Regenerate, or Lost?

"He saved us not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior." (Titus 3:5)

We do not hear the word "regeneration" in our churches much anymore. But it speaks to the fact that when a person truly becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit "borns" them again.
I know that is not good English, and my spellcheck is having a fit on the computer right now. But it is good theology.

When we are born into this world, we are born with a sin nature that we inherited from Adam. We are born wrong. That is why Jesus told Nicodemus that no one would see the Kingdom of God without being 'born again". People throw that phrase around in reference to all kinds of things these days, but Jesus was talking about "regeneration". That the Holy Spirit would come to live in us when we trusted in Christ and transform our lives.

2 Cor. 5:17 promises that if anyone is truly in Christ they are changed. So when we look around at all of the people in churches today who have never been changed, it seems logical to conclude that they have not been regenerated by the Spirit of God. Too many people know the pastor, but have never met the Master. Many who have their names on the church rolls have never made sure that their names are on the Lord's roll.

I want to ask you to look at this scripture and ask God to speak to your heart. Have you been regenerated by the work of God's Spirit. It begins with an admission of sinfulness before a Holy God and then crying out to Him to save you. It requires full surrender to Him.

No Condemnation, No Fear, No Separation

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love." (Rom. 8:28, NLT)

This is an incredible ending to the marvelous 8th chapter of Romans. The God who chose to love us while we were still in the very act of rebellion, living in sin, (Rom. 5:8) and who is by His very essence Love, (I John 4:8), never stops loving us. It has absolutely nothing to do with who we are, or anything that we have done or ever will do. It is all about who He is and what He has done for us through Christ.

The 8th chapter of Romans begins with the promise that for those of us who have trusted in Christ there is absolutely no condemnation in our standing before God. When He sees us, He does not see our sins, but He sees Jesus in whom we are hidden. If we have no condemnation before God, who can honestly condemn us, and the answer is "No One."

Through the chapter we discover because of who God is we have no one or nothing to fear. Honestly, if God is on your side, who is greater than Him? No One. So who are you afraid of?

And we end with no separation. Not life or death;not angels, not demons. Absolutely no one or nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Hallelujah. Rejoice my friend. The God who created you is crazy in love with you. He desires you love Him back.