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). It is worth the time to read.
Chapter Eleven is entitled “A Change of Realms from Flesh to Spirit.” The main point is that through regeneration, there is an exchange of realms from flesh to Spirit. Chapter Eleven has six headings.
The first heading is “Flesh vs. Spirit.” A believer is no longer in the flesh, but resides PERMANENTLY in the realm of the Holy Spirit. It is impossible for a believer to cross back into the “in the flesh” realm. Pastor Leiter describes an unregenerate person (lost person) as one who RESIDES in the realm or sphere of the fleshly. The flesh is the source and context of their WHOLE LIFE. This persons sets their mind of earthly things.
The second heading is “Only Two Realms.” Citing Romans 8:5-9, Pastor Leiter says there are only two realms. For Paul, a man is either in the flesh or in the Spirit. There is no “half and half” or third realm. The same principle is taught in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 using “natural” in contrast to “spiritual.” PLEASE NOTE that Pastor Leiter points out that at times, a Christian can act like a lost person. However, a Christian is not going to live their entire life like a lost person.
The third heading is “Each Realm Has Its Own Mind.” Each realm is characterized by a certain kind of “mind.” The fleshly person lives according to the flesh and sets their mind on things of the flesh. The believer lives according to the Spirit and sets their mind on things of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Leiter makes an important point when he writes that anyone who claims to be a Christian, but does not has his mind on the things of the Spirit is deceived. I would say they are self-deceived.
The fourth heading is “Each Mind Has Its Own Outcome.” Briefly, each mind has a different outcome. A mind set on the things of the flesh has death as its outcome. A mind set on the things of the flesh has a deep-seated hatred of God. A mind set on the things of the Spirit has life as its outcome. Here, God is the source of that life.
The fifth heading is “Walking in the New Realm.” Pastor Leiter cites Galatians 5:16-25 in conjunction with this heading. A believer lives in the realm of the Spirit and their source of life is the Holy Spirit. To walk in the Spirit involves obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit when one senses in their hearts that He is grieved by something we are about to do.
The sixth heading is “The Two Realms in Romans 7 & 8.” In this discussion, Pastor Leiter says that the concept of regeneration as a change of realms between flesh and Spirit has great significance to understanding many other Scriptures. He points out that the Romans 7:5-6 refers to the two realms. He asserts that the “man of Romans 7” is of the flesh and sold into bondage to sin (i.e., lost). He says that a Christian should not turn to Romans 7 for comfort when they are “defeated.” He devotes an Appendix C to a discussion of this topic. His position is different from my understanding of Romans 7, but someday I will try to look at this issue in more detail.
In Chapter Twelve, Pastor Leiter looks at the change of realms in the context of from earth to heaven.
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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