REGENERATE SIGHT

REGENERATION OR OTHERWISE

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

John [GW] 3:3 Jesus replied to Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can see the kingdom of

        God without being born from above."

2Corinthians [GW] 5:17 [Paul wrote] Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of

        living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.

Titus [GW] 2:14 [Paul wrote] He [Jesus] gave himself for us to set us free from every sin and to cleanse us

        so that we  can be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good things. …

1Peter [MKJV] chapter 2 [Jesus is the] Stone which the builders rejected; this One came to be the Head of the corner, and a Stone-of-stumbling and a Rock-of-offense to those disobeying, who stumble at the Word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; you who then were not a people, but now the people of God,

  Only 3 letters, but Jesus’ “see” spoken to Nicodemus and recorded for us hereafter is a critical word.

The “see” that Nicodemus understood is quite different from the “see” we typically hear here.

  To help comprehend the distinction, think of USA as The Kingdom of America. Whether native born, immigrant, or foreigner, we/they see the USA interpreted by individual and/or group perspective. Whether ashore or afar, said sight being highly variant; from gratis to greedy, glorious to Great Satan.

  The “see” of Nicodemus’ hearing was quite different. He knew it framed a non-variant absolute entity that could only be understood and realized, acquainted with and experienced presently and forever through Almighty God’s regeneration.

  This is the sight that Saul of Tarsus gained on the road to Damascus, and diligently sought to expand and implement for the rest of his life. In the recorded 13-14 books Paul was privileged to scribe, he writes for our edification about his regenerate view of the Kingdom of God; vision drastically different than his prior enthusiastic religious life.

  How now do we see? As the otherwise see, guided by man’s philosophies contrary to God’s Word? Or viewing, Biblically critiquing and interpreting commonly held world views and thereby making life choices as knowledgeable citizen of the Kingdom of God? (Philippians chapter 3, note verse 20)

  I close this morning thought with a portion from KJV Titus chapter 3, the Apostle Paul noting that “… we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

EBB4