Part 24
b. Logically why would God put the lost to sleep till the judgment and then torment, or destroy them. It makes no sense.
c. The Scriptures never speak of soul sleep, or the total destruction of the lost. Why would anyone assume it?
The lost are going to be just as eternal as we are. They just won't be comfortable.
With all of the emphasis on the love of God, we have tended to shy away from talking about hell. Some wonder why God would ever describe in His Word, the terrors of Hell? It is obvious to many, to give people a proper
choice of heaven and hell. The prophets gave God's message of destruction and the purpose was that God was hoping that some would turn from their sin, but they did not.
Hell is described quite well in the scripture. It may well be that God doesn't want anyone telling Him that they would have accepted the Lord if they had known how bad it would be.
Another heresy of our day concerns a place where God purifies the lost in preparation for their time in heaven. The Mormons teach that if you don't accept their teaching here that you will be given a second chance after death. The problem is that you will have to be purified for a while in hell until you are ready for heaven.
The Catholics also have their thought except they call it purgatory. They feel that if a church member is not good enough at death they will go to purgatory for purification. Your relatives can pray and pay you out of purgatory if they desire to. The one big question is, how much paying and praying will it take. You never know if you've done enough.
Is punishment remedial? It depends on what you are talking about. When punishing a child it is quite remedial. You will find that they respond quite well to punishment. Our daughter told us that she had said no-no to an item. Our granddaughter touched it and received a swat with the second no-no. The "little angel" touched it again, and before her mother could do anything, the angel was squinting her eyes and bracing for the swat that she knew she was going to receive. Remember the will we were talking about?
If you are talking about the believer, yes punishment is remedial, in that the chastisement is to bring the believer into a proper relationship with his God.
If you are talking about the criminal, yes there is a remedial aspect to punishment. Not only in the one punished, but in those that hear of his punishment. There is one country that has the death penalty for anyone caught with drugs. Would you believe they have no drug problem in that country?
If you are talking about punishment of the lost, then no, punishment is not remedial. Their punishment is set and eternal.
One further question that we need to deal with. If a person has not heard the Gospel will they be in heaven? Some believe that the lost are lost, because they have rejected the Gospel, however if they have never heard the Gospel, then they are not held responsible. Others say that all are lost, no matter whether they have heard the Gospel and rejected, or if they have never heard.
What is the answer? Are they lost or saved? First of all, if they are saved, then why worry about going to them with the Gospel. The great commission is a foolish thing for Christ to have given. Secondly, Romans 1-2 shows that God has given light to all of mankind concerning Himself. If a person responds to that light then God will see to it that the Gospel is preached to that person before they die. God could not be just if He withheld the Gospel from anyone that was seriously seeking the creator.
All are responsible to respond to the light that they have. If they don't respond, then God has no reason, nor responsibility to save them.
Well, maybe just one more question. There usually is a question that comes up in relation to punishment. I would like to list some comments on the subject of babies that die. Some believe that they go immediately to be with the Lord as all dead saints, and others feel that they go immediately to the place of eternal suffering. I think that this subject was covered in a previous study, but I will include some thoughts here as well.
I will not answer this question for all readers, but would like to list some information and texts that might allow you to do further study.
A related question is the mentally retarded, or physically deformed, which do not acquire the mental capability of understanding the Gospel message. Those that cannot understand would be the same as a baby that died in infancy. Those that can understand, and that can make conscious decisions, will be held accountable, as every other man woman and child that understands the message and rejects it. On the other hand, if they accept the Gospel, they will enjoy the Lord for all of eternity.
2 Samuel 12:16-23 is the key passage of Scripture that relates to our question. It depicts David in the context of losing his son to death. Verse 23 mentions, "But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."
This is a very plain and bold statement of David's belief that his child was in paradise.
Job in chapter three laments the fact that he was even born. (11-13) "Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not expire when I came out of my mother's body? For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept; then had I been at rest." This indicates his belief that death as a new born baby would have put him at rest eternally.
Those that believe that babies go to punishment normally set forth the fact that all men have the sin nature, and that all sinned in Adam. If that is true then the only way to heaven is the Lord Jesus, however the question is this. Did Christ die for the sin of the world, including the sin nature? Yes. He did all that was required to bring man to God. The work is done. Those that reject Christ, reject His work on the cross and suffer eternally for their rejection. Those that accept are eternally with Him. The child that has not been given opportunity to say ye, or nay would automatically be included in the work of Christ.
The opposition would say of this then that the heathen are automatically saved. NO. They have rejected the natural revelation of God in nature and in them. They have rejected and are on their way to eternal torment. Their children that have not reached accountability, or possibly a better term would be the age of understandability, will be with the Lord.
Scripture text? Only those that have been given. I have known good, fundamental men that oppose my thought, but many others that agree. Study it for yourself.
We might close with the thought that God is Just — perfectly just. He will not send a baby to heaven if it is not just, nor will He send a baby to hell if it is not just. He will do as His justice demands, no matter what we decide on the subject.
This should be a comfort to those that loose a child, or that have a badly retarded child. God is the God of comfort and He can help anyone through these situations.
Some references that may help: 2 Corinthians 1:3; Luke 18:16; Romans 8:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16, 17.
In a situation where some parent is in one of these situations, it would be best to just comfort them without bringing up the subject. If they ask, then give them the information that you have. The key, however is the comfort that they need.
1. If I believed that God does chastise, why in the world would I continue in sin? If I believed that chastisement turns into scourging, why in the world would I continue in sin? Both are beyond me. Yet, some do it.
I have a very dear Christian acquaintance that related to me that as a young man he had a good business and God started leading him away from that business to go north to work as a layperson in a church. He said no many times to the Lord's promptings. He was on his death bed with pneumonia when he finally decided that the Lord was serious.
He said, yes and went north. He said his job over the years payed better than his business could ever have paid, and that his health was better as well. He was able to retire and spend many years enjoying his life and family due to that simple yes to God's prompting.
2. If we really believe Hebrews 12, and what it indicates about chastisement, we would certainly be moved to care for our own physical children in the same manner that our Heavenly Father cares for us. We should seek to break the self will of the child before the Lord has to do it in adult life, when the chastisement will be hard.
3. What do you know of hell? Let me just list some of the topics concerning eternal punishment for the lost.
Darkness: Matthew 8:12; Psalm 49:19
Bound: Matthew 22:13
Memory: Luke 16
Conscience
Lust and Desire: Revelation 22:11
No hope: Isaiah 38:18; Proverbs 11:7
Fire: Jude seven; Matthew 5:22; Mark 9:44
Companions: Revelation 21:8; 22:15
Fear:
Isolation: Jude 13
Pain:
The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. The lost are sinners and deserve the very best that Satan has to offer, and that is, his eternal repose, that is his eternal dwelling place, that is his eternal destination, that is the eternal burning fire of hell.
The sinner is lost and on his way to hell and nothing can stop that decent into the place prepared for him lest he call on the merciful name of Jesus Christ.
Your choice is heaven or hell.
Your choice is eternal delight or eternal agony.
Your choice is eternal life or eternal death.
Your choice is the refreshing waters of the river of life or the flames of hell.
Your choice is eternity with the Father or eternity with the father of lies.
Your choice is eternal light or eternal darkness.
Your choice is eternal comfort or eternal suffering.
Your choice is eternal joy or eternal sorrow.
Your choice is a glorified body or a tormented body.
Your choice is eternal fellowship with Christ or eternal fallowship with Satan.
Your choice is accept Jesus Christ as your Savior or accept the consequences of following the devil into the lake of fire.
That is if you call that a choice.
To me the choice is obvious to the most casual observer.
To put it as one flippant observer of the Gospel has put it, "It's turn or burn."
TRIUMPH OVER SIN
We need to realize that evil is not eternal. It did not exist in eternity past however it is everlasting. It will exist into eternity future. It is important to know that the evil in the future, exists only in the lake of fire. Once Christ finishes the judgments, all evil will be isolated with the Devil and his, in the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20:10, Revelation 20:14)
All evil will be eradicated from God's domain, one way or another as the eternal state is instituted.
Will all evil be confined in the Lake of fire? This is a philosophical question. The evil will be confined, that is the people and fallen angels however one might ponder whether they will be able to do further evil in their confines. I suspect, that outward acts of evil will be missing. Hell has the idea of silence and binding. This would make all but mental evil impossible. If the torment is as bad as I suspect it will be, then it is probable that they will not think of evil, but of their pain and torment.
Indeed, Luke 16:19 ff indicates that the lost have very good thoughts. The rich man was concerned with his brothers. It may be as they bow before the Lord in submission that the priority straightening will be permanent.
Reason would require that a righteous God would put a limit to the progression and lasting of evil. He must stop it at some point in time. Indeed, the lake of fire and all it means may well be His method of putting a final stop to all evil. He binds it forever.
A brief overview of the resurrections would be good at this point. The Lord took the Old Testament saints out of Abraham's bosom when He ascended to heaven. The New Testament saints will be taken at the Rapture. The Old Testament saints are resurrected at the beginning of the Millennium. Where they are at present is not clear. The thought of "present with the Lord" is clear in Scripture however they are not in Sheol. The thought seems to be that they are raised in the end time, so there may be a place for them in the earth in some manner. My personal opinion would place them with the New Testament saints, in the Lord's presence. The lost of all ages will be raised at the end of the Millennial kingdom for
the Great White Throne judgment. The saved will spend eternity with Christ, and the lost will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the Devil.
The raising of Lazarus was not a resurrection as such, for he had to go through death twice. The final resurrections are for all eternity.
1. Christ's own resurrection was the first resurrection unto eternal everlasting life. He is the example of our own coming resurrection.
2. The resurrection of the saints at the rapture for the joining in the air.
3. The resurrection of the righteous Jews at the end of the tribulation and the beginning of the millennium. They will be a part of the fulfillment of all the promises of the Old Testament.
4. The resurrection of the lost. Revelation 20:12-13,
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hades delivered up the dead that were in them...."
Some feel that it is possible for some righteous from the Millennium to be raised at this judgment. They were killed in the Millennium. Whether any righteous die in the Millennium is the question. If there are, then those believers will be raised either in a separate resurrection, or at the raising of the dead. I question there being a resurrection that we aren't told of however.
Some suggest that John 5:25-29 speaks of one general resurrection for all the dead. It is not viewing number, but the fact of all being raised. Other scriptures show that there are more than one resurrection.
The final enemy is death. 1 Corinthians 15:26, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." How can a believer use that verse in his own life, or in the life of others?
This may relate to the fact that believers may not die in a bed of roses. You may find some that hang onto life tenaciously and struggle to continue living right up to the last moment, and with their dieing breath desire to
live. Others may die with a smile on their face, looking forward to seeing the Lord.
Death is an enemy. It need not be for the believer. If the believer finds his purpose in Christ then he may well go to see Him very peacefully. On the other hand if a person has not found that peace, and if a person has much to do for his Lord, there may be a real dread of dieing. I've on the other hand seen people that were probably lost, die in relative peace.
Death is an enemy and we need to realize it and not condemn believers, if they don't have the peace at death that we think that they should.
What is the purpose of the end times, the resurrections and the whole end times agenda? 1 Corinthians 15:28,
"And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."
It is to give God the preeminence in all things.
Chafer mentions four dwelling places to be found in Revelation 20:11 through 22:7. The new heaven, The new Jerusalem or heavenly city, The new earth, The place known as "without". He goes into some detail concerning these three abodes of the believer. A good study is to be found in each of the four.
He mentions that there seems to be a freedom to travel from one to the other in the first three, however those dwelling without, are limited to that sphere of dwelling. In your spare time you might like to dwell on the following text and let me know what you find. I have not studied it as yet, but it has some very interesting possibilities for truth which I have never heard before (Isaiah 66:22-24).
The new city is evidently that city which Abraham looked for in Hebrews 11:10,16. Thus we must assume that Israel is involved in this city. It is called the bride and the lamb's wife so the church will be involved in it as well.
There is a discussion about whether this city is ever placed upon the earth, or whether it may be a satellite city. In other words does it hover over the
surface of the earth. Since it is never mentioned that it is placed upon the earth it is quite possible that it is hovering, or more exactly "PLACED" above the surface of the earth. It really makes little difference that I can see, other than we want to be as Scriptural as possible.
On the other hand the earth was promised to Israel not the church. It is possible that the city is basically for the church and the earth is basically for Israel. Why, I don't have the foggiest. The problem with this is that Israel's tribes are upon the gates of the city.
I'm not sure there would be a distinction since eternity is prepared for all of us. I would assume that the city is the dwelling place that Christ went to prepare for us. I would not be hurt if my next door neighbor was a Jew. I rather suspect that the city is for dwelling and the earth is for enjoying, but that is doctrine of Derickson.
The lighting system will be of the latest possible design, or should I say of the oldest possible design. It is the Glory of the Lord.
"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in
it; for the glory of God did light it, and the Lamb is the lamp of it."
Revelation 21:23
Indeed, the glories of the new state will be quite extreme.
"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former
shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." (Isaiah 6517)
That's something to think about. We won't remember the ocean beaches, the mountains, the bluffs of Wyoming, the glories of Montana, The hills of South Dakota, nor the desolateness of Nebraska. (I was born and raised in Nebraska so I can say that. It isn't altogether true, anyway.)
We see in Revelation 21:1-4 that God is dwelling with man and that there will be no more tears, death, sorrow, crying, pain or former things. This is not to say that before God eliminates those things that He won't confront believers with things that will draw much pain and sorrow, things from their lives that were remiss in their serving Him completely. I would relate this to unconfessed sin. We will not be held accountable, yet we may well be shown what we could have done for God had we followed Him in all that He desired.
Romans 11:33, 36 state,
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out."
"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen."
Amen. What a fitting end to our study of our sin as man.
Possibly a contrast would make things even more pointed.
The Triumph Of God Over Sin And Evil
The Plus Side Of Triumph The Negative Side Of Triumph
The Heavens Restored Satan In Lake Of Fire
The Earth Restored Death In Lake Of Fire
Christ Seated With God The Lost In Lake Of Fire
Nature At Rest The Fallen Angels In Torment
The Righteous With God The False Prophet In Torment
New Jerusalem In Place The Beast In Torment
No Evil, Crying Or Pain Eternal Torment
Eternal Joy No Peace
Eternal Peace No Hope
INTRODUCTION TO
SOTERIOLOGY
Soteriology comes from the Greek term "soterion" meaning salvation and "logia" meaning study. A study of salvation.
The meaning of salvation communicates the following ideas in Scripture: deliverance, safety, preservation, soundness, restoration, and healing. It is in a general sense a work on the behalf of man, by His creator. In specific, we are talking about that act or work of God that restores full and inseparable fellowship between God and man.
We will be covering the doctrine of Salvation by topics. The topics will be covered in the following order: conviction, repentance, faith, forgiveness, regeneration, propitiation, redemption, reconciliation, sanctification, justification, security, fore-knowledge/predestination/election, Calvinism vs. Armenianism, atonement, and glorification.
I heard an interview of three women healers years ago. One of them was Ruth Carter Stapleton. The host of the talk show asked her what it meant to be born again. She related that it could be many things. It could be one thing for a Roman Catholic, and something else for another person. She mentioned that it could happen when you saw a beautiful painting. She called it a religious awareness. Several questions sprang into my mind after hearing her definition of being born again.
Is there a difference between being born again and religious awareness? Can you be born again in more that one way? Does knowing you've had a religious experience get you to heaven?
On the tape is a woman that was in the hospital and she picked up her Bible and opened it. She opened to two pages that were completely blank. On those pages God literally wrote with Jesus Blood the words "I love you."
Is it any wonder why some pastors preach against the Charismatic movement? Personally, I wonder why more pastors don't.
I trust salvation and being born again mean more to you than seeing a beautiful painting.
In salvation two thoughts come to mind. Chafer puts it this way, "on the one hand, to be saved is to be rescued from a lost estate, while, on the other hand, to be saved is to be brought into a saved estate, vitally renewed, and made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light." (Chafer, Lewis Sperry; "Systematic Theology"; Dallas, TX: Dallas Seminary Press, 1947, p 5)
Let us look at salvation as a whole and see where it has been as well as where it is going.
Salvation is from eternal hell: John 3:16 All of mankind is under the penalty of death, and eternal torment. This is true no matter how hard the liberal theologians deny it. It is a sentence that is set, and it is a sentence that is to be carried out.
Some tell us not to talk about hell, because we do not want to scare people into heaven. Personally if they have a genuine salvation experience, what does it matter if they listened out of fear, or even terror. It is the Gospel message that must be given, and it is hell that is a part of the message. Christ spoke of eternal torment a number of times in His own ministry.
Salvation is for God's purpose: Ephesians 2:7
"That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
Naturally man is the recipient of all this, yet God did it because He desired it — not because we conned Him into it. We surely benefit from His grace and His riches, but grace and riches are only a by-product of His overall program — bringing glory to Himself.
Salvation is free and not attainable by works: Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."; Ephesians 2:8-10
Salvation, the most important, the most beautiful, the most valuable thing that man might gain. It is free, it is without strings, and it is a gift from our Creator.
Many there are through the centuries that have tried to work for salvation, to fight for salvation and to gain salvation, yet it is there for the asking.
Salvation is a past, present and future condition in two ways:
1. The Physical Realm: It is offered in the Old Testament economies, it is offered in the New Testament economy, and it will be offered in the future millennial economy. It was available to all of mankind in the past, it is available to all of mankind in this present time, and it will be available to all of mankind in the future days. It will be offered until the consummation of the age.
2. The Spiritual Realm: On an individual basis it is past, due to the election of God. It is present in that the saint is being saved from eternal damnation. It will be a completed work in the future.
We are beings in transition in this life. We are saved in God's mind at this moment in time, yet we are not yet completely and finally saved until we are present before Him in our glorified bodies.
1. God has always been in the saving business and will remain in that business until all is complete.
2. None that should be saved will be left, for God will not cut off the program before someone gets there.
Might I share a personal belief with you. I think that it is a valid application of an Old Testament account. The people who owned and occupied the land of Israel, before the Israelites conquered them, were a vile people. God gave them the forty years that Israel wondered in the wilderness to turn to Him. He was longsuffering with them. He gave them extra time, just in case they might change. This gave them many years to turn to God yet they did nothing. There would have been grace for them just as there will be grace for any that want to respond to him today.
The solemn point is this; at some point in time the Lord will cut off His offer of salvation. He will swing into the completion of His program for this earth and it's people, closing the door to salvation.
In closing, just remember that salvation was God's idea. He did a fine job of putting together His plan in eternity past, even though man attempts to change that plan from time to time by denying God's part in it, or by denying that man needs the plan.
We need the plan, and it is free.
CONVICTION
Conviction comes in two types. The lost experience conviction when the Lord is drawing them unto Himself. The believer experiences conviction when the Lord is drawing them unto Him. The difference is that the lost benefits, when he responds, by receiving salvation, while the believer regains fellowship with the Lord.
What is it like to be under conviction as a lost person? A man I ministered with in Denver, CO years ago told me of his talk with his father, when the father was on his death bed. The man had witnessed to his dad many times, but to no avail. The father told his son just before he died that he knew that the Gospel was what he needed. He knew that his son was right in what he was telling him. With tears in his eyes, he said, "But I just can't accept Jesus." The man knew his sin, he knew that Christ was his answer, yet even when facing death, he refused the peace of salvation.
Others when faced with their conviction, fall before the throne of grace accepting the work of Christ on their behalf.
The moments before a person accepts the Lord vary from person to person. Some are very emotional. They have lived so long under sins' domination, that they are elated when they find there is a way of freedom. Others that have lived a fairly decent life, may just move through the acceptance of the Gospel with no real emotional moving.
What is it like to be under conviction as a saved person that has sin in his, or her life? What is it like when God is leading a person into something and the person refuses to move ahead?
Again, different people react and feel differently however there are a few common items that we might mention. There will quite often be a sense that the Lord is far away. If there have been chastisements, then the person knows that God is dealing with them. There may be a feeling of dread of what might come next. There may also be a very severe loneliness, spiritually.
I will share one brief illustration. I was raised in a Christian Church, and was baptized many years before I was saved. As I was learning things in Bible College, I came to the place where I knew that I should be baptized as a believer. Being a very shy person, I did not want to go through all that. As time went by, I was very definitely aware of my disobedience. The finances went to pot, work was not going well, the family was not doing well, and all because I was saying no. Conviction is powerful.
DEFINITION
"In evangelical Protestantism, attainment of a sense of sin and a need of salvation through the work of the Holy Spirit." (Kauffman, Donald T.; "The Dictionary Of Religious Terms"; Westwood, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1967)
Do you like his thought, that it is an attainment? I think that this may be a misnomer. It is not something that is sought after in any case that I can remember. It is something that is brought upon a person not something that one might attain. Kaufman is correct however in the thought that it is a "sense of sin and a need of salvation." He is also correct to attribute this ministry to the Holy Spirit.
"To convict, confute, refute, usually with the suggestion of putting the convicted person to shame;" (Vine, W. E.; "An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words"; Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co, p 239)
"Convict, kon-vikt', Conviction, kon-vik'-shun....It always implies the presentation of evidence. It is a decision presumed to be based upon a careful and discriminating consideration of all the proofs offered, and has a legal character, the verdict being rendered either in God's judgment (Romans 3 19) [think I disagree on this ref.] or before men (John 8 46) by an appeal to their consciences in which God's law is written (Romans 2 15). Since such conviction is addressed to the heart of the guilty, as well as concerning him externally, the word "reprove" is sometimes substituted." (Orr, James; "The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia"; Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub., 1939, article by H. E. Jacobs pp 707,708)
"The meaning of conviction as a law term is being found guilty. In common language it means being persuaded or convinced. In theology it means being
condemned at the bar of one's own conscience as a sinner in view of the law of God. It is the antecedent to repentance, and is often accompanied by a painful sense of exposure to God's wrath. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, showing the heinousness of sin and the soul's exposure to divine wrath." (Taken from: "Unger's Bible Dictionary"; Unger, Merrill F.; Copyright 1957, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission. p 219)
It would seem that the word convict in the Bible has a similar meaning to the word in our own day. It relates to a person being proven guilty. It carries, as well, the thought that the person realizes and concurs with the verdict.
So, now that we understand the term, how does conviction strike or affect a lost person? The lost person reacts to conviction much as the saved person. Both are proven guilty, and both agree with the verdict.
1. A feeling of guilt for the sin that he knows that he has committed. As a small child I enjoyed going into the dime store and shoplifting (I did not enjoy the buzz of the stealing, but rather the taste of the candy, or the joy of the item taken).
Very small items, usually just a piece of candy. As I was enjoying the candy I usually had regrets over what I had done. I had knowledge that it was wrong. I felt guilty — isn't that odd? I Was Guilty. So why should I be surprised that I felt that way?
The feeling of guilt can only come when you realize that you are guilty. In my case I was being confronted with what I had been taught from the Word of God in church (even though I was unsaved). I had the sense of what right and wrong was.
The lost know when they have done wrong, else why would they try to cover their wrong. Watergate is an example. The men involved went to great lengths to cover their wrong. John 3:20 may reveal something on this question —
"For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to
the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
The saved person may realize and submit to conviction quicker than the lost person. The believer knows immediately when they are out of fellowship with the Lord. This brings conviction quickly.
Conviction comes to the Christian through their conscience and the spoken Word.
From the conscience: John 8:9, "and they who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience," The context of this passage is the woman taken in adultery. Christ told them that the one without sin in their life should cast the first stone. The lost people were convicted by their conscience. They knew that none of them were without sin. It is quite possible that they were guilty of the same sin.
From the spoken Word: 1 Corinthians 14:24, 25,
"But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convicted of all, he is judged of all. And thus are
the secrets of his heart made manifest, and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth."
Just a couple of observations from this text: a. Conviction comes from prophecy in the New Testament Church. b. The unsaved have the secrets of their hearts revealed. This is a good example of the conviction of the lost. His response was neat — he fell down to worship God.
We see this in our own worship services today. At times the unsaved enter the services, hear the Gospel, and come to know the Lord. They do this because they come under conviction through what they have heard.
If the spoken Word has this effect on a person, then we could, I think safely assume, that the written word would also be capable of bringing conviction. I have heard the testimonies of several people that were reading the Word, when the Holy Spirit brought them to the Lord, without the intervention of another person. Just the reading of the Word, is sufficient to bring people to the Lord.
The prime element of all sources of conviction, is the fact that all are dependant upon the work of the Holy Spirit within the life of the person, be they saved or lost.
We can see this in John 16:7-11.
1. The Holy Spirit will convict or reprove the world of SIN.
2. The Holy Spirit will convict or reprove the world of righteousness.
3. The Holy Spirit will convict or reprove the world of judgment.
All conviction comes to the lost via the work of the Holy Spirit. All conviction comes to the believer via the work of the Holy Spirit.
1. Mark Unger suggested of conviction, "In theology it means being condemned at the bar of one's own conscience as a sinner in view of the law of God." (Taken from: "Unger's Bible Dictionary"; Unger, Merrill F.; Copyright , Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission.) How do we make this practical for our own lives?
If the only possible source of true conviction is via the Holy Spirit, then why do we try so hard to bring young believers into conformity with our life styles? True, we should show them what the Scripture teaches, and help them to understand that what they are doing is wrong. There really isn't any amount of pressure that we can apply, that will bring them into a state of honest conviction? We probably should leave it to the Holy Spirit.
Why don't be seek help from the person that can help in the situation? The Holy Spirit. This may not only relate to life style, but it may well relate to bad habits, or it may even relate to baptism. We need to be sure they know all they need to know about these things, yet the Holy Spirit is the only one that can bring them to a decision to change a life style, or break a habit, or come to the church for baptism.
2. Conviction seems to be a confrontation with the evidence to show guilt no matter what the response to the conviction might be. In salvation conviction brings evidence of guilt. That conviction may be ignored, or responded to. In the believer, the conscience, Word, or possibly another believer using the Word, produces proof of sin and error. Again, that evidence can be ignored, or responded to. Matthew 18:15ff illustrates this. If you go to a brother and he does not respond, you take witnesses. The
person has proof given to him — he responds, and changes or continues, and suffers the consequences.
Conviction, then brings the person to the point of response/no response. It can do no more. The mind and will must take it from there. Example: In past sections the reader has been confronted with a study of the fruit of the Spirit as it was contrasted with no fruit of the spirit. All readers have been confronted. How have they reacted? Have they changed their lifestyle, or are they remaining unchanged?
The presentation of the study is like presenting the Word. It brings a person to the point of response/no response. The Holy Spirit takes over and confronts through the conscience.
It is not my responsibility to force a person to respond. The prophets presented the evidence of Israel's great sin. They did the job. The fact that Israel didn't respond was disheartening I'm sure, but the prophet had done his job.
We, as Christian's, need to go to the world and do the job. The Holy Spirit will do the convicting. The people will respond one way or another.
3. This is a judgment question, but I think it might do well to ask it anyway. What outward behaviors, or mannerisms, or frame of mind does a person present when he is under the conviction of the Holy Spirit? They may be very nervous. Many, when in church stare at the floor as if totally uninterested. They may be full of honest questions not just argumentative questions. They may at times disoriented in their thinking, and their own beliefs when they are confronted with the Word.
I think the story in John 8 may indicate an uneasiness to truth and possibly an uneasiness to be close to a man of God — in this case Jesus Himself. Note also should be taken that these were unsaved men who were convicted by their conscience. They were so convicted that they left.
It has been said of the lost, "You can't repent too soon, because you don't know how soon it will be too late." It has been said of the saved, "True repentance has a double aspect. It looks upon things past with a weeping eye, and upon the future with a watchful eye." (McKenzie, E.C.; "14,000
Quips And Quotes For Writers And Speakers"; New York: Greenwich House, 1980, p 446)
4. What about the person that has sin in their life — maybe has had for several years. Can you guess what they are like? They are unhappy, they have no peace, they are full of guilt, and they are critical of everyone else's sin. (At times super sensitive in areas of their sin.) They are quite often involved in covering up their own sin. That is one sad case. If you run into this type person, suspect unconfessed sin.
David Brainard searched for peace for twenty years. He was constantly plagued with conviction in his life. He finally found peace with the Lord. I would like to quote from his diary.
"I was from my youth somewhat sober, and inclined to melancholy; but do not remember any thing of conviction of sin, worthy of remark, till I was, I believe, about seven or eight years of age. Then I became concerned for my soul, and terrified at the thoughts of death; and was driven to the performance of religious duties. . . ."
"Sometime in the beginning of winter, 1738, it pleased God, one Sabbath morning, as I was walking out for secret duties, to give me on a sudden such a sense of my danger, and the wrath of God, that I stood amazed, and my former good frames presently vanished. From the view which I had of my sin and vileness, I was much distressed all that day, fearing that the vengeance of God would soon overtake me. I was much dejected; kept much alone; and sometimes envied the birds and beasts their happiness, because they were not exposed to eternal misery, as I evidently saw that I was. Thus I lived from day to day, being frequently in great distress: sometimes there appeared mountains before me to obstruct my hopes of mercy; and the work of conversion appeared so great, that I thought I should never be the subject of it. I used, however, to pray and cry to God, and perform other duties with great earnestness; and thus hoped by some means to make the case better."
He mentions a night when he felt that the earth would open up and swallow him, sending him to his grave and his soul to hell. "I was wont to tell God in my prayers, that now I had those very dispositions of soul which he required, and on which he showed mercy to others, and thereupon to beg and plead for mercy to me. But when I found no relief, and was still oppressed with guilt and fears of wrath, my soul was in a tumult, and my heart rose against God, as dealing hardly with me."
"At some turns, for a few moments, I seemed to myself lost and undone; but then would shrink back immediately from the sight, because I dared not venture myself into the hands of God, as wholly helpless, and at the disposal of his sovereign pleasure. I dared not see that important truth concerning myself, that I was 'dead in trespasses and sins.' But when I had, as it were, thrust away these views of myself at any time, I felt distressed to have the same discoveries of myself again; for I greatly feared being given over of God to final stupidity. When I thought of putting it off to a more 'convenient season,' the conviction was so close and powerful, that the present time was the best, and probably the only time, that I dared not put it off."
"After a considerable time spent in similar exercises and distree, one morning, while I was walking in a solitary place, as usual, I at once saw that all my contrivances and projects to effect or procure deliverance and salvation for myself were utterly in vain; I was brought quite to a stand, as finding myself totally lost. I had thought many times before, that the difficulties in my way were very great; but now I saw, in another and very different light, that it was for ever impossible for me to do any thing toward helping or delivering myself."
"At this time the way of salvation opened to me with such infinite wisdom, suitableness, and excellency, that I wondered I should ever think of any other way of salvation; I was amazed that I had not dropped my own contrivances and complied with this lovely, blessed, and excellency way before. If I could have been saved by my own duties, or any other way that I had formerly contrived, my whole soul would now have refused. I wondered that all the
world did not see and comply with this way of salvation, entirely by the righteousness of Christ.
"The sweet relish of what I then felt continued with me for several days, almost constantly, in a greater or less degree. I could not but sweetly rejoice in God, lying down and rising up. The next Lord's day I felt something of the same kind, though not so powerful as before. But not long after, I was again involved in darkness, and in great distress; yet not of the same kind with my distress under convictions. I was guilty, afraid, and ashamed to come before God; and exceedingly pressed with a sense of guilt; but it was not long before I felt, I trust, true repentance and joy in God."
I suspect if the American public experienced this type of conviction, we would see some sudden changes in our country. I also suspect that if American Christians were to view sin as this man viewed it, we would see drastic changes in the Church and in the world.
REPENTANCE
When I was about ten I was commonly known as the cake and icing snitcher. I would break small pieces of icing off of the edge of the cake. As my memory serves me, I never cut a piece of cake to eat — only little snitches. One day my mother found a piece of cake missing. I was naturally the suspect of the hour, only I was innocent. My mother was bent on having me confess and repent of my crime. I told her multiplied millions of times that I had not done the nasty deed. Finally, after several hours of sitting in front of her, I admitted to the crime that I had not committed. I had many things to do, and one of them wasn't sitting in front of her.
I confessed, but there was no repentance — indeed, there could be no repentance because I had done nothing wrong. In God's eyes, He seeks people who are knowledgeable of their sin, and willing to repent.
Repentance according to Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary is ".....the action or process of repenting esp. for misdeeds or moral shortcomings....." (By permission. From Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary copyright 1991 by Merriam-Webster Inc., publisher of the Merriam-Webster (registered) Dictionaries.)
Vine mentions, "to perceive afterwards ('meta', after, implying change, 'noeo', to perceive; 'nous', the mind, the seat of moral reflection), in contrast to 'pronoeo', to perceive beforehand, hence signifies to change one's mind or purpose," (Vine, W. E.; "An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words"; Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., p 281-282)
Unger tells us "in the theological and ethical sense a fundamental and thorough change in the hearts of men from sin and toward God."
"Without some measure of faith no one can truly repent, and repentance never attains to its deepest character till the sinner realizes through saving faith how great is the grace of god against whom he has sinned."
"On the other hand there can be no saving faith without true repentance." (Taken from: "Unger's Bible Dictionary"; Unger, Merrill F.; Copyright 1957, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission.)
REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF MIND
There should be a sense of dislike toward sin, as well as a desire, and decision not to do it again. When I was snitching the cake, I was not sorry, I was not going to stop doing it; unless the punishment made it repugnant. Even when confronted with the snitching, I was not sorry for my wrong, only for getting caught.
In the case of sin and repentance toward God, there needs to be a surrendering to His will and desire. In sin, we have set aside His will or commands. In repentance, we need to include the thought of a return to what He has commanded, and turn away from our desire to set Him aside.
Repentance is a gift of God: Acts 5:31 God set Christ as the one able and desirous to extend repentance and forgiveness to the Jews. The fact that they, for the most part, rejected this free offer does not negate the offer.
God, due to the rejection of the Jews, opened His program of grace to the gentiles (Acts 11:18). The gentile world knew of their need, and multitudes received this offer of grace, repentance and salvation.
REPENTANCE IS SOMETHING THAT GOD LEADS US TO
Romans 2:4 Our salvation is based squarely on the goodness of God. He formed the plan, He executed the plan, and He draws us to the plan. Had He not acted, we would not have sought to please Him. We would not have sought to find Him. We certainly would not have sought to repent.
Repentance can have three stages: Chafer suggests these three stages for his reader's consideration.
1. Repentance comes from fear of the penalty. In this repentance there is no sorrow over what was done, just dread of the consequences.
2. The second stage of repentance comes when the person realizes the baseness of sin. It results in self condemnation, because the person is so
vile and sinful. I suspect that this is the stage that David Brainard was in during much of his struggle.
3. Upon salvation the person can more fully understand the evilness of sin, and realize the fullness of God's grace. This moves the person to genuine repentance, which can give the peace that the person has been seeking.
REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF MIND
This thought is seen in Matthew 21:28-29 where the son that would not go to work, later changed his mind and went. Within the idea of a change of mind, is the fact that the mind must consider and weigh the information, and then decide. Along with the change of mind in this case, is the act of the will to go.
In the case of sin, there needs to be a consideration of the information, a decision not to sin followed by a continuing action of the will, not to sin. To decide, and not to act is not the desired process. To decide followed by action is what God desires in His people.
This is also true in the lost person that is considering the claims of Christ. He can consider the information, he can even decide that the information is valid, but until he acts, there can be no salvation.
REPENTANCE REQUIRES NO SORROW
Repentance requires no sorrow however sorrow may be an integrated part of the person's experience when coming to repentance. Technically sorrow may lead to repentance, but repentance seems to be separate from sorrow. (2 Corinthians 7:9-11)
REPENTANCE IS NOT SEPARATE FROM BELIEF
"repentance is essential to salvation and that none could be saved apart from repentance, but it is included in believing and could not be separated from it." (Chafer's Systematic Theology, p 373)
So why are there two terms? Why does the Bible speak of repentance and belief, if they are inseparable?
In Acts 16:31 the jailor was told that he needed to believe to be saved. The fact that he asked what he must do to be saved demands that he had already gone through a mental process of realizing he was wrong, and that God was right. He had already decided to follow God, rather than the world system. Thus, he was told to believe, rather than to repent.
Chafer mentions, "it is clear that the New Testament does not impose repentance upon the unsaved as a condition of salvation." (p 376)
I do not think that I can agree with his conclusion. How can you have salvation without having a change of mind, or repentance? You are lost, you are condemned, you are in the world system, you enjoy the world system, and you can't be saved without turning from that system, to God. This Is Not Acceptable. (See the following references to see that lost people are told to repent for their salvation and belief is not mentioned. Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; 2 Peter 3:9.)
I would have to disagree with anyone that states that repentance is not required for salvation. Belief and repentance are both involved in the process. You can believe, but not repent — resulting in no salvation. You can't repent unless you believe.
Repentance is based on the realization that what is (present life), is incorrect, and that what will be (salvation), is correct. It is a realization that God has truth, and is the answer. It is also a realization that the world has no truth, and that it is deception.
World Relief had a film that depicted an old Muslim man that had seen his sons come to know and embrace Christ. He knew in his own mind that what they had done was correct. He, however, would not leave his old ways. He had the belief, but there was no change of direction — repentance if you will.
REPENTANCE IS A WORK OF THE SPIRIT
Chafer states that repentance is a work of the Spirit and lists Ephesians 2:8 for proof. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:"
I do not see that this is a proof text for his statement. The thought is wrapped up in the truth of this text, yet the text does not state this.
All that God does in man is a work of the Spirit, be it belief, repentance, or salvation. As the Spirit moves in lost man, he has the choice to respond or reject that work. When lost man responds and turns to God, then that repentance is truly a work of the Spirit.
REPENTANCE IS LIMITED IN THE LOST PERSON
"No individual can turn to Christ from some other confidence without a change of mind, and that, it should be noted, is all the repentance a spiritually dead individual can ever effect." (Chafer, p 374)
In his concluding paragraph Chafer states, "It is asserted that repentance, which is a change of mind, enters of necessity into the very act of believing on Christ, since one cannot turn to Christ from other objects of confidence without that change of mind. Upwards of 150 texts-including all of the greatest gospel invitations-limit the human responsibility in salvation to believing or to faith. To this simple requirement nothing could be added if the glories of grace are to be preserved."
This defines belief as a confidence in which requires a change of mind or repentance. He seems to bottle repentance and belief into one package. This is not an uncommon line of thinking, which follows quickly after Calvinistic thought.
Problem: I believed in God — in Christ — long before I knew that I needed to be saved, long before ever committing myself to Him and His work on the cross for me.
I knew and believed many of the Bible stories, the miracles, etc. I knew that Christ lived, and died on the cross. I believed that Christ existed. I believed that God existed. I believed that God created the heaven and the earth.
I even, somewhere in my mind, knew that God was watching over me, yet I did not know the reason for the cross, nor did I know that I needed Christ. I had belief, but there was no knowledge that a change was needed.
Ultimately, through circumstances, I was confronted with the Gospel and knew that it was true. I still was lost as I could be as one born in Adam. Until I decided — an act of the will — there was no salvation, there was no repentance. Upon that belief, there was a decision made which turned me from the first Adam, to the second Adam, Christ.
Belief is possible without repentance, so I feel it is very hard to say they are one and the same.
It is of interest to note that the Gospel of John does not use the term repent, but only the term believe. This indicates that John felt that belief would automatically move the person to repentance and salvation. It does not mean that John was teaching that repentance was not needed.
Cambron is quite clear in his belief that repentance is an integrated part of salvation. "To those who say that repentance is not to be preached today, and that it is not essential for salvation, we point out that repentance was preached by John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Apostle Paul. Repentance was proclaimed before Pentecost, at Pentecost, and after Pentecost." (Cambron, Mark G. D.D.; "Bible Doctrines"; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1954, p 188)
Repentance in not reformation: Man, in his lost estate, can reform himself. He can clean up his life and live like a Christian. Many of these people probably lead a better Christian life than many Christians.
The sad fact is that this reformation leads only to reformation. It does not bring salvation, nor does it bring the peace these people often seek.
Reformation is great. It helps in the person's family, in his social relations, and may even help in the person's life. It can never result directly in eternal changes however.
Repentance is not contrition: It is not being sorry for your sin. Being sorry is great, but it alone can never bring salvation. Repentance requires a change of mind. Sorrow is an emotional response to information. Repentance is an act of the will in response to information and belief in that information.
Repentance is not penance: This is an expression of sorrow by some act. Penance is giving up of something in response to guilt or sorrow over doing something.
Repentance is a change of mind: It is a response of the mind that has been given information which the mind labels truth. It is a decision to move from one mind-set to another. The world is our natural mind-set. The lost person is motivated and directed by this mind-set. When the mind set is changed the life that mind controls, changes to the new direction.
Repentance is a part of faith: Faith is that which allows the person to turn from the world to God. God reveals Himself to all of mankind, according to Romans one. When someone responds to that revelation, further information is given. When there is enough information to confront the person with the Gospel, faith or belief in that information will move the person to a conscious decision. That decision will shift them from the earthy, to the heavenly.
Let Us Recap
1. Repentance is a change of mind (the heart and life).
2. Belief is an acceptance of facts (the brain).
3. Salvation is a result of both repentance and belief. Without repentance there is no salvation. Without belief there is no salvation. Without repentance there can be no belief and thus no salvation. Without repentance, belief cannot save you.
4. Sorrow may lead to repentance.
5. Sorrow may accompany repentance, but is not the same as repentance.
6. Repentance may come without sorrow.
Repentance Comes From The Goodness Of God Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9
Repentance Can Come From Hearing The Gospel. Acts 2:37-41
Repentance Can Come Through Teaching. 2 Timothy 2:24,25
Repentance Can Come Through Chastisements Of God. Revelation 2:16; 2:5; 3:3; (Hebrews 12:6-11; Revelation 3:19 may relate — "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent.")
Repentance Is A Gift Of God. It was a gift to the Jews, Acts 5:31 and to the Gentiles Acts 11:18.
Repentance Is Something That God Leads Us To. Romans 2:4
Repentance Is A Change Of Mind. Matthew 21:28-29
Repentance Requires No Sorrow.
Repentance Is A Work Of The Spirit.
Repentance Is Limited In The Lost Person.
Repentance Is Not Reformation.
Repentance Is Not Contrition.
Repentance Is Not Penance.
Repentance Is A Part Of Faith.
Repentance Primarily Is For The Lost And Is Part Of Bringing Them To Christ.
Repentance Is Sometimes Used Of The Believer And His Need To Return To Something. See Revelation 2:5,16; 3:3,19.
1. This should give flight to the easy believism so prevalent today in our evangelism. If you want to say, "Believe and thou shalt be saved" be sure that they have had a change of mind first, else you had better explain very carefully what you mean by believe.
2. In our own lives — when we became a Christian did we have a REAL change of mind — from trusting in ............, To trusting in Christ? Many "Christians" have never seen repentance in their lives. This may well be why our churches are as they are.
3. As we witness — we need to show the person that they need to make a conscious choice to turn from ........, to Christ.
At times the person will know that changes are needed. I witnessed to a man years ago that was not living a proper life. He was a motorcycle nut. He knew what I had told him was true. He also knew that he needed to accept Christ. His problem was that he knew there would need to be changes. His first question after realizing this was, "But will I have to give up my motorcycle?"
As lost people repentance is needed for salvation. As believers, we do not normally deal with repentance. It is wrapped up in confession, in that we need to agree with God as to the terribleness of our sin, and decide not to sin again.
There are some believers that for one reason or another walks in the world. They are carnal. They are not walking with God. Again, in a sense repentance is required of them. They need to change their course.
Repentance — a simple change of mind that brings salvation. Repentance — a simple change of mind that brings restoration of fellowship.
REGENERATION
Let us look at a few definitions:
"A spiritual resurrection; the beginning of a new life" (Hodge, Charles; Gross, Edward N. Ed.; "Systematic Theology"; Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988, Vol. 3, p 5)
"Regeneration is the communication of the divine nature to man by the operation of the Holy Spirit through the Word. (Dr. A. J. Gordon as quoted in Pardington, Revelation George P. Ph.D.; "Outline Studies In Christian Doctrine"; Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 1926, p 319)
"the spiritual change wrought in man by the Holy Spirit, by which he becomes the possessor of a new life. (Taken from: "Unger's Bible Dictionary"; Unger, Merrill F.; Copyright 1957, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission. p 916)
Regeneration is the Greek word "palinginesia." It is only used twice in the New Testament. Vine tells us that "Palin" is usually translated again, and that "genesis" means birth. Thus, we would say that it is again born, or again birthed.
In Matthew 19:28 Christ mentions that those that follow him in the regeneration will rule with him. Since Christ did not need to be saved, He could not have been referring to the salvation experience of the believer. It seems that the structure would indicate that He was stating that when the world system, or the world itself is again born, when the Lord is ruling, these things will happen. (Scofield, in his cross reference Bible holds that this is referring to "the re-creation of the social order and renewal of the earth"/Vine also views this as a restoration, "the word is used, in the Lord's discourse, in the wider sense, of the 'restoration of all things'" Thiessen also relates this to the regeneration of the Creation. He quotes Isaiah 11:1-9; 35:1-10 and others as a basis for his thinking.)
The American Standard Version states, "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when
the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
Christ has been asked a question about the future reward of the apostles. Christ answers as though from that future point in time. Since these things were decreed before the foundation of the world that would fit.
The American Standard Version indicates that the regeneration is speaking of the again born world. Christ will rule in the Millennium, and the world will have undergone a drastic changing in preparation for the kingdom.
The second passage where the term appears is in Titus. "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;" (Titus 3:4-6)
This text speaks of the rebirth (the "washing of regeneration"). The washing of regeneration depicts the "washing" or the completeness of the occurrence, and the regeneration, the again born process.
Technically, it is the term that describes what we call rebirth, or new birth. It is spoken of in John 3 where Christ told Nicodemus that he must be born again. It is the changing of a person from lost and condemned to saved and forgiven.
Regeneration Was Foretold By The Old Testament: Regeneration was looked forward to by the prophets for Israel (Ezekiel 36:24-30 and Jeremiah 32:38-40). There are some that contradict this thought when they say that the Old Testament believer was regenerated, by his faith in the coming Christ. This is in error, because regeneration could not take place for any person until Christ settled the sin question.
Regeneration Changes The Person: We are told that we are new creations, that we are partakers of the divine nature, and that we are completely new. That seems to indicate that when a person accepts Christ, there will be some changes in the life. (1 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:3,6,7; 2 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 4:23-24.)
The simplicity of the term itself demands drastic change. Again born. There is no choice except for the person to have change in their life.
Regeneration Is An Occurrence Rather Than A Process: Luke tells us in 23:39-44 that the Thief on the cross was to be in paradise with the Lord immediately. Thus, we can assume that regeneration is not something that takes six months to a year to complete.
It is not related to good works nor is it related to the process of living a holy life. It is an act of God that changes the person immediately and eternally.
Regeneration Is Linked To Our Relationship To Christ: We are in Christ. This shows a close relationship. 2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
(John 3:16 tells us that it is because of what He did that we can have eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-10 states that we are created in Christ.)
Regeneration Has Results:
Firstfruits: James 1:18 We are firstfruits of God's creatures:
"Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we
should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
It might be an interesting study to relate this verse to the use of the term regeneration in relation to not only our own rebirth, but that of the world. Matthew used the term of creation. We are firstfruits of "his creatures" indicating that we will be changed before the creatures of creation. Would this not indicate a pre-millennial glorification for believers. Something to think about when you have time.
Inheritance: We have an inheritance due to this regeneration. 1 Peter 1:3-4,
"Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,"
This inheritance is sure, and it is not going to corrupt. It is ours; it is ours for all eternity.
Good Works:
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
(Ephesians 2:10)
We were not created in Christ to live plush lives. We were created in Christ Jesus so we will do good works.
Walk In Good Works. That indicates more than a casual occurrence. Our lives are to be good works. Our lives are to be filled with good works.
Pledge: Regeneration brought the Holy Spirit as our pledge or guarantee of a completion to what God has begun in our lives. Ephesians 1:13-14,
"In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
REGENERATION, A PROFILE
The Means: Belief/reception of Christ. Regeneration comes to the person through belief in, and reception of Christ. Due to this we become sons of God. John 1:12,