John 2;3-4--[Turn].
Verse 3 is positive, but verse 4 is contrapositive.
Although Verse 3 speaks of Experiential Knowledge, John calls One, a liar, who is always saying, and not doing, and told him,The Truth didn't exist in him.
Verses1-2--One must not presume, that he is safe, prior to God's Grace making him long, to br
Sinless.
One must resolve not to sin, but he must be able to recognize sin , when he commits it. .
Now, Listen to this Truth; JESUS CHRIST NEVER COMMANDS AN UN-REGENERATED PERSON, AS HE DOES, A REGENERATED PERSON, TO TAKE HIS YOKE AND LEARN FROM HIM--
Matthew 11;29-''Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls''.
Wearing Christ's Yoke is A Symbol of Submission.
I Timothy 6;1--''Let as many as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.''
If Christian slaves are to regard their masters worthy, for the sake of God's honor, What about
Christ's yoke, which is said by Him, to be easy, or pleasant [Matthew 11;30] /
Now, not only is Christ's Yoke pleasant, but His burden, is easy to bear.
And these are insignificant compared to our future glory, when we see Christ and His glory.
Christians find rest while bearing the yoke of a slave, and loaded with burdens.
Believers can bear burdens while they are slaves, because of The Rest, The Saviour gives to every repenting and believing Person.
Monday, August 11, 2008
THE SUBJECTIVE LIFE--Part 2
Having seen A Depraved Religionist in John 3;1-8, we move on, to see;
II. A PASSIVE SINNER
JOHN 3;3-[TURN].
In the study of The Total Spiritual Inability of The Unregenerate, One cannot ignore The
Passivity of those, not born of God.
The passive voice of the Greek word for ''born ''Gennao'' represents the subject, as receiving the action, or being acted upon.
Also, we notice that Christ, gave no instruction to Nicodemus, about HOW he could be born of God.
In fact, Christ, in His Personal Ministry, NEVER TOLD ANYONE, HOW TO BE BORN AGAIN.
And He never commanded anyone to be born again, be Regenerated, or, to be Quickened.
We must distinguish between The New Birth and Faith.
Now, Get this Truth-FAITH COMES FROM THE NEW BIRTH--IT DOES NOT CAUSE THE
NEW BIRTH.''
Regeneration is the exclusive work of The Sovereign God upon The Passive Sinner.
Now to deny that a sinner is completely passive to spiritual things, is to deny Depravity.
The Bible says Death comes to all men, for all have sinned--
ROMANS 5;17-19--''For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upom all men to condemnation;even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Fallen Man is corrupt in all his ways; therefore, his whole nature moves in opposition to God.''
Corruption is evident in all of man's life, and comes from the depths of his depraved heart.
Life outside of Christ, is in sin, guilt, lusts of the flesh, disobedience, hardness, un-repentance, and under The Wrath of God.
Apart from The Grace of Regeneration [born of God, born from above, new birth, made alive, new creature], The Sinner continues in a life of sin, in which he treasures up wrath against The Day of Wrath and God's Righteous Judging.
Now, Get This Truth; Man, as a passive sinner, IS NOT A PARTNER WITH GOD IN REGENERATION.
HE DOES NOT PLAY THE DECISIVE ROLE IN THE NEW BIRTH.
QUESTION; Who opens Whose Heart for The Truth/
Answer -ACTS 16;14-[TURN].
Now, It was The Holy Spirit, and not Paul's Preaching, that enabled Lydia, to receive the message, which affected her understanding, emotion, and will, so that, she could pay close attention.
Thus, When One is born again, he goes from being passive to being active in and for Spiritual
Things.
Now, Get This Truth-THOSE, WHO BELIEVE IN FREE GRACE, DO NOT DENY THAT,
THE SINNER HAS A WILL;
But his will is insensitive to spiritual things-thus, it goes only in one direction-down away from God-
JOHN 3;19-20-''And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds be reproved.''
Every living sinner wants to be saved, from going to Hell, but, apart from grace, he does not want to be saved from his sins, in which he lives, and has pleasure in.
His desire is to be free from physical torture, not to be free from his sins.
ISAIAH 1;16-20-[TURN].
Now, Get This Truth; GOD DOES NOT REASON WITH THE UNREASONABLE.
These verses apply to the remnant, God had, among The Wicked.
There is no mercy, at The Bar of Justice, but there is, at The Throne of Grace.
God was telling The Remnant, to break off their sins by repentance, and then, to follow instruction.
Man's Reason apart from grace is unreasonable regarding spiritual things.
The Mind of The Un Regenerated is;
Natural [1 COR. 2;14], FLESHLY [GAL. 2;18], VAIN [EPH. 4;17-18], DEFILED [TITUS 1;15].
Since The Fall, The Sinner discerns evil- but, The Saved, has his senses exercised to discern good and evil--
Hebrews 5;14-''But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.''
Hypocrites boldly enter into dispute with God, but Reason marks Christians as distinct from
Hypocrites.
Christians understand that the proper function of Reason in relation to faith, is to receive God's
Truth, because God provides for believers, spiritual weapons--
2 COR. 10;4-5--''[For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and brining into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.''
Next, We see that, The Arminians argue that, The Sinner must exercise His free will to come to Christ, before he can have any rest-this, too, denies depravity-
Matthew 11;28-''Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.''
QUESTION; WHO FIRST COMES TO WHOM/
After He fell, Adam did not come first, to The Lord God;
but The Lord God came to The Garden, Where Adam was hiding, and called him [Genesis 3;8-10].
The Woman of Samaria didn't 1st come to Christ, He came to her.
Zacchaeus didn't first come to Christ, Christ came to him [Luke 19;1-10].
JOHN 6;44-''No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day''.
One must learn What Coming to Christ is not, before ascertaining what it is, in the light of Biblical
Evidence;
1. Coming to Christ is not a physical act, such as, coming forward, raising the hand, going into The
Inquiry Room, being Baptized, etc.
People will come, as long as they think, they can do something.
2. Coming to Christ is not an act of the mind, as repeating the sinner's prayer, or deciding for
Christ. If this was all that was needed, there would be no need for The Spirit's Regenerating
Work.
3. Coming to Christ is not a mystical experience-as seeing a vision, and hearing a voice. . .
What do these three things have to do with those, who say, when asked, if are saved,
''I made a decision to try Jesus, or ''I saw Jesus in a vision, '' or ''I heard a voice.''/
Now, get this truth; ONE'S COMING TO CHRIST IS A MANIFESTATION OF REGENERATION. IT IS NOT, IN ORDER, TO BE BORN OF GOD.
Hence, Coming to Christ, is not a means, of being born of God, but it evidences that, The One
coming, has been born of God..
Isaiah 55;1-''Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat;m yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.''
The 3 outstanding things in this verse are; water, wine, and milk.
[1] Those Who are dissatisfied with Religious Formalism, thirst for the Spirit, Who cleanses like water. Now such dissatisfaction and thirst are the effects of Regeneration.
[2] Wine is a symbol of Divine Joy--
Psalm 104;15--'' And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.''
At the wedding feast in Cana, the good wine was kept until the last [JOHN 2;10].
Christ's turning the water into wine refutes Transubstantiation taught by The Roman Catholic
Church.
Question; If wine after consecration by the priest, looks and tastes as it did before consecration,
How can it be the blood of Christ/
The best wine kept for the last, at The Wedding, represents The Glory of Regeneration,
showing that, The Last State is better than The First.
[3] Milk is the food for spiritual growth-I Peter 2;2--]TURN AND COMMENT].
Coming to Christ involves a recognition of need, a revelation of Christ, a resignation of Oneself.
The recognition of need does not take place, in the unsanctified reason of the unregenerate mind.
The One, Who enjoys life, not centered in the Lord Jesus Christ, has never been made to feel
The Weariness of his state of burdens. . . And he won't feel that weariness, as a result of sins. until he is made spiritually alive by The Sovereign Spirit. . .
II. A PASSIVE SINNER
JOHN 3;3-[TURN].
In the study of The Total Spiritual Inability of The Unregenerate, One cannot ignore The
Passivity of those, not born of God.
The passive voice of the Greek word for ''born ''Gennao'' represents the subject, as receiving the action, or being acted upon.
Also, we notice that Christ, gave no instruction to Nicodemus, about HOW he could be born of God.
In fact, Christ, in His Personal Ministry, NEVER TOLD ANYONE, HOW TO BE BORN AGAIN.
And He never commanded anyone to be born again, be Regenerated, or, to be Quickened.
We must distinguish between The New Birth and Faith.
Now, Get this Truth-FAITH COMES FROM THE NEW BIRTH--IT DOES NOT CAUSE THE
NEW BIRTH.''
Regeneration is the exclusive work of The Sovereign God upon The Passive Sinner.
Now to deny that a sinner is completely passive to spiritual things, is to deny Depravity.
The Bible says Death comes to all men, for all have sinned--
ROMANS 5;17-19--''For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upom all men to condemnation;even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Fallen Man is corrupt in all his ways; therefore, his whole nature moves in opposition to God.''
Corruption is evident in all of man's life, and comes from the depths of his depraved heart.
Life outside of Christ, is in sin, guilt, lusts of the flesh, disobedience, hardness, un-repentance, and under The Wrath of God.
Apart from The Grace of Regeneration [born of God, born from above, new birth, made alive, new creature], The Sinner continues in a life of sin, in which he treasures up wrath against The Day of Wrath and God's Righteous Judging.
Now, Get This Truth; Man, as a passive sinner, IS NOT A PARTNER WITH GOD IN REGENERATION.
HE DOES NOT PLAY THE DECISIVE ROLE IN THE NEW BIRTH.
QUESTION; Who opens Whose Heart for The Truth/
Answer -ACTS 16;14-[TURN].
Now, It was The Holy Spirit, and not Paul's Preaching, that enabled Lydia, to receive the message, which affected her understanding, emotion, and will, so that, she could pay close attention.
Thus, When One is born again, he goes from being passive to being active in and for Spiritual
Things.
Now, Get This Truth-THOSE, WHO BELIEVE IN FREE GRACE, DO NOT DENY THAT,
THE SINNER HAS A WILL;
But his will is insensitive to spiritual things-thus, it goes only in one direction-down away from God-
JOHN 3;19-20-''And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds be reproved.''
Every living sinner wants to be saved, from going to Hell, but, apart from grace, he does not want to be saved from his sins, in which he lives, and has pleasure in.
His desire is to be free from physical torture, not to be free from his sins.
ISAIAH 1;16-20-[TURN].
Now, Get This Truth; GOD DOES NOT REASON WITH THE UNREASONABLE.
These verses apply to the remnant, God had, among The Wicked.
There is no mercy, at The Bar of Justice, but there is, at The Throne of Grace.
God was telling The Remnant, to break off their sins by repentance, and then, to follow instruction.
Man's Reason apart from grace is unreasonable regarding spiritual things.
The Mind of The Un Regenerated is;
Natural [1 COR. 2;14], FLESHLY [GAL. 2;18], VAIN [EPH. 4;17-18], DEFILED [TITUS 1;15].
Since The Fall, The Sinner discerns evil- but, The Saved, has his senses exercised to discern good and evil--
Hebrews 5;14-''But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.''
Hypocrites boldly enter into dispute with God, but Reason marks Christians as distinct from
Hypocrites.
Christians understand that the proper function of Reason in relation to faith, is to receive God's
Truth, because God provides for believers, spiritual weapons--
2 COR. 10;4-5--''[For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and brining into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.''
Next, We see that, The Arminians argue that, The Sinner must exercise His free will to come to Christ, before he can have any rest-this, too, denies depravity-
Matthew 11;28-''Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.''
QUESTION; WHO FIRST COMES TO WHOM/
After He fell, Adam did not come first, to The Lord God;
but The Lord God came to The Garden, Where Adam was hiding, and called him [Genesis 3;8-10].
The Woman of Samaria didn't 1st come to Christ, He came to her.
Zacchaeus didn't first come to Christ, Christ came to him [Luke 19;1-10].
JOHN 6;44-''No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day''.
One must learn What Coming to Christ is not, before ascertaining what it is, in the light of Biblical
Evidence;
1. Coming to Christ is not a physical act, such as, coming forward, raising the hand, going into The
Inquiry Room, being Baptized, etc.
People will come, as long as they think, they can do something.
2. Coming to Christ is not an act of the mind, as repeating the sinner's prayer, or deciding for
Christ. If this was all that was needed, there would be no need for The Spirit's Regenerating
Work.
3. Coming to Christ is not a mystical experience-as seeing a vision, and hearing a voice. . .
What do these three things have to do with those, who say, when asked, if are saved,
''I made a decision to try Jesus, or ''I saw Jesus in a vision, '' or ''I heard a voice.''/
Now, get this truth; ONE'S COMING TO CHRIST IS A MANIFESTATION OF REGENERATION. IT IS NOT, IN ORDER, TO BE BORN OF GOD.
Hence, Coming to Christ, is not a means, of being born of God, but it evidences that, The One
coming, has been born of God..
Isaiah 55;1-''Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat;m yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.''
The 3 outstanding things in this verse are; water, wine, and milk.
[1] Those Who are dissatisfied with Religious Formalism, thirst for the Spirit, Who cleanses like water. Now such dissatisfaction and thirst are the effects of Regeneration.
[2] Wine is a symbol of Divine Joy--
Psalm 104;15--'' And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.''
At the wedding feast in Cana, the good wine was kept until the last [JOHN 2;10].
Christ's turning the water into wine refutes Transubstantiation taught by The Roman Catholic
Church.
Question; If wine after consecration by the priest, looks and tastes as it did before consecration,
How can it be the blood of Christ/
The best wine kept for the last, at The Wedding, represents The Glory of Regeneration,
showing that, The Last State is better than The First.
[3] Milk is the food for spiritual growth-I Peter 2;2--]TURN AND COMMENT].
Coming to Christ involves a recognition of need, a revelation of Christ, a resignation of Oneself.
The recognition of need does not take place, in the unsanctified reason of the unregenerate mind.
The One, Who enjoys life, not centered in the Lord Jesus Christ, has never been made to feel
The Weariness of his state of burdens. . . And he won't feel that weariness, as a result of sins. until he is made spiritually alive by The Sovereign Spirit. . .
Saturday, August 9, 2008
THE SUBJECTIVE LIFE--Part 1
Under The Subjective Life, found in Verses 1-8, of John 3, We shall look at;
1. A DEPRAVED RELIGIONIST
2. A PASSIVE SINNER
3. UNSANCTIFIED REASON
4. BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT
5. FLESH AND SPIRIT
6. NECESSITY FOR REGENERATION
I. A DEPRAVED RELIGIONIST
John 3;1-2-''There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.''
Although Nicodemus was a high ranking Jewish official;
he was a depraved, religious Pharisee.
His name is a compound noun-[''nike''=Victory''; ''Demos''=People] and means, ''Conqueror of
The People''.
He was a member of The Sanhedrin, The Supreme Religious and Civil Tribunal, which was the
final court of interpretation and enforcement of Jewish Law.
The Pharisees were zealous for their sect, which began, after the Jews returned from Babylonian
Captivity.
The Pharisees were Separatists, Who had their own interpretation of The Scriptures.
Thy has their own code of morals, and emphasized outward evidences of Religious Piety.
They made void The Scriptures, by their traditions.
Nicodemus didn't know he was a lost sheep, when he came to Jesus by night.
His coming was motivated by the miracles of Jesus.
The proud Pharisee called Jesus, ''Rabbi,'' thus placing himself on the same level, with our Lord.
He was saying, ''We Rabbis, know what you're doing, as A Rabbi.''
This manner of address shows Nicodemus did not know, Who Jesus really was.
The Questions, he asked, prove that, he was not Regenerated in John 3.
Nicodemus' Questions revealed;
1. How the natural man is unable to understand spiritual truths--1 COR. 2;14-[TURN].
2. How far, a person can be advanced in worldly wisdom, and be spiritually ignorant.
3. How One can be in Organized Religion, and know nothing, about Saving Grace.
Jesus didn't answer Nicodemus, but spoke to him, as an Unregenerate Man.
JOHN 3;3-''Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.''
The Word for ''Born Again'' is ''Anothen,'' and means, to be born from Above.
''Born from Above'' in John 3;3,7, shows that the new life comes down from God, and effects a complete and radical change, in The Elect, who have been raised out of Spiritual Death, which is
the result of their depravity.
Now, Religionists try to refute The Truth of Depravity by making these ten statements;
1. Adam only sinned in his own Person-There is no reason why God should impute his sin to
infants.
2. We do not have the evil of sin by birth.
3. Sin must be voluntary, to be sin.
4. That One is held guilty of a sin, not his own, is inequitable.
5. God in justice, can't send one to Hell for Original Sin.
6. The old fatalism view is dying.
7. Man is not so corrupt, that he can't believe to save his soul.
8. One can be saved anytime he want to.
9. Since man is commanded to believe, he is not so dead, that he can't.
10. One's name is written in The Book of Life when he believes-hence Faith, Regeneration, and justification, all happen at the same time.
all 10 statements are not true.
Depravity signifies these truths about what man is by nature;
1. He is spiritually dead-Ephesians 2;1
2. He is Darkness-Ephesians 5;8
3.He is mortal-Hebrews 9;27.
The sinner is unable to;
1. Understand The Kingdom of God-v. 3 ''see''
2. Enter it-v. 5
3. Come to Christ-John 6;44
4. Understand Spiritual things-I COR. 2;14
1. A DEPRAVED RELIGIONIST
2. A PASSIVE SINNER
3. UNSANCTIFIED REASON
4. BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT
5. FLESH AND SPIRIT
6. NECESSITY FOR REGENERATION
I. A DEPRAVED RELIGIONIST
John 3;1-2-''There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.''
Although Nicodemus was a high ranking Jewish official;
he was a depraved, religious Pharisee.
His name is a compound noun-[''nike''=Victory''; ''Demos''=People] and means, ''Conqueror of
The People''.
He was a member of The Sanhedrin, The Supreme Religious and Civil Tribunal, which was the
final court of interpretation and enforcement of Jewish Law.
The Pharisees were zealous for their sect, which began, after the Jews returned from Babylonian
Captivity.
The Pharisees were Separatists, Who had their own interpretation of The Scriptures.
Thy has their own code of morals, and emphasized outward evidences of Religious Piety.
They made void The Scriptures, by their traditions.
Nicodemus didn't know he was a lost sheep, when he came to Jesus by night.
His coming was motivated by the miracles of Jesus.
The proud Pharisee called Jesus, ''Rabbi,'' thus placing himself on the same level, with our Lord.
He was saying, ''We Rabbis, know what you're doing, as A Rabbi.''
This manner of address shows Nicodemus did not know, Who Jesus really was.
The Questions, he asked, prove that, he was not Regenerated in John 3.
Nicodemus' Questions revealed;
1. How the natural man is unable to understand spiritual truths--1 COR. 2;14-[TURN].
2. How far, a person can be advanced in worldly wisdom, and be spiritually ignorant.
3. How One can be in Organized Religion, and know nothing, about Saving Grace.
Jesus didn't answer Nicodemus, but spoke to him, as an Unregenerate Man.
JOHN 3;3-''Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.''
The Word for ''Born Again'' is ''Anothen,'' and means, to be born from Above.
''Born from Above'' in John 3;3,7, shows that the new life comes down from God, and effects a complete and radical change, in The Elect, who have been raised out of Spiritual Death, which is
the result of their depravity.
Now, Religionists try to refute The Truth of Depravity by making these ten statements;
1. Adam only sinned in his own Person-There is no reason why God should impute his sin to
infants.
2. We do not have the evil of sin by birth.
3. Sin must be voluntary, to be sin.
4. That One is held guilty of a sin, not his own, is inequitable.
5. God in justice, can't send one to Hell for Original Sin.
6. The old fatalism view is dying.
7. Man is not so corrupt, that he can't believe to save his soul.
8. One can be saved anytime he want to.
9. Since man is commanded to believe, he is not so dead, that he can't.
10. One's name is written in The Book of Life when he believes-hence Faith, Regeneration, and justification, all happen at the same time.
all 10 statements are not true.
Depravity signifies these truths about what man is by nature;
1. He is spiritually dead-Ephesians 2;1
2. He is Darkness-Ephesians 5;8
3.He is mortal-Hebrews 9;27.
The sinner is unable to;
1. Understand The Kingdom of God-v. 3 ''see''
2. Enter it-v. 5
3. Come to Christ-John 6;44
4. Understand Spiritual things-I COR. 2;14
INTRODUCTION
THE SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE ASPECTS OF LIFE AND THEIR RESULTS
JOHN 3;1-21.
There is no passage in The Bible, used more, abused more, and less understood than John 3;
1-21.
Many use this passage to present their views on The Science of Salvation. Today, 3 major
systems of belief, are espoused, from this one passage;
1, Baptismal Regeneration
2. Faith Regeneration
3. Spirit Regeneration
Now, I want to clearly say, that heresy cloaked in Biblical Language remains Heresy.
Scriptural Terms are used by many, to teach, the opposite, of what The Scriptures affirm.
Now, the idea that God's Word, which has been permanently settled in Heaven, and permanently given, can mean different things to different people is ludicrous.
The Holy Spirit will always teach the same thing to different people.
Now, Get This Truth; NOTHING IS GIVEN IN TIME, BUT WHAT WAS PURPOSED IN
ETERNITY.
Our Study of John 3;1-21, will be executed, by considering these Truths;
NUMBER ONE--Regeneration is necessary because of Man's State of being Degenerated, or
Depraved.
Regeneration is God's inward work of Grace, by The Holy Spirit, in which He implants The
Principle of Spiritual Life, into The Soul.
NUMBER TWO--The Purpose of Regeneration is to produce an outward act of turning to God in
A Conversion Experience, that causes One, to keep turning to God.
Regeneration is a completed and single act, and is never repeated.
Conversion is The Beginning of A Holy Life, until we are made like The Lord Jesus Christ.
Regeneration is God's exclusive act on the passive sinner;
Conversion is the act of The Regenerated Person, by The Power of The Inward Principle of Life.
Subsequent to God's Drawing, The One drawn, follows Him.
NUMBER 3-Distinction is made between The Regenerate, Who love The Light, and The
Unregenerate, Who hate it--JOHN 3;17-21--[TURN].
Now, One can never become like Christ, unless he first exists in Christ--
John 1;12-13-''But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.''
John 3;1-21 is divided into 3 main sections;
1. VERSES 1-8-THE SUBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE
2. VERSES 9-15-THE OBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE
3. VERSES 16-21-RESULLTS OF THE SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE ASPECTS OF LIFE.
JOHN 3;1-21.
There is no passage in The Bible, used more, abused more, and less understood than John 3;
1-21.
Many use this passage to present their views on The Science of Salvation. Today, 3 major
systems of belief, are espoused, from this one passage;
1, Baptismal Regeneration
2. Faith Regeneration
3. Spirit Regeneration
Now, I want to clearly say, that heresy cloaked in Biblical Language remains Heresy.
Scriptural Terms are used by many, to teach, the opposite, of what The Scriptures affirm.
Now, the idea that God's Word, which has been permanently settled in Heaven, and permanently given, can mean different things to different people is ludicrous.
The Holy Spirit will always teach the same thing to different people.
Now, Get This Truth; NOTHING IS GIVEN IN TIME, BUT WHAT WAS PURPOSED IN
ETERNITY.
Our Study of John 3;1-21, will be executed, by considering these Truths;
NUMBER ONE--Regeneration is necessary because of Man's State of being Degenerated, or
Depraved.
Regeneration is God's inward work of Grace, by The Holy Spirit, in which He implants The
Principle of Spiritual Life, into The Soul.
NUMBER TWO--The Purpose of Regeneration is to produce an outward act of turning to God in
A Conversion Experience, that causes One, to keep turning to God.
Regeneration is a completed and single act, and is never repeated.
Conversion is The Beginning of A Holy Life, until we are made like The Lord Jesus Christ.
Regeneration is God's exclusive act on the passive sinner;
Conversion is the act of The Regenerated Person, by The Power of The Inward Principle of Life.
Subsequent to God's Drawing, The One drawn, follows Him.
NUMBER 3-Distinction is made between The Regenerate, Who love The Light, and The
Unregenerate, Who hate it--JOHN 3;17-21--[TURN].
Now, One can never become like Christ, unless he first exists in Christ--
John 1;12-13-''But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.''
John 3;1-21 is divided into 3 main sections;
1. VERSES 1-8-THE SUBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE
2. VERSES 9-15-THE OBJECTIVE ASPECT OF LIFE
3. VERSES 16-21-RESULLTS OF THE SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE ASPECTS OF LIFE.
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