REGENERATION IS A NECESSITY--Part Five

REGENERATION IS A NECESSITY--Part Five
John 3;1-13

Redemption is not something provided, as an offer, for all men, but A Redemption made sure, to those, whom God sovereignly regenerates.

Regeneration, therefore, is not a life-line thrown out to a drowning man, but a ransom, applied to a person, dead in trespasses and sins.

Repentance is of God--Jeremiah 31;18-21; Acts 11;18-[Turn].

Faith, also, is of God--Ephesians 2;8-[Quote].
Philippians 1;29--''For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;''
Hebrews 12;2--''Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.''
Repentance and Faith are God's gifts of Salvation;
therefore, they can't be man's contribution, to his Salvation.

The flesh, or, old nature, is not changed in Regeneration.
It is condemned, but not changed in the believer--Romans 8;3-[Turn].

Flesh, therefore, either signifies the state of the unregenerate man, or flesh, in the Regenerate, which resists The Holy Spirit--Galatians 5;17-[Turn].

The old nature [flesh] resides in the man, born of God, but it doesn't reign.
The Regenerate Man doesn't live in the old nature, but flesh, is in the believer.
Regeneration does not destroy the presence and power of the flesh, in the saint;
but it has been judicially condemned, in Christ's sacrifice.

When One is Regenerated by the Holy Spirit, he is a spiritual Person; John 3;6-[Turn].

God's first reference to ''Spirit'' is used of THE AUTHOR of The New Birth.
His second reference to ''Spirit'' is used of the spiritual life of the Person Regenerated.

''Born of the Spirit'' proves that the Third Person of the Godhead, is the One, Who applies
Redemption.
Now, if the Holy Spirit were nothing more, than an influence, such a creative act, could NEVER TAKE PLACE, in the soul, of a depraved man.
A mere influence DOESN'T POSSESS inherent power.


The Holy Spirit is more, than an influence, He is a Divine Person;
and as a person, He exerts Divine influence.

He is called ''GOD,'' And God is a Person--Acts 5;3-4--[Turn].

Spiritual living is the fruit of being born of The Spirit.
Notice, the word, ''Spirit'' in the latter part of John 3;6 refers to the spiritual nature, and to its exercise.

The Spiritual Man has a spiritual mind;
he has a Person, Who indwells, seals, intercedes, and empowers.

Romans 8 shows The Power of The Holy Spirit to;
1. Liberate [verses 2-4].
2. Provide [verses 5-6].
3. Indwell [verse 9].
4. Quicken [verse 11].
5. Triumph [verse 13].
6. Guide [verse 14].
7. Deliver from slavish fear [Verse 15].
8. Give witness to salvation [verse 16].
9. Over-rule in life's affairs [verse 26].
10. Search and intercede [verse 27].

In I Corinthians 2;10-14, The Holy Spirit;
Reveals [verse 10].
Teaches [verse 13].
Discerns [verse 14].
Searches [verse 10].

But, before leaving those wonderful helps of The Holy Spirit, we must ask, to Whom, does the
Spirit direct the believer's attention, in revealing, teaching, discerning, and searching/

Answer--
John 16-13-14--''Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.''
The evidence of being born of The Spirit is manifested in the disposition, discernment, and action, of a believer.
He reveals, not only the habits, but also, The Spirit of Grace.

Nicodemus' overwhelming astonishment is brought out by Jesus' Statement;
''Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again'' [John 3;7].


This religious Pharisee was as startled at Regeneration, as most Religionists are today.
It was as new to his mind, as Paul's message, was to The Athenians--Acts 17;22-31--[Turn].

next time we shall look at Regenration Proper.