Romans 6:3-7 KJV
3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.
These show justification and rebirth to be both accomplished by baptizing us into Christ, to share His death and resurrection.
We are justified being crucified with Jesus, His death becomes our death, satisfying the requirement of righteousness, and releasing us from the body of death. In Christ we are through His death both justified and reborn.
Some people think of rebirth as either a process that happens over time, or something that comes later after we are judged worthy. Both of these errors overlook the fact that we are already crucified, already justified, and already alive in Christ. Rebirth is spoken of throughout the New Testament as something that happens to us once, and is an accomplished fact afterward.
1 Peter 1:3-5 KJV
3) 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,
4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth 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.
He "has" begetton us again.
We must never let the error of thinking that we are in a spiritual state of "lack". That we lack the ability, the resources, help from God to live godly lives.
By trusting in God's provision for us NOW, we can live godly lives NOW.
We aren't trying to become "more" Christian. We are trying to become more consistenly walking our Christianity. The message of "lack" attacks our faith, and by faith we stand in grace. Grace - God's kindness towards us in forgiving our sins and giving us His Spirit. Grace, given to us Jesus Christ.
The idea of a "process of rebirth" is trying to explain defeat, and we are not intended to live defeated. We fail, so we say, I just don'thave what it takes yet! I sure hope I can get that Second Benefit soon!! I'd sure like to stop this sin!
OK, I know, and very well, that our sanctification will be seen in God's time. I don't say that it will happen, I say, it will be seen. The simple truth is, According to
Romans 6, translating literally, "the one who died is justified away from sin". Freed, rebirthed, new person, no longer from the line of Adam. We were in the First Man, who is corrupted in sin, and condemned. We died, and were raised in the Last Man, Who is the Lord of Heaven, and lives eternally. And we share His life.
In the teaching of the renewing of our minds, this is describing how we learn over time to stop thinking according to the way we used to be, and to learn to think according to who we have become in our rebirth.
We shouldn't confuse the renewing of the mind with our becoming "more" born again, or "more" baptized in the Spirit, or anything like that. The reason this is important is that we are to trust God, and to trust His Word.
2 Peter 1:2-4 KJV
2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3) According as
his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4) Whereby a
re given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
When we read passages such as this above, if we don't think it's true, if we think we are waiting for some necessary part, this is a lack of faith that these words are in fact true. We walk by faith. If we aren't trusting, we won't be walking.
We can have a full and complete faith in Christ and in His Word, knowing that He has in FACT given us everything we need to live godly lives. If we will trust that this is true!
And in so trusting, then we are able to choose to do that.
Much love!
