Sermon Central
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Thy Great ...
Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008 (message contributor)
Thy Great Salvation
Regeneration
“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, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3: 5,6)
Regeneration is the divine act which imparts to the repentant believer a new life in personal union with Jesus Christ. Christianity is not another world religion. It is the relationship with Jesus Christ that takes man’s fallen nature and regenerates sinners by bringing into them the life of God. It is a spiritual change wrought in peoples’ hearts by an act of God. The very nature of regeneration involves union with God and Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within the born again Christian. This union manifests itself in various ways:
1.) It is characterized in a newness of life: “We are therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Jesus was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4) Christians are able to count themselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, sin no longer reigns in their mortal bodies, so that they no longer obey its evil desires. (Romans 6: 11, 12)
2.) This union results in a new heart and spirit: God says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws.” (Ezekiel 36: 26, 27) This enables Christians to spiritually hear the voice of God and joyfully desire to do His will as He directs them through the written Word of God.
3.) The regenerated Christian can be a partaker in God’s nature: 2 Peter 1: 3,4 says; “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil.”
Regenerated Christians are able to participate in God’s divine nature only by first having accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord. Then the Holy Spirit draws them to prayerfully read and study the Word of God. He draws them to prayer, Christian fellowship, Christ-honoring music and solid Christian reading material so that they are enabled to surrender to His gentle promptings and leadings.
God’s great Salvation, found only through Jesus Christ, (Acts 4: 10 - 12) has purchased more than eternal life. It has given you the opportunity to literally be made new, regenerated, enabling you to say no to the pleasures of this world, freeing you from the bondage of the flesh and sin, as well as empowering you to overcome the temptations of the devil.
Will you join those who have been regenerated by the power of God’s Holy Spirit?
Invite Christ into your heart and life today!
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