THE DIVINE PURPOSE IN REGENERATION

THE DIVINE PURPOSE IN REGENERATION

         

   To be first fruits of His creatures.

James 1:18  "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures."

The Bible has power with the words contained within which are alive, giving life to all who believe its content which tells of a Savior coming from heaven Who dies the eternal death they deserve so they might have eternal life without end.

Cf. Matt. 19:28  "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

             To bring us into an inheritance.

1 Pet. 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."

Human personality is revealed as superior to physical death. He died, but He is alive. When the preacher says the words dust to dust, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, he is not referring to personality but only to its temporary house. Personality was there revealed to have continuity to its individuality. It was the same Jesus they had known before. There was also change seen in Him, an enlargement of capacity and potential. He had a body that was able to light a fire and prepare breakfast for tired men who had been out all night, a body that was able to sit down with them in the upper room and eat broiled fish, yet a body so different that He was there in their midst without the unlocking of the door bolt, or even the opening of the door. And on the road to Emmaus He could walk with men who knew Him well without allowing them to discover Him. Life on the other side is therefore the same, only exalted, glorified, beautified. His death was vicarious and so was His resurrection. It was for other men. He died for others, He was raised for others. This is a living hope. The reservation suggests a definite location. In that ascension of the Son of Man I have man's guarantee of place and possession. Where He is, we shall be also.
 Our inheritance is incorruptible--that speaks of its deathlessness, nothing is in it of the element of destruction; it cannot die; that is eternal life; undefiled--that speaks of its sinlessness, nothing in it that could prevent the perpetual development of the Divine life; it is perfect in purity; unfading-- nothing is in it that dims the glory or tarnishes the beauty; it is fadeless.

cf. Rom. 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

The Son has been given all the nations and the uttermost parts of the earth for “thine inheritance” (Psalm 2:8). He created all things and is “appointed heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2). This is something of what it means for us to be adopted children and thus to share His inheritance! Note also Ephesians 1:11,14; etc.

               

  To produce good works through us. We are one of God's poem.  Eph. 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

That is the Greek word POIEMA, we are God's poem. There are two poems in the N.T. These is a Greek word which translates to "workmanship." Rom 1:20; Eph 2:10. "Twas great to call a world from naught; twas greater to redeem." The greatest poem ever wrote is 1st creation, but greater still is the 2nd of redemption.

                     To give us now the earnest of what we shall be.                         1 John 3:2 "Now we are the children of God."