{"id":412,"date":"2010-07-07T03:16:00","date_gmt":"2010-07-07T03:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heavenslight.org\/?p=412"},"modified":"2010-07-07T03:16:00","modified_gmt":"2010-07-07T03:16:00","slug":"heavens-light-7-7-10-regeneration-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/2010\/07\/07\/heavens-light-7-7-10-regeneration-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavens Light 7-7-10  Regeneration Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<div dir=ltr align=left>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center>You <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">MUST<\/b> BE <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">Born Again<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=center><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<span><strong>Regeneration &#8211; Part  1<\/strong><\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"><o:p><span><\/span><\/o:p><\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">John 3:3-7 <\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">&#8211;  3 Jesus answered and said to him, &#8220;Truly, truly, I say to you, <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">unless one is born again, he  cannot see the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place>.<\/span><\/b>&#8220;<span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>4 Nicodemus said to Him, &#8220;How can a man  be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother&#8217;s womb and  be born, can he?&#8221; 5 Jesus answered, &#8220;Truly, truly, I say to you, <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">unless one is born of water  and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place>.<\/span><\/b> 6 &#8220;That which is born of  the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 &#8220;Do not  marvel that I said to you, <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">&#8216;You must be born  again<\/span><\/b>.&#8217; NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Born Again &#8211; Born of God &#8211; New Birth &#8211; Rebirth<\/h3>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Regeneration<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"> &#8211; a sovereign act of <span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">God by his Spirit<\/span> in  which the sinner is given the capacities needed to understand, believe, and lay  hold of the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place> by faith and granted eternal life.  His\/her mind, will and emotions are divinely enabled to comprehend sin and  righteousness and judgment. His\/her spirit is resurrected from its natural dead  state, restoring communion with God who is Spirit. It is a fundamental change in  the nature of mankind having the very nature and eternal life of God infused  into the human soul. <span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">At  this time the Holy Spirit enters into the being of mankind performing this  transformation eternally<\/span>.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"><o:p>&nbsp;<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\">Regeneration &#8211; What does the Bible  say?<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">When we think about the biblical word <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;regeneration&#8221;,<\/i><\/b> we must consider  first its nature. Regeneration is a word derived from its root, &#8220;genesis&#8221; or  &#8220;generate&#8221; meaning beginning or create. It is &#8220;re&#8221; or &#8220;again generation.&#8221;  Plainly said by the apostle Paul&#8230;..<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">2 Corinthians 5:17<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\"> &#8211; 17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">he is a new  creature<\/span><\/b>; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">When anyone is born again by the Holy Spirit, he\/she  becomes a <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;new creation&#8221;<\/i><\/b> of God. They are <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>recreated by the supernatural creative  power of God<\/u><\/b>. This is why Paul says in Galatians 6:15 that the true  substance of saving faith is not a human work, but the work of the creative  power of God. <\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">Galatians 6:15<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">  &#8211; 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">new creation<\/span><\/b>.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Salvation, then and therefore is <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>supernatural<\/u><\/b>. It is a work  performed by God, transcending the earthly abilities of any man. So we see then  that salvation is first the work of God, and it then results in many diverse  blessings and benefits of which mankind is a partaker. Let us then consider the  following definition of Regeneration&#8230;&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\">&#8220;A<i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\"> sovereign act of God, performed by the Holy  Spirit, in which the sinner is given the capacities needed to understand,  believe, and enter the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">Kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place> by God given faith and granted eternal  life. His\/her mind and will are <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><u>divinely enabled<\/u><\/b> to comprehend  sin and righteousness and judgment. His\/her spirit is resurrected from its  natural dead state, restoring communion with God who is Spirit. It is a  fundamental change in the nature of mankind having the very nature and eternal  life of God implanted into the human soul. At this time the Holy Spirit enters  into the being of mankind performing this transformation  eternally.&#8221;<o:p><\/o:p><\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Let us consider the nature of regeneration from biblical  texts. As we survey these Bible texts, consider how they are all pointing to the  supernatural and Sovereign work of God in salvation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b>Regeneration <\/b>is the <b><i>act  of God<\/i>, <\/b>not of human doing <b>&#8211;<o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">1 Peter 1:3 &#8211; 3  <\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Blessed  be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy  has <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">caused us to be  born again<\/span><\/b> to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ  from the dead, <\/span><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">1 Peter 1:23<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">  &#8211; 23 for you <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">have  been born again<\/span><\/b> not of seed which is perishable but imperishable,  that is, through the living and abiding word of God.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">James 1:18<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">  &#8211; 18 <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">In the exercise  of His will He brought us forth<\/span><\/b> by the word of truth, so that we  might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Ezekiel  11:19-21<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"> &#8211;  19 &#8220;And <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">I shall give them one heart,  and shall<\/span><\/b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\"> <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\">put a new spirit within them<\/b><\/span>.  And <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">I shall take the heart of  stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh<\/span><\/b>, 20 that they  may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and do them. Then they will be  My people, and I shall be their God. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b>Regeneration<\/b> changes the  <b><i>mind and will <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Ezekiel  36:26-27<\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"> &#8211;  26 &#8220;Moreover<b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">, I will give you a new heart  and put a new spirit within you<\/span><\/b>; and I will remove the heart of stone  from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 &#8220;And <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">I will put My Spirit within  you and <u>cause<\/u> you to walk in My statutes<\/span><\/b>, and <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">you <u>will <\/u>be careful to  observe<\/span><\/b> My ordinances. <\/span><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 8pt\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">1 John 3:9 &#8211;  <\/span><\/b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">9 No <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">one who is born of God  practices sin<\/span><\/b>, because His seed abides in him; and <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">he cannot sin, because he is  born of God.<\/span><\/b> NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">1 John 5:18-21 &#8211;  <\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">18  We know that <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">no one  who is born of God sins<\/span><\/b>; but He who was born of God keeps him and the  evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world  lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come,  and <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">has given us  understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true<\/span><\/b>, and we  are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and  eternal life. NASB<b> <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">1 John 5:4 &#8211;  <\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">4  For <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">whatever is born  of God overcomes the world<\/span><\/b>; and this is the victory that has overcome  the world &#8212;<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>our faith.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">1 Corinthians  2:12-16<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">  &#8211; 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">the Spirit who is from God,  that we might know the things freely given to us by God<\/span><\/b>, 13 which  things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">taught by the  Spirit<\/span><\/b>, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a  natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">they are foolishness to him,  and he cannot understand them<\/span><\/b>, because they are spiritually  appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is  appraised by no man. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should  instruct Him? <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">But we  have the mind of Christ<\/span><\/b>. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><b>Regeneration<\/b> raises mankind&#8217;s  dead spirit to eternal life and implants God&#8217;s nature into  him\/her<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Colossians  2:13<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">  &#8211; 13 And when <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">you  were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made  you alive together with Him<\/span><\/b>, having forgiven us all our  transgressions, NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Ephesians  2:5-9<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">  &#8211; 5 <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">even when we were  dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you  have been saved)<\/span><\/b>, 6 and <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">raised us up with  Him<\/span><\/b>, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,  7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His  grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved  through faith; <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">and  that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God<\/span><\/b>; 9 not as a result of  works, that no one should boast. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Ephesians  4:24<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">  &#8211; 24 and put on the new self, which <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">in the likeness of God has  been created in righteousness and holiness<\/span><\/b> of the truth.  NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">John 5:24<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">  &#8211; 24 &#8220;Truly, truly, I say to you, he who <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">hears My word, and believes  Him who sent Me, has eternal life<\/span><\/b>, and does not come into judgment,  but has passed out of death into life. NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">John 6:39-40 &#8211;  <\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">39  &#8220;And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me  <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">I lose nothing, but  raise it up on the last day<\/span><\/b>. 40 &#8220;For this is the will of My Father,  that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">may have eternal life; and I  Myself will raise him up on the last day<\/span><\/b>.&#8221;  NASB<b><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\">Regeneration then, is the very nature of salvation  itself. It is the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">saving act <\/i>of  salvation, performed by God, whereby salvation is applied to the elect in time  and space. It is the point in time when the called of God are supernaturally  transformed by God. This is why the Bible says we were saved <b><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;by the washing of  regeneration.&#8221;<\/i><\/b><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">Titus 3:5 <\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">&#8211; 5 He saved us, not on the  basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy,  by the <b><span style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">washing of  regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit<\/span><\/b>,  NAS<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Furthermore, this is the very reason why Jesus emphatically  stressed, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;You must be born again&#8221;<\/i><\/b> to <b  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;enter the <st1:place  w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType w:st=\"on\">Kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place>.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> The <span  style=\"BACKGROUND: aqua; mso-highlight: aqua\">Bible plainly declares<\/span> that  no can see or enter the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">Kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place> apart from the supernatural creative  power of God in Regeneration.<\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in\"><b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">John 3:3-7 <\/span><\/b><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\">&#8211;  3 Jesus answered and said to him, &#8220;Truly, truly, I say to you, <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">unless one is born again, he  cannot see the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place>.<\/span><\/b>&#8220;<span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>4 Nicodemus said to Him, &#8220;How can a man  be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother&#8217;s womb and  be born, can he?&#8221; 5 Jesus answered, &#8220;Truly, truly, I say to you, <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">unless one is born of water  and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place>.<\/span><\/b> 6 &#8220;That which is born of  the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 &#8220;Do not  marvel that I said to you, <b><span  style=\"BACKGROUND: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow\">&#8216;You must be born  again<\/span><\/b>.&#8217; NASB<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\">A.  <u>Jesus answered and said to him, &#8220;Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is  born again, he cannot see the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place>.&#8221;<\/u> <span  style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>&#8211; Here we may see , God Himself, in the  flesh, speaking to man about how to see His Kingdom. Here is where Christianity  becomes very exclusive, <b><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;unless&#8221;<\/i><\/b> Jesus declares. That is, in  no other way but this way, can you <b><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;see the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">Kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place>.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> The word <b><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;cannot&#8221;<\/i><\/b> speaks of man&#8217;s inability,  not His unwillingness. Mankind has an inability to see the <st1:place  w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType w:st=\"on\">Kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place> without the supernatural creative  power of God in the new birth. People who are dead in trespasses and sins have  no capacity of sight, hearing, or understanding of the Gospel.  <\/span><b><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt\">(1 Cor 2:10-14, 2 Cor 4:3-4, John  8:43, Matt 13:10-13, Romans 3:9-12, 18, 6:16, 7:14)<\/span><\/b><span  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\">B. <u>he cannot enter the <st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">Kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/u> &#8211; The <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place> is here rightly understood as God&#8217;s  salvation wherein one enters into a justified state of being having one&#8217;s sins  forgiven and satisfied upon the merits of Christ alone. One <b><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;cannot enter&#8221;<\/i><\/b> or possess this  saving work of Christ apart from the divine grace of  Regeneration.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><span  style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\">C. <u>You must be born again<\/u> &#8211; Consider, God has come  in the flesh and given us understanding. Here he says to us, &#8220;You must be born  again if you want to see or enter the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceType  w:st=\"on\">Kingdom<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName  w:st=\"on\">God<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place>.&#8221; Here then the repetition by which  the Savior speaks this very important word, <b><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;you MUST&#8221;<\/i><\/b> says He, be <b><i  style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">&#8220;born again.&#8221;<\/i><\/b>  <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left><span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left><span><\/span>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><span> <\/p>\n<p  style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=ltr align=left><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span><span><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt\"><span style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><strong>If you would like to  know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and&nbsp;<span>enter&nbsp;into<\/span> eternal life&#8230;..click here<span> to find out  how&#8230;..<\/span>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:P><a title=\"http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425\">http:\/\/www.gty.org\/Resources\/Articles\/2425<\/a><strong><\/strong><\/o:P><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:P><\/o:P><\/span><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span><strong>Or read about the Christian  Gospel here:&nbsp; <a title=\"http:\/\/www.ligonier.org\/welcome_whatisthegospel.php\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ligonier.org\/welcome_whatisthegospel.php\">http:\/\/www.ligonier.org\/welcome_whatisthegospel.php<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\" align=left><span  style=\"FONT-SIZE: 14pt\"><o:P><strong>If you have  comments or questions, please do respond to <\/strong><a title=\"mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org\" href=\"mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org\"><strong  title=mailto:shaan@heavenslight.org>shaan@heavenslight.org<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong><\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>If you would like to be added or add someone to  this email list, just reply with <strong>&#8220;sign me up&#8221;<\/strong> and the address  you want it sent to. May the Lord bless you and keep you!<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div><strong>Shaan Sloan<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>Heritage Christian Fellowship &#8211;  ABQ<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>505-<span>348<\/span>&#8211;<span>509<\/span>2<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><strong>The Lord is the Strength of My  Life<\/strong><\/div>\n<p><\/o:P><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div>&nbsp;<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; You MUST BE Born Again &nbsp;Regeneration &#8211; Part 1 &nbsp; John 3:3-7 &#8211; 3 Jesus answered and said to him, &#8220;Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.&#8220;&nbsp; 4 Nicodemus said to Him, &#8220;How can a man be born when he is old? He &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/2010\/07\/07\/heavens-light-7-7-10-regeneration-part-1\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Heavens Light 7-7-10  Regeneration Part 1<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=412"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/412\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/heavenslight.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}