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NASB | 2 Corinthians 13:5 ¶ Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 13:5 ¶ Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit? |
Subject: Difference backsliden or not saved? |
Bible Note: Dear Brother Mark, You asked, "What passages of Scripture show us regeneration occuring in people before Jesus died?" (sic) That's a very good question. Thank you for asking it. As I prayerfully considered how best to answer your question, I realized that your discomfort with my language is probably rooted in an assumption. You are thinking, I believe, that when I use the term regeneration for all of the saints that I am speaking of the same subjective, salvific process, without regard to the epoch in which a man is born. I will try to clarify, Lord willing. Let's begin with a sound, Biblical definition of the word regeneration (i.e., the new genesis or new birth). James I. Packer wrote, "Regeneration is the spiritual change wrought in the heart of man by the Holy Spirit in which his/her inherently sinful nature is changed so that he/she can respond to God in Faith, and live in accordance with His will (Matthew 19:28; John 3:3,5,7; Titus 3:5). It extends to the whole nature of man, altering his governing disposition, illuminating his mind, freeing his will, and renewing his nature." In my own tradition we carefully define regeneration as "a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth the dead in trespasses and sins enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love God and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone." (Abstract of Principles, 1858) B. H. Carroll, a Southern Baptist theologian, spoke of regeneration as follows: "There is, first of all, a direct influence of the Holy Spirit on the passive spirit of the sinner, quickening him or making him sensitive to the preaching of the Word. In this the sinner is passive. But he is not a subject of the new birth without contrition, repentance and faith. In exercising these he is active. Yet even his contrition is but a response to the Spirit's conviction, and the exercise of his repentance is but a response to the Spirit's conviction, and the exercise of his repentance and faith are but responses to the antecedent spiritual graces of repentance and faith." The fact that men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc. had faith is indicative or evidential of God's redeeming work in their hearts. We even see in places like Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26-27, Jeremiah 31:31-34, etc. discussions in which the stone-hearted sinner must obtain a divine heart transplant before they are able to do anything for Him. "Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." (John 8:47 ESV) If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him. (1 John 2:29 ESV) [Note: As you know, we always read the OT in the light of NT.] Now, when we speak of the saints in the Old Testament, we may rightful speak of their salvation; i.e., that they are regenerate. That does not mean,however, that the experiential [note: that is a theological term, not the Charismatic term] aspect of their regeneration was the same as believers today. We read, "These [OT saints] all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13 ESV)" There are many benefits of the new covenant that believers today enjoy. For example, the operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives is far more intimate and direct. (We receive the Spirit in anticipation of our resurrection. He is our surety.) Throughout the Scriptures we see that God has a people. He works providentially in their lives by invading history at just the right time. The story of redemption unfolds through time in various covenants and economies. Nevertheless, as God's eternal purpose is fulfilled, all those who belong to Him are saved in precisely the same way: by grace alone, through faith alone in the Word of God alone, by the power of the Spirit alone, in the atonement of Christ alone. Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to Your steadfast love! Let them know that this is Your hand; You, O LORD, have done it! (Psalms 109:26-27 ESV) In Him, Doc |