Romans

SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR CONTENT THREADS.

Prior Book \| Prior Chapter \| Prior Verse \| Next Verse \| Next Chapter \| Next Book \| Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015
NASB	Romans 8:9 ¶ However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
AMPLIFIED 2015	Romans 8:9 ¶ However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God]. [Rom 8:14]

SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR CONTENT THREADS.

Subject: filled Holy Spirit, or to walk in spirit

Bible Note: Dear Pastor Glenn,

We can deliberate in peace because we are brothers desiring the truth. We are not trying to win an argument or defeat an opponent -- unless that opponent is our ignorance. By discussing things carefully and deliberately we honor our Lord and Master.

Yes, the paper I offered up addressed Pauline Anthropology as I stated. The largest percentage of didactic writings in the New Testament were written by Paul.. Peter affirms that Paul's writings are inspired and warrant study (2 Peter 3:15-16). If you read the apostles, you are reading what Christ would say. They are equally the words of God.

You wrote, "Just simply stating that 'born again' is a mataphor is not enough. Shouldn't we always look for the direct meaning first?" (sic)

Good question. Let's look at John 3 a bit closer.

Speaking to Nicodemus, our Lord said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 NKJV)

Nicodemus was surprised by this statement. Taking the expression literally -- the antonym of metaphorically -- "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (verse 4)

Now, if the correct interpretation was that being born again is to be taken literally, then Christ would have said, "Yes, that's correct."

Instead, He gives a more detailed explanation, describing that we are begotten in the flesh by flesh, but that being begotten in the spirit is done in a mysterious way by the Spirit, etc.

Therefore, the proper interpretation of Christ's phrase "born again" is metaphorical, not literal.

Peter uses the same metaphor in his first epistle:

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:22-25)

Paul uses a different phrase in Ephesians 2:5 and Colossians 2:13.

However, the Scriptures views regeneration to take place in the WHOLE man (2 Corinthians 5:17, and also see the verse in Romans I cited in my last post to you).

Regarding Hebrews 4:12 let me quote Dr. Wayne Grudem from his Systematic Theology. He addresses your point of distinction between soul and spirit when he writes, "This verse, which talks about the Word of God 'piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow' is best understood in a way similar to 1 Thessalonians 5:23. The author is not saying that the Word of God can divide 'soul FROM spirit,' but he is using a number of terms (soul, spirit, joints, marrow, thoughts, and intentions of the heart) that speak of the deep inward parts of our being that are not hidden from the penetrating power of the Word of God. IF we wish to call these our 'soul,' then Scripture pierces into the midst of it and divides it and discoveries its inmost intentions. If we wish to call this inmost non-physical side of our being our 'spirit,' then Scripture penetrates into the midst of it and divides it and knows its deepest intentions and thoughts. Or if we wish to think metaphorically of our inmost being as hidden in our joints and in our marrow, then we can think of Scripture being like a sword that divides our joints or that pierces deeply into our bones and even divides the marrow in the midst of the bones. In all of these cases the Word of God is so powerful that it will search out and expose all disobedience and lack of submission to God. In any case, soul and spirit are not thought of as separate parts; they are simply additional terms for our inmost being."

In Him, Doc