John 1:11-12 'Jesus came to His own & His own did not receive Him but as many as received Him who believed in His Name, He gave the power to become children of God who were born not of natural descent, or of human decision or of the will of man but born of God'
God gave us life. Ephesians 2:3-5 '..we were by nature deserving wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.'
New Birth is born of the Holy Spirit
John 3:5 'No one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.' (water/natural birth, Spirit/H/S)
John 14:16-17 'I will ask the Father to give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of Truth.... He will be in you.'
1 Corinthians 3:16 'You are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in your midst.'
1 John 3:9 'No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed dwells in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.'
2 Timothy 1:9 'He has save us and called us to a holy life, not because of anything that we have done but because of His own purpose & grace.'
Philippians 1:6 'He that has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion.'
John 10:28-30 'I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one shall snatch them out of my hand and my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.'
New birth is internal act of God to be born into His family. Adoption is His external act by which we are chosen to be members of His family.
Predestination & adoption are totally the work of God. God chose us. Only parents adopt.
Jesus is the eternal Son of God. God has adopted as His sons all who believe in Jesus.
He is called the first born among many brothers Romans 8:29. Jesus had to wait for the fullness of time before He entered our world, born of a woman, born under the law. Galatians 4:4
Ephesians 1:4-5 'He chose us in Him before the creation of the world that we should be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.'
God loves His Son as much as He loves those that belong to Him John 17:23
The Kingdom of God, The reign of Christ:
2 Timothy 4:1 'In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will judge the living & the dead.'
The power of Christ Luke 11:20 'If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come among you.'
Personal knowing of Christ through suffering Acts 14:22 'Encouraging them to remain true to the faith. We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.'
The inheritance of Christ Galatians 5:21 'Those who live by the natural way of life will not inherit the kingdom of God'
We enter the kingdom of God through new birth John 3:3 'No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.' Of the water (natural) & the Spirit.(spiritual)
Obedience required: Ephesians 5:5-6 'No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a person is an idolater - has any inheritance in in the kingdom of Christ and of God... God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.'
A circle within a circle: Larger circle entered by Colossians 1:13-14 'He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness & brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins'
Inner circle entered by tribulation. Acts 14:22 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.'
Sometimes the kingdom of God & salvation is the same thing but not always
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?
1 Corinthians 5:5 'Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.' (expelled from the fellowship to cause him to repent?)
Chastening used by God to keep us on track Hebrews 12:5-11
Sonship & inheritance not the same? Ephesians 5:5-6 No inheritance but God’s wrath
Judgement seat of Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:10 'We must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ so that each may receive what is due for things done while in the body'
Chastening is enforced learning. It is God’s way of discipline to share in His holiness. Not pleasant at the time but produces a harvest of righteousness & peace for those trained by it.
God uses internal chastening: The Word used by the Holy Spirit.
Today if you hear His voice harden not your heart. Stay sensitive, respond to the Holy Spirit touch. Harden your heart & it is harder to hear the Holy Spirit prompting.
External chastening : Circumstances, problems, illness, weakness, .
Terminal chastening 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 'If what has been built up survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but be saved as one escaping through the flames.' Saved but no reward! Ephesians 5:5
Chastening for those that are members of God’s family. An indication of His love & concern for our spiritual welfare.
Charles Templeton, evangelist with Billy Graham. Lost sight of Jesus through reason rather than submit to Jesus. Expressed in old age how he (in tears) missed Jesus.
Liberal theology results in many losing sight of their relationship with Jesus. It is a test of the new birth.
How well founded was it? Except a person deny himself he cannot follow Jesus. Real New Birth will result in real change that is ongoing.
Old age not a time to rest on one’s laurels but to know Jesus, the fellowship of His sufferings & allow the Holy Spirit to keep changing us from one degree of glory to another. Plenty of time to rest in heaven. Use every opportunity before the next lockdown!
Time is running out. Jesus will soon return. Will He find faith on earth? Will you be active & ready?
In the book of Ezekiel it is clearly stated Ezekiel 33:12 'If someone who is righteous disobeys, then that persons righteousness will count for nothing. Yet if a sinner turns away from evil & repents, then his former lifestyle will not bring condemnation.'
Ezekiel 33:14-15 'If I say to the wicked "you shall surely die" but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right... they will surely live and not die'
Ezekiel himself was warned by God. Ezekiel 33:7-8 'Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people... If you do not speak out I will hold you responsible.' If he warned the wicked, then he himself would be saved even if no one responded.
