The 6 Marks of Regeneration

The 6 Marks of Regeneration

Posted by Erik on July 18, 2010 in Regeneration

Picture above courtesy of Monergism.com 

Beginning Monday July 19th through Saturday July 24th, I will provide a short quote from J.C. Ryle on each of the “Six Marks of Regeneration” from the First Epistle of John.

Monday (7/19): A regenerate person does not commit sin as a habit.

Tuesday (7/20): A regenerate person believes that Jesus Christ is the only Savior by whom their soul can be pardoned and redeemed.

Wednesday (7/21): A regenerate person is a holy person.

Thursday (7/22): A regenerate person has a special love for all true disciples of Christ.

Friday (7/23): A regenerate person does not make the world’s opinion their rule of right and wrong.

Saturday (7/24): A regenerate person is very careful of their own soul.

Summary: (7/25): A plea to those who have these 6 marks and to those who do not.

___________________________________________

“Reader, I invite your particular attention to these marks and evidences of Regeneration, while I try to set them before you in order. Forget everything else in this volume, if you will—but do not forget this part of it. I might easily mention other evidences besides those I am about to mention. But I will not do so. I would rather confine myself to the First Epistle of John, because of the peculiar explicitness of its statements about the man that is born of God. He that has an ear, let him hear what the beloved Apostle says about the marks of Regeneration.”

~ J.C. Ryle

Regeneration, [Ross-shire, UK: Christian Focus, 2003], 32.

What is Purgatory?

"The world should be able to look at your life and see that you "are not of the world". This is a lifelong process. Sanctification removes you from the power of sin."

What is purgatory? It is the idea that there is a place you can go to purify yourself of your sins before you can enter heaven.

Is purgatory real? No. Where did the idea of purgatory come from? It originated with Greek and pagan philosophy, in particular Plato, and was introduced into the church through Origen in the 3rd Century, who is considered a heretic by the Roman Catholic Church. In addition, the teaching of purgatory is contradictory to Scripture for it undermines its clear teaching of the sufficiency of Jesus Christ and is not taught in the Old and New Testaments.

When was purgatory introduced to the church? Sometime before the 5th Century, the Roman Catholic Church took advantage of the idea of purgatory and used it in conjunction with selling "indulgences" to help put money into the Catholic Church.

To complete the article, read--->HERE.

This article was short, but informative.

This article: Catholic Purgatory is a Lie - in your face, bold.

A Lie of the Devil: Luther on Purgatory - I especially liked this thought:

"Purgatory is the greatest falsehood, because it is based on ungodliness and unbelief; for they deny that faith saves, and they maintain that satisfaction for sins is the cause of salvation. Therefore he who is in purgatory is in hell itself; for these are his thoughts: “I am a sinner and must render satisfaction for my sins; therefore I shall make a will and shall bequeath a definite amount of money for building churches and for buying prayers and sacrifices for the dead by the monks and priests.” Such people die in a faith in works and have no knowledge of Christ. Indeed, they hate Him. We die in faith in Christ, who died for our sins and rendered satisfaction for us. He is my Bosom, my Paradise, my Comfort, and my Hope." (Luther on Genesis 25:5; AE 4).

If you are counting on your works to save you, you are not believing the gospel of Christ Jesus.  By grace through faith are we saved, not of works, lest any man (or woman) should boast.  May the grace of God fill your circumcised heart and give you a passion and a desire to walk in HIS truth and not in the traditions of man.

Day 332

O. Book of Romans (from Corinth) ~ cont.

1. Universal sin and its answer; justification by faith, none are righteous ~ cont.

d. Results of justification - Romans 5:1-21
e. Sanctification - Romans 6:1-23; 7:1-6
(1) False sanctification - Romans 7:7-25
(2) True sanctification - Romans 8:1-39


And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience ; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  (Romans 5:3-5)


Glory in tribulation?  Do we?  What does Paul mean by glory?  Tribulation = patience = experience = hope = not ashamed.


glory - G2744 - From some (obsolete) base akin to that of αὐχέω aucheō (to boast) and G2172; to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense).


tribulations - G2347 - From G2346; pressure (literally or figuratively).


worketh - G2716 - From G2596 and G2038; to work fully, that is, accomplish; by implication to finish, fashion.


patience - G5281 - From G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy.  G5278 - From G5259 and G3306; to stay under (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere.


experience - G1382 - From the same as G1384; test (abstractly or concretely); by implication trustiness.


hope - G1680 - Fromἔλπω elpō which is a primary word (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence.


ashamed - G2617 - From G2596 and G153; to shame down, that is, disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush. 


Having been allowed some intense tribulations, I can firmly attest to Father's continual care in and through them.  That doesn't mean I don't wilt when I get a new one, or cry to be REMOVED.  However, I am fully assured though that HE can and will bring me through to the other side.  I will be missing dross, but I will be purified and more conformed to HIS image. :-) Take heart if you are in the midst of trials, He will never leave you or forsake you.  Never.


For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  (Romans 5:10)


enemies - G2190 - From a primary word ἔχθω echthō (to hate); hateful (passively odious, or actively hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan).


reconciled - G2644 - From G2596 and G236; to change mutually, that is, (figuratively) to compound a difference.


saved - G4982 - From a primary word σῶς sōs̄ (contraction for the obsolete σάος saos, “safe”); to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively).


All I can think:  Thank you Lord.  In and of myself, I would have kept on hating God, desiring to pull down and destroy anything about Him.  Whether I would have recognized that as my goal is not the point...it is the fact.  One is either spiritually alive or dead.  There is no in between.  Jesus said that those who are not for Him, are against Him.  Thank you Lord for Your reconciling work, past, present and future.  :-)


Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  (Romans 6:18)


free - G1659 - From G1658; to liberate, that is, (figuratively) to exempt (from moral, ceremonial or mortal liability).  G1658 - Probably from the alternate of G2064; unrestrained (to go at pleasure), that is, (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted), or (generally) exempt (from obligation or liability).


sin - G266 - From G264; sin (properly abstract).  G264 - Perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G3313; properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin.


servants -G1402 - From G1401; to enslave (literally or figuratively).  G1401 - From G1210; a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency).


righteousness - G1343 - From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification. G1342 - From G1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively).


How many of us actually think of ourselves in terms of being a servant?  Redeemed to serve the master?  Do we even have a desire to desire to please Him?  Just typing that makes me realize how I fail to think in those terms.  I go about my day and rarely think about what I am doing as to whether HE would find it pleasing.  Do we seek to glorify Him in even the littlest of daily details?

Day 331

O. Book of Romans (from Corinth)
1. Universal sin and its answer; justification by faith, none are righteous
a. Universal need - Romans 1:1-32; 2:1-29; 3:1-20
b. Justification by faith - Romans 3:21-31
c. Illustration from history - Romans 4:1-25


For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned n their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.  (Romans 1:26-27)


This passage reminds me of a sermon I read by John MacArthur, When God Abandons a Nation.  Our nation is in dire need of prayer and seeking Father's divine intervention in causing repentance.  Otherwise we stand in great need of HIS judgment for our wickedness.


Filled with?  Unrighteousness ~ fornication ~ wickedness ~ covetousness ~ maliciousness ~ full of envy ~ murder ~ debate ~ deceit ~ malignity ~ whisperers ~ backbiters ~ haters of God ~ despiteful ~ proud ~ boasters ~ inventors of evil ~ disobedient to parents ~ w/out understanding ~ covenant breakers ~ w/out natural affection ~ implacable ~ unmerciful.


Hmmm, most of these words are readily understood, but a few caught my eye.


debate - G2054 - Of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, that is, (by implication) wrangling.


implacable - G786 - From G1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G4689; literally without libation (which usually accompanied a treaty), that is, (by implication) truceless.


My heart continues to cry out, not only for the Bride, but for this nation to which I have providentially been placed.  Lord, we deserve none of Your loving kindness, mercy or forgiveness.  Only by Your sovereign hand can the eyes and ears of those who are blind and deaf be opened to see and hear the width and breadth and depth of our depravity.  Lord, not for the sake of the people of this nation, but solely to glorify Your name, bring repentance upon these shores.


For the name of God is blasphemed (to speak impiously) among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.  (Romans 2:24)


Quoting Matthew Henry:  "It is a lamentation that those who were made to be to God for a name and for a praise should be to him a shame and dishonour."


I can see a lot within the Bride of Christ that would bring shame and dishonor to God's name.  As I ponder upon that thought, the inward trembling question comes to mind:  What in my life causes Him shame and dishonor?  Lord, search us, Your people, cleanse us and make us fit for thy service.  Give us eyes to see and ears to hear how we ought to conduct ourselves as we walk through this dry and weary land.  Help us to not be ensnared with the trivial and trinkets this world tries to lure us with, but to be focused upon giving a proper estimate of You.

Day 330

N. Book of Galatians (from Corinth)
1. Difference between law and grace
a. Paul's gospel from God - Galatians 1:1-24
b. Paul's relationship to others - Galatians 2:1-6
c. Justification by faith - Galatians 2:15-21
d. Bondage under the law - Galatians 3:1-29; 4:1-31
2. Application of grace, freedom in Christ - Galatians 5:1-26; 6:1-18


Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.  (Galatians 3:7-9)


Verse 8 caught my attention because of the foreseeing - but as I typed it out I was intrigued by the fact that the gospel was preached to Abraham.  Jesus preached the gospel.  I know I am re-covering ground, but I find this fascinating.  The gospel is not solely that Jesus came, died, was buried and rose again.

Isa 61:1  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 
Isa 61:2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 
Isa 61:3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 

I am going to have to continue to turn this over and meditate, read, study, research and pray.  The depth of what the word 'gospel' conveys is beyond a simplistic statement.  The wealth of what Jesus taught when HE came proclaiming the gospel, ahh, that our understanding would be fully enlightened.

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.  (Galatians 4:10)

The commentaries seem to suggest that the Galatians may have been attempting to keep the Jewish Sabbaths, new moons, festivals.  I can see where it might have been difficult for them.  They have come out of paganism, with all of its rituals, rites and feast days.  It might have been easy to transfer that desire into something they considered holy.  Especially if there were those who thought or promoted that keeping the festivals was in integral part of being a Christian.

I am trying to balance that with Paul's continuing to observe the feasts.  The Word records it, what does that say to us?  I know all of the feasts were a foretelling of an accomplishment fulfilled by Christ (at least the Spring and Summer).  Was Paul keeping the feasts (not looking forward) but as a remembrance of what Christ's death had wrought?

Then there is the passage in Acts where only 4 requirements are placed upon the Gentile converts, yet specific attention is given to mention that they would continue to hear the law of Moses taught in the synagogues.  I have never participated in a Biblical Passover - as I sat and pondered these things, it made me wonder:  If a Jew, participated in a scripturally lined up Passover (or other fulfilled feast), rejoiced to see each portion fulfilled by Christ.

Act 15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. 

I like Paul's comment - Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?  (Galatians 4:16)  When someone speaks, corrects and/or challenges us regarding something we are holding onto which may not be Biblical, do we bow up?  Get defensive?  Desire to search the scriptures to see if those things are so?  Take it to the altar and lay it down before Him?  Be willing to give 'it' up to Him?  Even take the time prayerfully ask Him?

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.  (Galatians 5:9) - How much of the world, it's thoughts, attitudes, behaviors am I allowing to 'leaven' me?  How different do I really look?  Can anyone see a difference?  Not because I want to be lifted up or glorified, God forbid.  I tremble when I think of how sin saturated I am.  The closer I draw to Christ the more I see the ugliness of the sin which battles me daily.  Perhaps better stated, when someone looks at me, how much of Christ do they really see?

Works of the flesh:  Adultery ~ fornication (harlotry, incest) ~ uncleanness (impurity) ~ lasciviousness (licentiousness) ~ idolatry (image worship) ~ witchcraft (medication, magic) ~ hatred (hostility) ~ variance (quarrel, wrangling) ~ emulations (jealousy) ~ wrath (passion) ~ strife (intrigue, faction) ~ seditions (disunion, dissension) ~ heresies (choice, party, disunion) ~ envyings (ill will, jealousy) ~ murders ~ drunkenness (intoxicant) ~ revellings (carousal, let loose).

I will probably never be able to write or say the word intriguing without thinking about this passage and specifically the word strife.  I was just going to list the words, with no thought of placing the definition, until I came to the word variance.  Perplexity - then a decision to look up each word.   I ought not forget how vitally important it is to understand the words and their meanings.

Fruit of the Spirit:  love (affection or benevolence) ~ joy (cheerfulness, delight) ~ peace (prosperity) ~ longsuffering (forbearance, fortitude) ~ gentleness (usefulness, excellence) ~ goodness (virtue or beneficence) ~ faith (persuasion, credence, conviction) ~ meekness (gentleness, humility) ~ temperance (self control).

I like the comparison between work (toil) and fruit (plucked).  To my mind it invokes a picture of in progress (work) versus rest or completion (fruit).

As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.  (Galatians 6:10)

Lord, let us ever be ready to pour out our lives as a sacrificial offering unto You, to whom ever You call us to do so.

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  (Galatians 6:14)

Father, help each of Your children to die daily to self, to die to the call and allure of the world, to desire with growing fervency to give a proper estimate of who You are in all that we say, do and think.  Help us Lord to love, serve and represent You with the totality of our beings.