Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17
When we come to know scripture, the holy and just nature of God and the depraved nature of man, we begin to see the problem. If we are create for relationship with God, how can a God that we know just begin to understand, have depraved man in his presence? The fourth indictment is:
Ignorance of the doctrine of regeneration.
God the Just and Righteous became God the Justifier. He doesn’t just forgive. What good does that do? We will soon sin again. He creates anew. He makes us new creatures. Things change.
Hearts of stone become hearts of flesh.
Our dark ignorance becomes knowledge of sin.
Our death in sin becomes life in Christ.
Our depraved minds become renewed.
Slaves of sin become slaves of righteousness.
This miracle can’t be performed by clever preaching, emotional pleas, or any act of man. Regeneration is a miracle of God greater even than the initial creation. In the beginning God made man out of nothing. In regeneration he begins with depravity and produces righteousness.
Through regeneration we become something new. We have evidence. We produce fruit that the old creature could never have produced. We stumble. We fall. We doubt. But there is fruit. Evidence that there is something completely new.
Be the first to reply