1 Peter 1 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.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.Peter states that it is the word of God that causes one to be born again. This has been my experience how about you?In ChristJeff
Mark 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. Here is another description of the means by which we are born from above. To understand this parable is key to understanding all other parables.13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?The incorruptible seed breaths life into those who hear.In ChristJeff
John 12:20 onwards (KJV)And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: the same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying,'Sir, we would see Jesus'.Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, 'The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.'In this portion of scripture, we see that the seed will bring forth the life of Jesus, and the Father will honour the life of Jesus in a man.Note, the fruit being spoken of here is probably the fruit of the Spirit (as with the Vine, John 15) rather than new converts.This ties in with Romans 6.3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also of resurrection:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Romans 7:4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Another facet of a beautiful truth. Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free . Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man:how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.O precious Gospel that leads us to the LightHow great thy strength to break the powers of night.
Likewise: John 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.The Spirit of God works on the heart, the words that Jesus speaks, these words bring life. In ChristJeff
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. 107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end. Do our passions align with these words written in Scripture?They should.In ChristJeff
Do we find that our lives are beginning to reflect the Light of Life that we see in the Holy Scriptures. Is our name written in the Book of Life?Is not the Holy Scriptures the "Book of Life?"In ChristJeff
Peter states that it is the word of God that causes one to be born again. Christ is referred to as the word in John 1 - so in a sense this is true. After all, Christ promised us his life - the abundant life which is the Spirit dwelling in us. It is the Spirit which births us - born (from above) John 4:5 "No one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." It is a supernatural work. Apart from this divine work, we are just living the Christian life in our own strength - according to the uncrucified flesh. It may feel Christian, but in the end Christ will say, "depart from me, I never knew you." In a sense you are right. However, if we interpret those words to mean that reading the Bible and trying to follow rules in it is an indication that we are saved, then we are deceived. Diane
Sister Diane wrote:In a sense you are right. However, if we interpret those words to mean that reading the Bible and trying to follow rules in it is an indication that we are saved, then we are deceived. I agree with your thought here. Many search the Scriptures and think that they know the Eternal Life. Jesus spoke of this condition in John 5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? Jesus declared that these men whom He spoke to did not have God's word abiding in them. He declared that these men are following other men, and not God. What does it mean to have the word of God abiding in them? Remember, Jesus judged them for the absence of God's word abiding. This means that God had already supplied the grace necessary for this to occur.Deut. 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. In ChristJeff
James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.Here we see once again that the Scriptures are the root from which one receives salvation. verse 18, 'Of His own will He begat us by the word of truthverse 21, "...and recieve with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.""Why are the Scriptures able to save your soul if you are a doer of the word? In ChristJeff
Duet. 8:3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.Here again we see that God points us to His word. Why is it so important? Why do we talk about being born again; many times only speaking of a one time experience? In ChristJeff
Duet. 64 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.Thoughout the Scriptures we hear this exhortation. Whether it is from Moses, James, Jeremiah, John, or Peter, it is always the same.Duet 30,19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”"That you may obey His voice..."What does it mean? How does His voice implant His word in the believer's heart that he can obey? In ChristJeff
Jer. 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Also, Hebrew 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. These two verses speak of what God promises to do for those who enter into the new covenant. How does His words fill our minds and our hearts? How does this act by God cause us to be born from above? How does this act of God cause us to know His salvation? In ChristJeff
To add something from a few posts ago, the word is seed. It is planted, watered and the fruit of the implanted word is salvation.This is I believe is the way with anything of God. You asked the question about being again, that is the greatest fruit that any seed of the word can bring.Rushing,
Brother Zeke wrote:that is the greatest fruit that any seed of the word can bring.Yes, YES, YES!God BlessJeff
I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. It's good to see this reference brought into the discussion. I have to admit that a few years ago these words meant little to me, at least, not what they mean now. I'm glad the Spirit worked in me to bring me into Christ and make his Word alive in my heart. There are just some things that we cannot properly explain or comprehend unless we have been/are there, and this new covenant promise is one example. Just about everyone who is faithful in some kind of Christian church BELIEVES that they are saved/born again, or whatever terms they use in their denomination. And so, once someone BELIEVES they are God's children, then they also believe any that verse that applies to the saved also apply to them. They also think that they understand. I've been there, so I speak for myself. It seems like deception can overrule amazing inconsistancies in one's understanding of the word and its application. Diane
Roadsign, Acts 10-1 – Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no Partiality. But in every nation WHOEVER fears him and works righteousness is accepted by him.Rom 10-10 – For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto SALVATION. For the scripture says who ever believes on HIM will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is RICH to all who call upon Him. For “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be SAVED”.Deu 10-17 – For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
Heb. 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. Why would the writer of Hebrews warn those according to the failures of most of OT Israel?In ChristJeff
I might be sailing into stormy seas with this comment, but God does not save everyone who [font=Arial]calls[/font], but he certainly saves everyone who [font=Helvetica]calls[/font]on the name of the Lord.I am not emphasising loudness but am emphasising the readiness of the heart. There is a crying to God which catches his heart and there is a crying to God which does'nt.Mt thinking in this regard has been styled by a book by Walter Chantrey called 'Todays Gospel - Synthetic or Authentic'. It will explain allot about what I mean.
Why would the writer of Hebrews warn those according to the failures of most of OT Israel?Because the righteous shall live by faith. It is trusting and believing that his word is true, in faith, and in that keeping faith, believing that he who promised is faithful and will accomplish that which he intends for his word.
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