SPELLING EDITED
BORN ONCE>>>DIE TWICE! BORN TWICE>>>DIE ONCE! THE CHOICE IS YOURS! So then what does this “Christianese” term, as in, referring to this Christian terminology “You must be born again!” TRULY mean? First of all the words “YOU MUST BE” definitely speak to me as we do NOT have an OPTION here. That is of course if we desire to enter into the kingdom of God we do not have an option. In other words, if we want to receive eternal life in the world to come then we MUST be BORN-AGAIN as Jesus teaches. So let's begin this study in God's word by reading the context of John 3:1-10 where Jesus teaches us about the TWO steps of being born-again. What I mean by the two steps is that we must be born-again before we can understand the things of God as being the first step. And the second step is when we as faithful born-again believers receive eternal life to ENTER into the kingdom of heaven in the world to come to rule and reign with Jesus over the mortals down on the earth in the kingdom of God for 1000 years. John 3:1-10. “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God. (Meaning that NON-believers can NOT understand the things of God) 4. Nicodemus said unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5. Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot ENTER into the kingdom of God. (Meaning that flesh and blood cannot enter into heaven) 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7. Marvel not that I said unto you, you MUST be born again. 8. The wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence (Or from where) it comes, and whither (Or where) it goes: so is every one that is born of the spirit. 9. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, how can these things be? 10. Jesus answered and said unto him, are you a master of Israel, and know not these things?”
Now, take a close look at the very last verse where Jesus says unto Nicodemus are you a master or teacher of Israel and you yourself do not know these things, speaking of this matter that a person MUST, without fail, be born-again in order to enter into the kingdom of God? This leads me to believe that this teaching of being born again is in the Old Testament. But before we take a look at the Old Testament let's see what the New Testament has to say on this subject of being BORN AGAIN. The ONLY other time we see the phrase “BORN-AGAIN” is in 1 Peter 1:23 which teaches us HOW we are BORN-AGAIN. So then, let's read the entire CONTEXT of 1 Peter 1:23 by reading 1 Peter 1:1-25. 1 Peter 1:1-25. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the STRANGERS scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,(Speaking of strangers or pilgrims born of the gospel to BECAME the ELECT or chosen of God) 2. ELECT according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, THROUGH sanctification of the Spirit, (Again, speaking of HOW the strangers or pilgrims were born of the gospel who BECAME the ELECT according to WHAT? according to God predestining salvation to be THROUGH the sanctification of the Holy Spirit) unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: (So then, the ONLY way to BECOME one of the ELECT is to first believe in the shed blood of Jesus Christ who dies for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the sins of the WHOLE world so that WHOSOEVER of any human being who BELIEVES might be saved.) Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has BEGOTTEN US AGAIN unto a lively HOPE (That is to say, ACCORDING to his abundant mercy, we are BORN-AGAIN unto a LIVELY HOPE) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith UNTO salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (Meaning that we have not actually received eternal life as yet. And, therefore, we must endure unto the END to remain faithful and obedient servants of God until we die or until Jesus returns whichever comes first) 6. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8. Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9. Receiving the END of your faith, EVEN the salvation of your SOULS. (Which again the END of our faith speaks of the coming of Jesus when only the FAITHFUL believers in Jesus are given eternal life to rule and reign with Jesus in the world to come, the 1000 year reign of Jesus) 10. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. 12. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (However, being BORN-AGAIN is offered ONLY to the human race and NOT to the fallen angels) 13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and HOPE to the END for the grace that IS to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (Hope is not truly hoping if we already have eternal life and can never lose our salvation) 14. As obedient children, NOT fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15. But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation; 16. Because it is written, Be YOU holy; for I am holy. 17. And if you call on the Father, who without respect of person JUDGES according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning (Or pilgrimage speaking of our Christian WALK while in this present world) here in FEAR: 18. For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22. Seeing you have purified your souls (HOW? How do we purify our souls of all our PAST sins?) IN OBEYING the TRUTH THROUGH the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23. BEING BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY the WORD of God, which lives and abides forever. (In other words, it is the INCORRUPTIBLE WORD of God added with FAITH that has caused us to be BORN AGAIN to WALK in OBEDIENCE THROUGH the power of the Holy Spirit) 24. For all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower thereof falls away: 25. But the WORD of the Lord endures forever. And this is the WORD which BY the gospel is PREACHED unto you.”
So from this passage of scripture, it is made clear that a person is BORN-AGAIN BY the incorruptible WORD of Almighty God. Also, verse 23 shows us by using the word “BEING” that the BORN AGAIN experience takes place BEFORE one DIES because Peter is talking to people who are ALREADY BORN AGAIN. I say this because some teach that the meaning of being BORN AGAIN is when we are RESURRECTED to obtain ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. And I do agree that ONE ASPECT of being born again does not become fully received until the resurrection of the dead in Christ when Jesus returns AT the SECOND COMING. The born-again experience that I am speaking of in this study in God word is becoming a NEW CREATION of God created IN Jesus Christ. If you go back and read John 3:1-10 again you will see the TWO steps of being born-again. So then, just as a SEED in planted in the soil it MUST be cared for or it will DIE, so likewise, WE, who are BORN-AGAIN, must, without fail, stay nourished with the word of God lest we DIE ALSO and fall short of OBTAINING the reward of ETERNAL LIFE. In other words, just because a person is BORN AGAIN, this does NOT mean that that person is AUTOMATICALLY going to RECEIVE or OBTAIN eternal life when they die naturally or when Jesus comes again. Please read the parable of the sower who is sowing seed found in Matthew 13:3-23 and in Mark 4:2-20. Jesus tells us this parable and then gives us the interpretation so there is no accusing one another saying, Well that is just YOUR interpretation. I strongly urge everyone to read this parable from BOTH gospels because Jesus tells us basically that if we do not understand THIS parable, then how can we understand any other parable? But due to space, I will just quote this account found in Matthew 13:3-23 which reads as follows. Matthew 13:3-23.
“And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up because they had no deepness of earth: 6. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked them: 8. But other fell into good ground and brought forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9. Who has ears to hear, let him hear. 10. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speak you unto them in parables? 11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, it is not given. 12. For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has. 13. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which says, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive: 15. For (Or because) THIS people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes THEY have closed; (Speaking only of the children of Israel) lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted (Or BORN AGAIN), and I should heal them. 16. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (Speaking of the Jews of the tribe of Judah) 17. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them. 18. Hear you, therefore, the parable of the sower. 19. When ANYONE HEARS the WORD of the kingdom AND understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. 20. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receives it; 21. Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes UNFRUITFUL. (Speaking of CARNAL Christians) 23. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” So then, according to the whole word of God, the seed planted in good soil will become rooted and grounded in the truth to endure unto the end bearing GOOD fruit. And ONLY those good and faithful Christians who bear GOOD fruit will receive eternal life in the world to come at the coming of Jesus. Now let's take a look at the phrase or the terminology of being “BORN of God” because Jesus tells us that we must be BORN from ABOVE. John 1:11-13 tells us this, “He (Speaking of Jesus) came unto his own (Speaking of Israel), and his own (Israel as a whole nation) received him not. 12. But as many as RECEIVED him, to them gave he POWER (Or in other word's to those who BELIEVE he GIVES POWER) to BECOME the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE (That is to say, even to as many that steadfastly CONTINUE to BELIEVE unto the END) on his name: 13. Which were BORN, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (Speaking of the WILL of God to save whosoever BELIEVES in his Son)” So the keywords here are “as many as RECEIVED him” that is to say, “as many as gladly received the word of God as the TRUTH and BELIEVED on his name, the name of Jesus the Son of the living God” Also. please notice that upon the MOMENT of RECEIVING or BELIEVING the gospel that POWER was GIVEN to us to BECOME the sons of God. This is important, particularly when we take into consideration Romans chapter 8 that tells us that we are the sons of God IF and ONLY IF we OBEY the leading by the Holy Spirit of God. In other words, we must without fail WALK in OBEDIENCE to the Holy Spirit in order to OBTAIN the inheritance of SONSHIP, as in, ETERNAL sonship when Jesus comes again. In other words, the MOMENT we STOP obeying the word of God and we STOP walking after the leading of the Holy Spirit, we TEMPORARILY forfeit our inheritance as a son or daughter of Almighty God because we have NOT ACTUALLY RECEIVED the final part of being BORN AGAIN IF we were to die while living in the state of SIN. I say temporarily because the MOMENT we REPENT and CONFESS our sin God forgives our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness and we are made PERFECT once again in the eyes of God. Can you not see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, that the final stage of being BORN AGAIN is not complete UNTIL the RESURRECTION of the dead in Christ which is WHEN Almighty God, the Father actually gives us to his Son Jesus to rule and reign in his kingdom for 1000 years. Please read Romans 8:1-17. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, WHO walk NOT after the flesh, but AFTER the Spirit. (However, if you choose NOT to OBEY the Holy Spirit and walk AFTER the FLESH, then you WILL have CONDEMNATION. The Holy Spirit convicts us when we sin and we have condemnation until we confess our sin and believe that God forgives and cleanses us from all our sins again.) 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, WHO walk NOT after the flesh, but AFTER the Spirit. (A Christian that walks after the flesh bears BAD fruit and will be cut down to be burned. BUT Christians who bear GOOD fruit will enter into the kingdom of God with eternal life to rule and reign with Jesus in the world to come. And if a Christian sins and they OBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit and the teaching of Jesu to REPENT and confess their sin then THAT is also GOOD fruit of obedience to God's word.) 5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is DEATH, but to be spiritually minded is LIFE and peace. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF so be that the Spirit of God DWELL in you. Now if any man has NOT the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (The Holy Spirit ONLY dwells in TRUE born-again Christians. Every TRUE born-again Christian receives the Holy Spirit to dwell IN them the very moment that they believe. BUT there is also the experience of being FILLED with the Holy Spirit with the EVIDENCE of speaking in other tongues. Being filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues is not required to receive eternal life but there are many BENEFITS of being FILLED with the Holy Spirit over and over that empowers a Christian to live a godly life overcoming all sin in their life.) 10. And if Christ (Speaking of the ANOINTING of the Holy Spirit) is IN you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell IN you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells IN you. 12. Therefore, brethren, we are DEBTORS, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. (So then, we ARE INDEED DEBTORS, but we are NOT debtors to live in sin as some Christians falsely teach. But rather we are debtors to serve God in RIGHTEOUSNESS) 13. FOR (Or BECAUSE) IF you live after the flesh, you shall DIE: but IF you THROUGH the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall LIVE. 14. For AS MANY AS are LED by the Spirit of God, THEY (Speaking of ONLY those who are WALKING in OBEDIENCE to the Holy Spirit) are the sons of God. (1 John 3:5-11 teaches us that WHILE Christians live in sin they are literally children of the Devil and should they die while living in sin then they will lose their salvation) 15. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (A TRUE born-again Christian KNOWS beyond any shadow of a doubt that they are saved by the Holy Spirit dwelling IN them bearing WITNESS to them that they ARE the children of God. All condemnation is replaced with life and PEACE.) 17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; IF so be that we suffer with him, (Suffer HOW? This is speaking of suffering the TEMPTATION to sin unto the END in order to NOT give in to any temptation and sin. And WHY do we suffer temptation to NOT SIN?) THAT (Or so THAT or IN ORDER THAT) we may be also glorified together.” In other words, those who DIE while living is sin will NOT be glorified with a new immortal body of flesh and blood like Jesus has now. In verse 14 we see again that phrase “AS MANY AS”. The Scripture says AS MANY AS RECEIVE him. And AS MANY AS BELIEVE on his name. And AS MANY AS MORTIFY the DEEDS of the FLESH through the power of the Holy Spirit. And AS MANY AS are LED by the Spirit of Almighty God. And AS MANY AS walk-in OBEDIENCE to the Holy Spirit. And all of these AS MANY AS conditions leads ME to believe and teach that IF we FAIL to do these things, then we will NOT obtain ETERNAL LIFE when Jesus comes again. Now please do not misunderstand what I am trying to say or convey to you. What I am trying to say is that we do NOT do these things in OUR OWN STRENGTH. In other words, we OBEY the word of God in FAITH by believing in the many precious promises that are given to us in his word to make us OVERCOMERS of the FLESH and SIN. It is the Holy Spirit that EMPOWERS us to walk in OBEDIENCE, but we must BELIEVE and OBEY the word of God in order to OBTAIN eternal life in the END. Please read the study “HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT SIN!” Please keep in remembrance that at the very point in time in which we RECEIVE Jesus as our savior and we sincerely BELIEVE on his name with all our heart then we become BORN-AGAIN and the Holy Spirit begins to DWELL in us and begins to LEAD us to WALK in OBEDIENCE to the teachings of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament. 1 John 3:9 says it like this. “Whosoever is BORN of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin because he is BORN of God.” Now the phrase “CANNOT SIN” does NOT mean that it is IMPOSSIBLE to SIN. It simply means that our new heart or our INNER man will not ACCEPT or AGREE to SIN anymore. In other words, being BORN again means that there is a CHARGE within us that causes us to hate sin from WITHIN. Now our carnal mind that has NOT yet been RENEWED will still fight against our new born-again INNER man and there will still be a desire or TEMPTATION to sin. However, the temptation comes from WITHOUT, meaning the OLD habits of the OLD OUTER man of the flesh must be crucified on a daily basis by our new inner man. Trust me, it does INDEED get easier to overcome sin after your mind is RENEWED to the word of God. So do NOT give up! Keep renewing your mind to the word of Almighty God to root and ground yourself in the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God and you will never fall away from God. Now, please read 1 John 4:7. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God, and everyone that LOVES is BORN of God and knows God.” So another test or another way to see if you are TRULY BORN of God is to take note of the change in your life with respect to LOVING one another. I mean, seriously, I have witnessed some pretty hateful actions from some who CALL themselves Christians and those kinds of fruits being brought forth by some Christians brings some doubt that they are truly born-again Christians. Remember, if we WALK AFTER the FLESH we shall DIE. In other words, LOVING one another is NOT an OPTION, it is a COMMANDMENT from Almighty God our creator. Now please consider 1 John 5:1 which says. “Whosoever BELIEVES that Jesus is the Christ is BORN of God: and everyone that loves him that begot loves him also that is begotten of him.” Now, the word “BELIEVES” is greatly misunderstood. The DEVILS BELIEVE but simply BELIEVING does not save them. Jesus tells us that IF we BELIEVE him, then we will KEEP his sayings. I will share more on this later but for now please know and understand that to believe in Jesus means to CONTINUALLY believe in Jesus unto the END by OBEYING the teachings of Jesus taught in the New Testament of the Bible. Please read 1 John 5:4 which reads. “For whatsoever is BORN of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our FAITH.” FAITH is another one of those misunderstood subjects. Please see some of my other studies on this topic because you MUST understand FAITH in order to OVERCOME sin in your life. Now please read 1 John 5:18. “We know that whosoever is BORN of God sins not but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, AND that wicked one touches him NOT.” Now, this is a PROMISE that is well worth the time to study out in detail. See my study “HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE FREE FROM SIN!” Also, Galatians 4:19 gives us an important clue as to HOW a person is BORN-AGAIN. Galatians 4:19. “My little children, of whom I travail in BIRTH AGAIN until Christ be formed in you,”
It is also very important to notice that Paul is travailing in prayer for these brothers and sisters who were at one time truly BORN AGAIN believers to be BORN AGAIN yet a second or perhaps third time. This CLEARLY shows us that a true BORN AGAIN believer can become ensnared with the deceitfulness of sin and fall away from the faith. And if they are not prayed FOR and admonished by the gospel so that they can recover themselves out of the snare of the enemy by REPENTING of their SIN then they could very well lose their salvation. That is to say that IF they REMAIN in SIN and DIE in this fallen state of SIN, they will NOT INHERIT eternal life because Romans chapter 8 clearly tells us that we are SONS and DAUGHTERS of God ONLY when we OBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of once saved always saved is a doctrine of devils! For a deeper understanding on this subject please read the study entitled “IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?” 1 Thessalonians 2:9 says. “For you remember, brethren, our labor, and TRAVAIL: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.” 2 Thessalonians 3:8 reads. “Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught; but wrought with labor and TRAVAIL night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:” 1 Corinthians 4:15 says, “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have you not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” To say this another way, there are many teachers in the church but there are not many PARENTS in the church who labor and TRAVAIL in intercessory prayer both in their natural language and praying in other tongues for people to be SAVED. Jesus is drawing all men unto himself and making intercession for us to keep us in the faith. During the ministry of Jesus, he prayed for others including his own disciples. Jesus is our example to follow. Jesus is our fellow brother in the faith as well as being our Savior. Revelation 1:5 says. “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the FIRST begotten of the dead, (Speaking of Jesus being the very FIRST human being to be raised from the dead and GIVEN the divine nature of IMMORTALITY to be having in himself. Jesus is the firstborn among MANY brethren) and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him, that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” Then we are told in Colossians 1:15,18 that Jesus is the FIRSTBORN of every creature. And ALSO that Jesus is the FIRSTBORN from the DEAD, which tells us that WE ALSO will be BORN from the DEAD, that is to say, those of US who REMAIN FAITHFUL and ENDURE unto the END will be BORN AGAIN from the dead in order to OBTAIN our REWARD of ETERNAL LIFE. Colossians 1:15,18. “15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:... ...18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” We are told that those who are IN Christ are a NEW CREATION and that the old things are passed away, and all things are made new. Please see the study “WHAT DOES FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE TRULY MEAN?”. Please read 1 Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore if any man is IN Christ, he is a NEW CREATION: (Or those of us IN Jesus Christ is a NEW CREATION of God and Jesus is the BEGINNING of this NEW CREATION of God to become the FIRSTFRUITS of us who are found faithful in him at his coming to be added to the firstfruits of God with Jesus) old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Ephesians 4:17-32 says. “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you henceforth walk NOT as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the LIFE of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20. But you have NOT so learned Christ; 21. IF so be that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the TRUTH is in Jesus:(So WHAT is the TRUTH that is IN Jesus?) 22. That YOU put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23. And be RENEWED in the spirit of your mind; 24. And that YOU put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. 26. Be you angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27. Neither give place to the devil. 28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs. 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice: 32. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, EVEN as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.” Colossians 3:1-25 says it like this. “If you then be risen with Christ (Speaking of being BAPTISED in his death and rising again or being BORN AGAIN to a NEW LIFE walking in RIGHTEOUSNESS), seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. 2. SET your affection on things above, NOT on things on the earth. 3. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6. For which things' sake the WRATH of God comes on the CHILDREN of disobedience: (This is speaking of the true born-again CHILDREN of God. Yes, it also means the child of the world but the CONTEXT of this entire passage of scripture is speaking to Christians. Again please read the studies “CAN A CHRISTIAN LOSE THEIR SALVATION?” and “IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?”) 7. In the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them. 8. But now YOU also PUT OFF all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9. Lie not one to another, seeing that you have PUT OFF the old man with his deeds; 10. And have PUT ON the new man, which is renewed in KNOWLEDGE after the image of him that created him: 11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all and in all. 12. PUT ON, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13. Forbearing one another, and FORGIVING one another, if any man has a quarrel against any: EVEN as Christ forgave you, so also do you. 14. And above all these things put on charity (Or walk in LOVE toward one another), which is the bond of perfectness. 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 18. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19. Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them. 20. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. 21. Fathers provoke not your children to anger, lest they are discouraged. 22. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23. And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24. KNOWING that of the Lord you shall RECEIVE the reward of the inheritance: FOR (Or BECAUSE) you SERVE the Lord Christ. 25. BUT he that does WRONG shall RECEIVE for the wrong which he has done: and there is NO RESPECT of persons.” In other words, EVEN if you are a Christian, that is to say, a BORN-AGAIN CHILD of God and DO that which is WRONG and do NOT REPENT of the WRONG which you have done, then you will RECEIVE the REWARD or WAGES of your SIN. Need I say more! NO SERVICE TO GOD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, THEN NO RECEIVING THE REWARD OF THE INHERITANCE WHICH IS ETERNAL LIFE! The word of God talks about the INNER man or the HEART of man and how it needs to be STRENGTHENED. Please read Ephesians 3:16,17 which says. “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might BY his Spirit in the INNER man; 17. That Christ (Or that the ANOINTING of the Holy Spirit) may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in LOVE.” Speaking of love dwelling in our heart, in our spirit, in our soul, both spirit and soul, in our mind, to put off the deeds of the flesh, the carnal mind to always walk in the newness of life. Luke 8:55 teaches us that when the SPIRIT of man leaves the body then the body dies. Luke 8:55. “And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.” And in Acts 7:59,60 we learn that the SPIRIT of a FAITHFUL believer goes to be with the Lord when their body dies. “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Romans 2:28,29 says. “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29. But he is a Jew, which is one INWARDLY; and circumcision is that of the HEART, in the spirit (That is to say, in the INNER MAN), and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” In other words, the HEART of man, the spirit of man, and the INNER man or NEW man are all speaking of the SAME things, which is the real you that goes to be with the Lord in heaven when you die to AWAIT the RESURRECTION of the dead in Christ when Jesus comes again AT his SECOND coming. Try picturing a target of three concentric circles, where the outermost ring, band, and circle represents your body. That is to say, the outer ring represents your flesh or carnal nature. And the middle ring, band, or circle represents your soul, which is composed of reasoning, feelings, such as emotions as well as physical pain. Then the inner ring, spot, or circle is the INNER man, the spirit or the heart of man. It is this part of man that becomes BORN AGAIN by the word of God. Now, the word of God teaches us that the SOUL and the SPIRIT of man are CONNECTED and can only be separated by the WORD of God. In other words, the soul of man is NOT immortal. And thus, God will separate his life-giving Spirit from the soul of the WICKED ONLY on the final Day of Judgment so that he can destroy the souls of the wicked in the lake of fire. And the final Day of Judgment is AFTER the 1000 year reign of Jesus. But OUR Day of Judgment, speaking of true born-again faithful Christians, will be AT his coming before the 1000 year reign of Jesus where our soul and spirit will be given a new glorified IMMORTAL body. And THEN the souls of the RIGHTEOUS will become immortal souls to forever be with our Lord and with Almighty God the Father. The soul of the WICKED will NEVER become immortal. And that is one reason why the doctrine of eternal torture in hellfire is NOT sound Biblical teaching. Take a look at Hebrews 4:12 which says. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul AND spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” To me, I see the SOUL as the means by which the spirit of man communicates to the body of the man. In other words, the soul and the body are ALSO connected to each other but in a different way. What I mean by this is that when the body dies the soul and spirit remain connected and both the spirit and soul go to be with God, IF SO BE that this person is BORN-AGAIN and has been found to be FAITHFUL unto the END. The soul and the spirit of the unsaved also remain connected and go down into the realm of the wicked dead in the heart of the earth called HELL while their dead body goes to the grave to decay. To, me, the soul in one sense is the MEMORY of the brain. It is the part of man that makes you, you. Let's start at the beginning because I am assuming you already know some things that I have not shared as yet in this particular study in God's word. In the beginning, God formed the man out of the dirt or dust of the earth, then God breathed LIFE into this BODY of man and man BECAME a LIVING SOUL. Now to me, the LIFE that God breathed into man is the Spirit of God himself. And as far as I can tell, this Spirit of God that causes us to be ALIVE or a living being will remain CONNECTED to the SOUL of each individual, UNTIL their Day of JUDGMENT. Then on this Day of JUDGMENT, if you are found to be RIGHTEOUS, then God grants to you this LIFE to forever remain in you, as in, the eternal life will be your OWN. In other words, you inherit ETERNAL LIFE and the SECOND DEATH will have NO more power over you. However, if one is found to be UNRIGHTEOUS, then BOTH the BODY and the SOUL are DESTROYED in the LAKE of FIRE and the Spirit returns back to God. This is why Jesus WARNS us NOT to fear man, but rather to FEAR God who is able to DESTROY BOTH the BODY and the SOUL. Please read it for yourself in Matthew 10:28 which says. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are NOT able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to DESTROY BOTH soul and body in hell.” Now while the spirit and soul are connected and can only be separated by the word of God, it also seems that the soul and the body are connected in that the soul influences the body and at the same time the body also influences the soul. This is why the SOUL is the NEXT in line to be SAVED or RENEWED in order to bring about the SUBMISSION of the body or the subduing of the FLESH. In other words, so long as the soul continues to TAKE ORDERS, if you will, from the FLESH then it becomes TWO against ONE, so to speak, in the FAVOR of the OLD nature of man. However, the MORE we RENEW our MINDS to the WORD of God, then the MORE the SOUL begins to not only refusing the orders of the BEGGING of the FLESH but also begins to JOIN with the INNER man to CRUCIFY and SUBDUE the FLESH. And now it becomes two against one in the other direction giving our flesh very little chance to sin. I will continue this study in God's word under a new study entitled “GOD'S NEW CREATION!”. Thanks for getting into God's word and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God. Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark. RETURN TO HOME PAGE AT
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