Quoted by Jesusfreak5000:
So what do you believe is the difference, Ben? Regeneration, being "born from above" is a one-time act, since it is paralleled by Jesus to physical birth.
I don't believe it's really "one-time". If you read the tense of 2Cor5:17, as I quoted it conveys a CONTINUING position. The old is pass-ING away. In essence, we abide in regeneration, as we abide in Christ.So what do you believe is the difference, Ben? Regeneration, being "born from above" is a one-time act, since it is paralleled by Jesus to physical birth.
This is the clear dictate of passages such as Rom6; by "considering ourselves dead to sin but alive in Christ", we walk in the Spirit's regeneration. If we begin to walk in sin/flesh/lust, then we are no longer regenerated. Such walking IS possible for the truly-saved, and IS "unbelief".
(Look at how 1Jn1:6-10 addresses this!)
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It is spiritual rebirth - something that happens in a moment, not an ongoing process (such as sanctification), just as physical birth is not an ongoing process. How could there be a difference in what "born from above" means under the old covenant and new covenant, if all that it means is spiritual rebirth?
This has been a problem for many "OSAS" proponents. The reality is that we still sin. Sometimes some try to assert "they are regenerated and sinless SPIRITUALLY, but still sin in their FLESH". A variant of "Antinomiamisn" --- against that, what we do in our flesh, determines our destiny. It is spiritual rebirth - something that happens in a moment, not an ongoing process (such as sanctification), just as physical birth is not an ongoing process. How could there be a difference in what "born from above" means under the old covenant and new covenant, if all that it means is spiritual rebirth?
"Born of the Spirit", means righteousness, now --- and by the Spirit INDWELLING us. "Born of God", meant righteousness, then --- but the Spirit did not indwell as He does now.
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You kind of dodged the question - before you said that being "born again" only happens under the new covenant. Now you say there was a "born from above position". What are you trying to say?
In Rom4:3, "Abraham believed, AND it was credited to him as righteousness."You kind of dodged the question - before you said that being "born again" only happens under the new covenant. Now you say there was a "born from above position". What are you trying to say?
Salvation under the Old Covenant, was by faith --- and it was God's grace. He offered forgiveness for sins, but Law requiring a blood offering for sins allowed a substitute sacrifice. Jesus is now "fulfilled the Law", and He is our "blood offering". So it's still grace, it's still faith, and now we obey Law BECAUSE He is in us.
But the discussion is "God made us alive WITH CHRIST" --- so let's focus on that, rather than try to prove or disprove things with Old Testament. The New did not invalidate the Old, but fulfilled it. And there is nothing in the OT that disproves Jesus' doctrine of Grace, through Faith.
We were discussing "see" --- do you accept that Lk9:27 answers what you were proposing about Jn3:3?
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