Sanctification begins in regeneration. The Spirit of God implants in man that new living principle by which he becomes “a new creation” in Christ Jesus. This work, which begins in the new birth, is carried on in two ways—mortification, whereby the lusts of the flesh are subdued and kept under, and vivification, by which the life that God has put within us is made to be a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. This is carried on every day in what is called perseverance, by which the Christian is preserved and continued in a gracious state and is made to abound in good works unto the praise and glory of God; and it culminates or comes to perfection in glory, when the soul, being thoroughly purged, is caught up to dwell with holy beings at the right hand of the Majesty on high. But while the Spirit of God is thus the author of sanctification, yet there is a visible agency employed that must not be forgotten. “Sanctify them,”said Jesus, “in the truth; your word is truth.”The passages of Scripture that prove that the instrument of our sanctification is the Word of God are numerous.
The Spirit of God brings to our minds the precepts and doctrines of truth and applies them with power. These are heard in the ear, and being received in the heart, they work in us to will and to do God’s good pleasure. The truth is the sanctifier, and if we do not hear or read the truth, we shall not grow in sanctification. We only progress in sound living as we progress in sound understanding. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Do not say of any error, “It is a mere matter of opinion.”No man indulges an error of judgment without sooner or later tolerating an error in practice. Hold fast the truth, for by doing so you shall be sanctified by the Spirit of God.
Adapted from Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
Showing posts with label Regeneration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Regeneration. Show all posts
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Regeneration Lies At Salvation
Regeneration is a subject that lies at the very basis of salvation, and we should be very diligent to make sure that we really are “born again,” for there are many who imagine they are, who are not. Be assured that to be called a Christian is not the same nature as being a Christian, and that being born in a Christian country and being recognized as professing the Christian religion is of no significance at all unless there be something more added to it. Being “born again” is a matter so mysterious that human words cannot describe it. “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nevertheless, it is a change that is known and felt known by works of holiness and felt by a gracious experience. This great work is supernatural.
It is not an operation that a man performs for himself: A new principle is infused that works in the heart, renews the soul, and affects his whole life. It is not a change of my name, but a renewal of my nature, so that I am not the man I used to be, but a new man in Christ Jesus. To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing from making it alive: Man can do the one—God alone can do the other. If you have, then, been “born again,” your declaration will be, “O Lord Jesus, the everlasting Father, You are my spiritual Parent; if Your Spirit had not breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I would still be ‘dead in trespasses and sins.’ My heavenly life is wholly derived from You; to You I ascribe it. ‘My life is hidden with Christ in God.’ It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” May the Lord grant us assurance on this vital point, for to be unregenerate is to be unsaved, unpardoned, without God, and without hope.
Adapted from Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
It is not an operation that a man performs for himself: A new principle is infused that works in the heart, renews the soul, and affects his whole life. It is not a change of my name, but a renewal of my nature, so that I am not the man I used to be, but a new man in Christ Jesus. To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing from making it alive: Man can do the one—God alone can do the other. If you have, then, been “born again,” your declaration will be, “O Lord Jesus, the everlasting Father, You are my spiritual Parent; if Your Spirit had not breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I would still be ‘dead in trespasses and sins.’ My heavenly life is wholly derived from You; to You I ascribe it. ‘My life is hidden with Christ in God.’ It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” May the Lord grant us assurance on this vital point, for to be unregenerate is to be unsaved, unpardoned, without God, and without hope.
Adapted from Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Could Involvement With The Church Be A Sign of Regeneration?
Many people who come to faith in Christ are excited about their new life in Christ, but they show lack of zeal for the church. David Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church, talks about a few men who said they were Christians, but have no involvement with the church. This is nothing new especially in the Bible belt.
As I am reading in Acts 2, I see something that made me ask this question, could my involvement in the church be a sign of my regeneration? Acts 2:41 says that 3,000 people were saved after they heard Peter preach the gospel. The story continues as follows,
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47, ESV).
Who is the "they" in verse 42? The 3,000 people who were just saved after hearing the gospel for Peter. These five verses show what happens when people who are regenerated truly know their identity in Christ and know what it means to be involved with the church. Does that mean we sell all our possessions? No, but it does mean we minister to those in need.
When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit regenerates us so that we care about the people, believers and non-believers, all around us and do whatever we can to meet their needs. Regenerated believers care about the teachings of the scriptures. They love the Bible. They do not look in it for a to do list, they look at it to be transformed. They met together everyday and had fellowship with one another. My question is, "where is that church?" Matt Carter said, in his book that he wrote along with Darrin Patrick, For The City, that people in this generation are reading Acts wondering why does my church not look like the one in the Bible. I think one of the reasons is that people who attend church are either not believers, which I hope is not the case for every church, or believers are not allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their lives, which is a scary thought.
I personally believe that a sign that a believer is truly regenerated is to be involved with the church. Does not matter if they are an elder, a pastor, or someone who works a 9 to 5 job that faithfully witnesses to his employees. I know for me when I got saved 19 years ago, I knew I needed to be involved with the church. I have a friend that so excited about being saved, that he went to his church, thinking there an event he thought he missed, and accidentally crashed a wedding.
Believers who say they are Christians, but have no involvement with the church fall into one of these categories:
1. They are only saved just to get out of Hell.
2. They are truly saved but cannot find a church that faithfully teaches the Bible, which John MacArthur can tell stories about that.
3. They were saved at some event or heard some street preacher, and have no idea that they were to be in a church.
4. They do not have a good Biblical picture of what the church should be.
Recommended reading on the church:
For The City by Matt Carter and Darrin Patrick
What is the Mission of the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert
9 Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
A recent post I did called, To Love Christ is to Also Love The Church
Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
Dangerous Church by John Bishop
Recommended reading on regeneration:
Justification and Regeneration by Charles Leiter
Finally Alive by John Piper
As I am reading in Acts 2, I see something that made me ask this question, could my involvement in the church be a sign of my regeneration? Acts 2:41 says that 3,000 people were saved after they heard Peter preach the gospel. The story continues as follows,
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47, ESV).
Who is the "they" in verse 42? The 3,000 people who were just saved after hearing the gospel for Peter. These five verses show what happens when people who are regenerated truly know their identity in Christ and know what it means to be involved with the church. Does that mean we sell all our possessions? No, but it does mean we minister to those in need.
When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit regenerates us so that we care about the people, believers and non-believers, all around us and do whatever we can to meet their needs. Regenerated believers care about the teachings of the scriptures. They love the Bible. They do not look in it for a to do list, they look at it to be transformed. They met together everyday and had fellowship with one another. My question is, "where is that church?" Matt Carter said, in his book that he wrote along with Darrin Patrick, For The City, that people in this generation are reading Acts wondering why does my church not look like the one in the Bible. I think one of the reasons is that people who attend church are either not believers, which I hope is not the case for every church, or believers are not allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their lives, which is a scary thought.
I personally believe that a sign that a believer is truly regenerated is to be involved with the church. Does not matter if they are an elder, a pastor, or someone who works a 9 to 5 job that faithfully witnesses to his employees. I know for me when I got saved 19 years ago, I knew I needed to be involved with the church. I have a friend that so excited about being saved, that he went to his church, thinking there an event he thought he missed, and accidentally crashed a wedding.
Believers who say they are Christians, but have no involvement with the church fall into one of these categories:
1. They are only saved just to get out of Hell.
2. They are truly saved but cannot find a church that faithfully teaches the Bible, which John MacArthur can tell stories about that.
3. They were saved at some event or heard some street preacher, and have no idea that they were to be in a church.
4. They do not have a good Biblical picture of what the church should be.
Recommended reading on the church:
For The City by Matt Carter and Darrin Patrick
What is the Mission of the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert
9 Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
A recent post I did called, To Love Christ is to Also Love The Church
Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
Dangerous Church by John Bishop
Recommended reading on regeneration:
Justification and Regeneration by Charles Leiter
Finally Alive by John Piper
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