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NASB | Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, |
Subject: Theological Terms: Regeneration |
Bible Note: Dear Terrib, You wrote, "But a close view of these quotes do not say this." As with everything, it depends on your definition. If you mean, do we have the "freedom of choice" to post on the forum or not on the forum, then the answer is, "Yes, we have freedom of choice." If you mean, do we have the "freedom of choice" to be something other than our nature, then the answer is, "No, we do not have freedom of choice." In this latter example, you and I cannot choose to be a cat. Nor can a cat choose to be a dog. Each of these things can choose to move left or right, but then that is in their nature to make such choices. Even God is under the same restraints! He cannot be other than what He is. He cannot lie, for example, because that would be contrary to His nature. You wrote, "Now, as with Paul seeing the war inside himself between flesh and spirit, I now also see a war inside myself between usefullness and uselessness." That is correct. The fact that you have that war going on inside of you is evidence of your salvation. The lost do not have that kind of battle. You and I will fight that fight until we breathe our last. (This is what is meant by the theological term of the flesh, or indwelling sin.) You wrote, "I see the Gospel to be extremely simple." This is also true. Another theological term we have yet to discuss is the "clarity of the Gospel." God has made it very simple for us to understand. But that does not mean it is a simple thing, nor that it was easy to accomplish, nor that its implications are not profound. You asked, "Do you think it is possible that we over-explain things, and in the midst of all these words, all these explanations, they give birth to more questions?" We can only explain what the Scripture tells us. For it is the revelation of God (Deuteronomy 29:29). If we do not delve into these things, we run the risk of treating them too lightly. Furthermore, we run the risk of saying something that God did not say, or not saying something that He did say -- that is heresy. Finally, we run the risk of presenting a false Gospel -- either to others or to ourselves! Matthew 5:37 is not a call for being vague or unclear. Furhtermore, if I may humbly point out, your use of it in this context is making Christ say something that He did not say. QED In Him, Doc Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are SOME THINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:15b-16) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) |