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). I suggest that you take the time to read this book.
Chapter Nine is entitled “A New Nature.” Regeneration gives a believer a new nature.
Chapter Nine has five headings. First, the first heading is “There are Only Two Kinds of Trees.” Citing Matthew 7:15-20, Pastor Leiter observes that a tree is either “good” or “bad.” PLEASE PAY ATTENTION: There is no in between or halfway group. A person is either “good” or “bad.”
The second heading is “Trees Bear Fruit According to Their Nature.” The kind of fruit flows from the kind of tree (i.e., the nature of the tree). A Christian may sin and stumble (James 3:2), but his life is still characterized by good fruit (John 15:16) and not thistles and thorns (Hbrews 6:8). Note that Matthew 7:19 teaches that every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut and thrown into the fire.
The third heading is “The Fruit of a Tree Reveals Its Nature.” Pastor Leiter observes that the fruit of a tree does not make the tree, it reveals what the tree it. In the context of the text, no one becomes a grapevine by trying to produce grapes. The production of grapes evidences that the tree is a grapevine (i.e., the miracle from God of salvation has already taken place). Regeneration is God giving a new nature.
The fourth heading is “Bad Trees Can Be Known.” It is possible to distinguish between true and false believers. Jesus said you will know them by their fruits. In this regard, time must test the genuineness of every profession of faith. PLEASE NOTE THAT the commandment not to judge cannot be a commandment not to discern. It takes discernment to know a person’s fruit.
The fifth heading is “Good Trees Are Representative of Good Men.” Pastor Leiter cites Matthew 12:33-35 when he says that it is theologically proper to speak of some men as “good” and some men as “bad.” However, every believer is in Christ, and therefore, experiences regeneration which is the giving of a new (good!) nature.
In Chapter Ten, Pastor Leiter considers the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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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