As I wrote earlier, I recently finished reading a book by Charles Leiter entitled Justification and Regeneration. It is inexpensive on Amazon (link: Justification and Regeneration (Expanded Edition): Charles Leiter: 9780981732152: Amazon.com: Books). You may want to read this book.
In Chapter Five, Pastor Leiter sets out five aspects about a believer.
First, every Christian is a new creature according to 2 Corinthians 5:17–18 (NET), which reads:
17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
Everything is new for the Christian as they see the world in a whole new light. A believer has nothing to do with becoming a new creature, God does all the work!
Second, a believer is created for good works according to Ephesians 2:8–10 (NET), which reads:
8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast.10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.
A believer’s creation is “in Christ Jesus” so they are in union with Christ. A believer’s creation is for good works so good works will be the outcome. Notice that the good works are prepared beforehand.
Third, the church is a new creation according to Ephesians 2:15 (NET), which reads:
15 when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace,
The church (Jews and Greeks) is a created organism which is a living thing and a “new” thing. This living body, i.e., the church, is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) and shares a common life – the very life of Christ (John 15:4-5).
On page 53, Pastor Leiter makes an interesting observation [italics in original]:
No man can “start a church”; God must do the impossible and make something out of nothing for a church to exist. He does this by “creating” a number of individual Christians, made one by virtue of their common life.
Fourth, a believer is created in righteousness and holiness per Ephesians 4:22–24 (NET):
22 You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.
The new man (believer) has been created in the likeness of God in righteousness and holiness. Pauls language reflects a condition that is a concrete reality. A parallel description is in Colossians 3:9–11 (NET), which reads:
9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.
Fifth, nothing else matters except this creative work of God. Galatians 6:15 (NET) reads:
15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!
On page 54, Paster Leiter points out that a believer (one is genuinely saved) will change [italics in original]:
If I am the same person that I have always been, then I am not a Christian, and no amount of church attendance, liturgy, religious ceremony, “going forward at the invitation,” or “accepting Jesus” means anything.
Regeneration is a miracle that only God can do!!
In Chapter Six, Pastor Leiter looks at regeneration which creates a new man.
If you are unsure about your salvation or are not a Christian, it is vital that you continue reading.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have a website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
… please (1) read through “God’s Plan of Salvation” so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God – saved – through Jesus Christ.
God’s Plan of Salvation
In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe. As a part of His creative actions, He made humans (male and female) in His image to know Him. For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve. But Adam and Eve sinned, whereby sin was passed down to all of humankind so that we became sinners separated from God. Nothing we could do on our own could bridge that separation so that without God’s intervention, hell would be our eternal destination.
Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy God provided humankind with the only means of salvation, which is through Jesus Christ who is God’s only unique Son. While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever repent and trust in Him for their salvation. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Christ’s sacrifice and exhausted God’s wrath against every believer. He now calls all unbelievers to repent of their sins and trust alone in what Christ did to save them.
If we repent of our sins and completely trust in Christ alone that He died for our sins and rose to life from the dead, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7-25; Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Matthew 1:18, 20, 24-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:17; 9:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.
“Sinner’s Prayer”
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever!
(Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).
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