Today, focus is on the fact there first must be rebirth before a sinner may accomplish repentance. The lasting change a living person must experience to become a new creation before GOD can not be accomplished through applications of their own finite intellect, skills, talents, and self-will. Multiple divine operations are required that must be understood as all-inclusive, fundamental, and profound. Those who become “born again” also must “grow up again” and complete the transformation to exist as life companions with immortal, incorruptible divinity. The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Paul Martin” (Level 1 with 209 points, a member since June 14, 2015) posted the following:
Is repentance important to change oneself to become a better person?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For 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. (Titus 3: 3-7, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Accepting the Divine Will? (12/06/2016); A Different Spirit Content? (11/29/2016); Become Like Jesus Christ? (10/27/2016); Spirit Content From GOD? (09/26/2016); Spirit Process not Feelings? (09/21/2016); Learning From A Spirit? (08/25/2016); Conversion is by GOD? (08/23/2016); To Him That Hath... (07/08/2016)
“Paul Martin”, genuine repentance is more than simply behavior modification, breaking bad habits, and self-improvement. To repent is to turn from sin—that opposes the continued existence of divine law, the Law Giver, and divine order anchored by sacred law—by turning to divinity. The transformation of a sinner to become a child of GOD requires operations of the divine will, rather than the finite intellect, self-discipline, or will power (we say, self-will) of mankind. Permanent changes must be put into place that are totally ordered and structured in accordance with the character and nature of divine spirit substance, not the frameworks of time, space, carnal reason, or material, secular, and social practice. Saying it a familiar way, “You must be born again.” There must be a reconfiguration and re-patterning for all the aspects of origin and a person’s inner sources for such elements as assigning value, awareness, desire, exchange, focus, intent, purpose, and criteria for satisfaction. Born again believers submit themselves to baptism as an operation of GOD wherein they are carried through the death of their inborn spirit, and rebirth from divine DNA, so to speak. Having spirit content from the makeup of GOD (e.g., faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, wrath against sin), they are to “grow up again”, acquire sacred knowledge, fellowship with likeminded believers, serve GOD through their lifestyle and daily living, and gradually become mature as the children of GOD upon the earth. Consider the following:
(1.) John 3: 1-10, King James Version (KJV): 1 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 thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 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 thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: 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, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
(2.) John 4: 23-24, KJV: 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (3.) 1st Peter 1: 18-25, KJV: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye 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 ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye 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 liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX Washington, DC
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