GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT Pt #4 “Regeneration and the Holy Spirit"

Ezekiel 36:24-28 Colossians 3:8-10 Titus 3:3-5 Psalm 51:10-17

Regeneration is a work of the Holy Spirit which is mis-understood by the Social World Church today. Rather than pray for deliverance from sin and seek the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the secular humanist pastors and priests demand that “you clean up your own act" or that you “get your act together.” If mans regeneration were simply an act, or a role for him to play, we would be in a world of hurt, because man then projects himself into an active role in his own salvation. The humanist church will also tell you that you can’t have renewal of the Spirit or regeneration until you do repent.

The inerrant word of Yahweh teaches no such heresies & some think them an invention of the modernists in the church. And they may be modern, except for the fact they have been around for over 2000-years. The Divine word of GOD teaches that all man-kind, because of the sin of Adam, and his fall, are totally depraved and dead in sin. In his sin, man is under the penalty of death, for his heart is filled with wickedness, Genesis 6:5, Psalm 14:3, Isa 59:1-3. If it were at all possible for man to pull him-self up out of the sin mess, on what level then does that place GOD? Anyone who teaches and those who believe that the individual plays an active part in the works of regeneration, redemption and salvation is in a state of total depravity still and has no regeneration. If a totally depraved sinner, one filled with revilings, cursings and hate for all things spiritual came to you and spat in your face, what would you expect the next time you saw him? Would you expect more of the same or an apology? Unless something happened to that man to cause a change in him, he would be only to happy to repeat his same sinful act. If however, this man came to you and humbly begged forgiveness and pleaded somehow to make restitution, some one far greater than mere mortal man has done a huge work in him; Eph 3:14-20, Colo 1:26-29, ITim 3:16! That man who had sinned against you had to under-go a change, his spirit was re-newed/made alive and this made him capable of seeing his sin and repenting of it.

Fiction: Man through his own efforts can qualify for Kingdom living! Fact:Man must experience the full regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in order to see the Kingdom of GOD. Of his own efforts, man is incapable of even seeking GOD, much less seeing Him. John 8:34, message to the Pharisee jews: all who sin are servants to sin, and Rom 8:7 Paul writes that the natural mind of man is in rebellion of heavenly rule and will not submit to GOD’S law. Jeremiah 13:23, fact, the leopard cannot become as the stripped Tiger, neither can the black bi-ped become as the white Adam/Man, and one step further, the natural man who is accustomed to doing evil does not do that which is good. Now, if GOD the Holy Spirit works on that natural man and regenerates his spirit making it alive, that man will do that which is good. The Holy Spirit indwells a New Man.

The Atheist says there is no such thing as the regeneration of natural man, The New-Age Theosophist says the natural man can regenerate himself because he is his own god. The social church says that even though you are the one who is lost, you have to find Jesus (who isn’t lost) before your spirit under-goes regeneration. The Charismatic/Pentecostal says regeneration of the individual is incomplete without the gift of speaking in tongues as the spirit gives them utterances. It has never been my thought that God did anything in part or left a work incomplete, John 1;12-13 & 3:1-7, Galatians 3:26-27, I Peter 1:23-25. Regeneration is not by accident, it is part of the plan of YAHWEH. Grace does not run in the blood stream, neither is Salvation and Holiness transmitted genitically from Father/Mother to child. As a rule the child of the local preacher is by nature, just as wild and unruly as the child of the local infidel. Man is not a product of regeneration by the will of the flesh., by any instinct or choice of his own, nor does he really effectively cooperate, as his heart is by nature inclined to be in opposition to the will of GOD. However, we of GOD’s elect are made to incline our hearts toward Him. YAHWEH calls, the HOLY SPIRIT works and we move toward that Saving Grace found in the Shed Blood of Christ Jesus, John 6:44.

In John 3:3 Jesus said that except a man be born again (born from above) he cannot see the Kingdom of GOD. IICor 5:17 Here Paul is writing of a new creation in Christ Jesus in which he has presupposed a new birth of the spirit, not a newly created being. Know you this you elect of Israel, prior to the work of regeneration or conversion by GOD the Holy Spirit, man does not exist spiritually. Eph 2:1 tells us that man without the Holy Spirit is dead in sin, and that is the state of the Israelite nation as described in Ezekiel 37:1. The entire Israel race having been given a bill of divorcement by Yahweh was in a state of spiritual death. Israel in Eph 2, and Ezek 37, were given the same answer for their renewed life, Ezek 37:14. .“and shall put my Spirit in you and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land.” Eph 2:22, "In whom you are also builded together for an habitation for GOD through the SPIRIT". The dead bones and the dead in sin and trespasses live. Does it not become clear to you that no sinner is ever regenerated/born again/born from above, due to the persuasion or endeavors of the pious, pleading accusing preacher. If all the angels, saints and the heavenly host joined hands with all the Godly righteous number on earth and all at the same instant did exert all their power to regenerate but one sinner, they would fail miserably. Finite wisdom and power will not accomplish the work or attain the results of the infinite/YAHWEH., ICor 3:6-7,Gal 6:3. This is not to say though that GOD the Holy Spirit can’t or won’t use all those mentioned or, that instrument which He chooses, to accomplish the end results of His own choosing.

In the course of regeneration we find that the Holy Spirit is the dispensing agent and one or many of GOD’s Elect is the receiving subject. The subject is entirely passive and does nothing, he is acted upon. The Sovereign work of the Holy Spirit has to be completed before any form of Holiness or righteousness can proceed forth from the heart of the subject. Rom 9:15-18, the great change in the individual will not be a long gradual change drawn out over a period of time with stipulations. The change is instantaneous and done in as instant of time. In the twinkling of an eye, the individual passes from death unto life. From totally depraved to eternally saved, by the Grace of GOD the Holy Spirit. In this work of regeneration,the Holy Spirit imparts a real and new life into the subject. Not one like the life inherited from the first man/Adam,but a living soul. He receives life such as is derived from the last Adam who is a quickening Spirit ICor 15:45-49. The New creature or creation is as real as the first is different. The first is an original or primary creation formed from the dust of the earth and becoming man by the word of GOD’Power. The second is the regeneration or renewal of an actual, existingman, fallen and depraved yet rational and accountable. One made into an heir of GOD and a joint heir with Christ Jesus Romans 8:13-17. The SPIRIT bears witness with our Spirit that we are the children of GOD!

John Owen, the great Englishman/Israelite Pastor of the 1600’s and author on Christian doctrines had this to say on Regeneration; “Regeneration consists in a new , spiritual and supernatural and vital principle of Grace that is infused (enjoined) into the soul, mind, will and affection by the power of the Holy Spirit. That is to say once again, no new faculties are created in the individual, rather, the powers of the soul are spiritualized and made alive unto GOD. Man is thus fitted now to enjoy GOD, to praise Him and hold Communion with Him. Regeneration does consist of a radical change of heart, the mind renovated, the affections elevated and the will emancipated from the bondage of sin and death.” John 3:6-8, the entire being of one who is born anew/from above, is so changed spiritually that he becomes the renewed original man, not a new created being.

Colo 3:3, Paul writes of the regenerated man, “For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in GOD. The union of our life with Christ is not traced or analyzed here, nor are we told how it happened, just that it- did happen and we accept that as fact,on faith. John 3:8,we hear the wind as it blows through the trees and we can feel it touch our faces, this is what tells us it blows; yet if we are asked what components make up the wind we can not say because we can see none. It is likewise with the Holy Spirit,and  just as we can see the results of a blowing wind and tell its path,we do the same with the Holy Spirit. We see what is accomplished by the work, so we know where He has been.

Proverbs 4:23, Mark 7:21-23, Man has a center of consciousness,the ego which is heart and soul, and from here comes all his thinking and his activities. Mark has told us what vile and terrible things, both thoughts and actions  issue forth from the heart of the unregenerate. It isn’t difficult to see from this that if our lives and actions are to be changed the source must be corrected. The nature of a fruit tree is to bring forth fruit, not rocks and we expect grapes not thorns from a vineyard. Natural man acts in accord with his nature, he is corrupt and produces nothing except corruption. If man is to be incorruptible and produce that which is good, his nature must be changed, and this is changed only by GOD the Holy Spirit, Ezekiel 11:17-20. The Greatest heart surgeon of all times has spoken.  After He operates, there is no possible chance for rejection from within or with-out, Ezek 36:21-28 John 10:27-29. Two great, beautiful and wonderful things happen when God the Holy Spirit regenerates even one soul. First there is a wondrous exhibition of His Power and second, there is a blessed manifestation of His Love. In the exercise of His Office and work toward GOD’s Elect and what He performs in them, the Holy Spirit proves that His love toward the heirs of Glory can not be expressed in words of human intellect. The Holy Spirit in making our souls alive to Yahweh allows us to receive for ourselves the transactions of both Father and Son in the Eternal Covenant. We are imputed with certain principles where by we are made fit to enjoy a spiritual union with YAHWEH-ELOHIM.

John 14:15-26, Jesus promised a comforter for those who were His, and as we read this and further we realize that he has promised us the Holy Spirit,ICor 6:17, Eph 5:9-10&30-32 and IJohn 2:24. There is a great distance that lies between the created and the creator, between Deity and mortal man, yet it is beyond comprehension that sinners such as I should be made one with HIM. Only GOD the Holy Spirit has made or will make us worthy so that we may be able to surround His throne and worship Him saying “HOLY,HOLY,HOLY, YAHWEH GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME,Revelations 4:8.

Ours is a peculiar race of people, we are so busy embracing the things in our past life that we have already lived, that we lose sight of, or fully neglect the events and truths of the future. We are so busy with self that we ignore the work that has been done all around us by God the Holy Spirit. We almost take for granted that in love, the Father sent His Son to die for our sins, and that is a wrong attitude, but it is more than most of us give the Holy Spirit. People, we need to exercise the mind and the heart which God gave us, not physically but Spiritually in soul inflaming, heart warming meditation on the love and mercy and grace of Yahweh God The Father, Christ Jesus-God The Son and God the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26 we are told that the Holy Spirit would teach us all things. Point of View: All that we know of Jesus Christ and His finished work and the Fathers love of His Elect comes entirely from the outward teachings and inward believing caused by the Supernatural work of teaching done on us by GOD the Holy Spirit.

I Thess 5:9-10 The Fathers appointment, the Sons redemptive Act and many unspoken blessings which are ours were unknown for such a long time. In our fallen state we lay dead in sin with out hope and with out care. To bring us out of this wasted state and raise us up into a life of righteousness is the great and grand work which was reserved for GOD THe HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit is fully acquainted with the eternal virtue and work of Christ Jesus. He knew what and who the heart of Jesus was set on when He made His Sacrifice on the Cross. He knew that YAHWEH was eternally pleased concerning it and holds it in perpetual remembrance, Matt3:17. With both Father and Son having committed the revelation and application of so Great a Salvation unto the Elect. The Holy Spirit is then pleased, out of the richness of His free and Sovereign Grace to work in due season in all the heirs of His Glory. Rom 8:17, Gal 4:6-7 Hebrews 6:17-20.

Matt 15:24&1O:6-7,Salvation was never meant for everyone. If Jesus had meant to send the Holy Spirit to all races, He would have sent His Apostles to all Races. He did not choose a new people and call them, Spiritual Israel. The Gospel however did go out, and it went to physical Israelites and it went to prepare them for the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 8:16-18, These were Elect children of Israel whom GOD gave to Jesus long before the Spirit was sent forth. John 11:51-52, these who were scattered abroad could only be the nation Israel who were to be heirs of all that Christ purchased at Calvary, James 1:1! Gal 4:6, The spirit came forth to these in Galatia, because they were sons and daughters and heirs of the promise. Heb 2:13-14, these were children even before the Incarnation. The Elect of YAHWEH in CHRIST were children from all eternity and were decreed to be the children for all eternity. Sonship was not lost due to the fall of Adam, nor by any corruption deriving from that fall. It is remarkable that not one time did the authors of scripture use the form, ‘into Christ’, in reference to the Elect (referred to some 600 times) it is always “in Christ”, because the Elect has never been out of Him, seeking a way to come into Him.

God’s love for His Elect did not begin yesterday, nor does it wait to begin as soon as we start to love Him, I John 4:9-10&19; Only through the Sovereign work of Grace by the Holy Spirit can we answer the call of the Father to come to Him thru the Son, and then only because He first loved us...John 14:6,14&26, 10:9-10 & 6:44.

The effect of the new birth is that man learns to love that which is Spiritual and to value spiritual blessings. John 4:13-14, Jesus Christ becomes that well of pure sweet water which takes away our thirst. We are made to drink of all His Spiritual Graces. The work of the Holy Spirit has made us worthy of the Atonement made by Jesus.

Today, if there is one thing we should pray for it is that out pouring of the Holy Spirit promised and spoken of in Joel 2:28-29, Zech 12:10 and Acts 2:17-18. If we as the Elect servants of YAHWEH are to have any success at all in doing His will for our lives, we must pray fervently without ceasing for a full measure of indwelling of the Holy Spirit for our nation and its people.

Rick Giesenschlag, Pastor

Christs’ Church Militant

Copyright @ 1990 a.d.