“According to His Mercy”
"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."
-- Titus 3:5
We
who believe have been saved eternally by the decree of God and judicially by
the blood of Christ. And we have been saved experimentally by the power and
grace of God the Holy Spirit in regeneration.
When
the Israelites came to the Red Sea, everyone of those for whom a lamb had been
slain in Egypt were delivered across the Red Sea by the mighty power of God.
Those for whom no blood was shed did not go through the sea. And the Word of
God declares that everyone of those for whom the Son of God shed his life's
blood at Calvary, to remove the penalty of sin, shall also be delivered from
the dominion of sin by the power of God the Holy Spirit in regeneration and
conversion. Christ did not die for nothing. His death brings forth fruit unto
life in those for whom he died (John 12:24). Regeneration is the blood bought
deliverance of God’s elect from the dominion of sin.
Regeneration
is as essential to a man's eternal salvation as election, redemption, and
justification. "Ye must be born again." A sinner can no more
enter the kingdom of heaven without a new nature than he could without blood
atonement (John 3:5-7).
If
you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, your faith in him is proof that you have
been saved by the regenerating power of God the Holy Spirit. Faith is the
result of regenerating grace (Eph. 1:18-20; 2:1-9). Wherever there is faith,
there is regeneration. And wherever there is regeneration there is faith.
The First
Resurrection
The
new birth is the resurrection of sinners from spiritual death. It is that “first
resurrection” over which the second death has no power (Rev. 20:6). We were
dead in sin. But God called us to life by his sovereign power. Our hearts were
hard. But he broke them by his goodness and led us to repentance. We were
blind. But God gave us eyes to behold his Son. We were unbelieving. But he gave
us faith. We were under the dominion of sin. But omnipotent grace broke the
iron fetters of our bondage. We were under the curse of the law, children of
wrath, even as others. But Christ broke the gates of our prison and set us
free. We were under the power of Satan. But Christ, by the power of his Spirit,
spoiled the strong man's house and took up residence in our hearts as Lord and
King. We have been saved, by the purpose of God, the purchase of God, and the
power of God.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
- Grace For Today Radio Message #898
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S.
Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 859-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net