I am a retired pastor of
the Church of God (Tennessee). My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India. |
Email: Pastor True Gospel
If we study about these four words, converts, regenerates, sanctifies, and perfects, we will see that their meanings are almost the same; yet there are slight differences. Our purpose is not to research the meanings, but to study them.
In conversion, we must be converted or changed from one to the other. Acts 3:19 says, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ..." So, repentance and conversion are requirements for forgiveness of sins. The context of this verse is; at the time of Jesus, the Jews had joined with religious leaders, and have killed Jesus on the cross. After the resurrection of Jesus, Peter told the Jews to repent for what they have done, and be converted; that is, to change themselves from being evil people to righteous people. Then, this sin will be forgiven to them. It is the first level in conversion. The next is this: "Matthew 18:3 (Jesus) said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." We must become like little children, in order to enter heaven. This is the conversion from being a self-confident macho, to be a childlike, tender hearted person. This child person will be humble, will receive grace and power from God, and will grow to become a son of God. Those, who are converted from sins to righteousness, may grow a few steps higher in conversion; and let us say, they have grown to the state of being a disciple, or even an apostle. Even they have a higher step to be converted from being disciples. Luke 22:31-32 say "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:" Here we see that Peter does not have enough strength to take or resist the assault of Satan. Now Jesus has prayed for him. The verse continues; "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." That is, Peter will come out of that situation of weakness; that is, Peter will get more strength to stand against the devil. Jesus referred this as "when you are converted." So, this will be conversion.
Please be with me. Peter is supposed to be converted first, and then he should strengthen other disciples. So, he must convert them also to the same conversion that he has received. Now, look at the day of Pentecost. The Holy Ghost came upon them, the disciples received gifts, power, and boldness. Previously they were hiding inside closed doors. Now they all went out and preached with boldness. This is also a conversion; but it is not the conversion that Jesus told. All the disciples received this conversion. These are given to the group to do the ministry. The conversion that Jesus told, must be received by Peter alone first, and it must a special one. It will stand against the sifting of the devil. What will be the sifting of the devil? We will immediately thing of murder, tribulation, persecution, etc. It may be part of it. But Satan is a liar and his big attack is deceit, it is the spiritual fight of Satan. God is the truth and Satan is the liar. If we are not established in the Spirit of God, we will fall for the deception of the devil. A true disciple will obey 100% to his master. Jesus picked up Peter as his prime disciple. Jesus told his disciples to obey him in John 14:15, and then in 16 he says, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (this is the abiding of the Holy Ghost). 23 says, ... my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." That is, God the Father and Jesus also will come and abide in them. Peter will first receive this abiding of God in him, and he will lead the other disciples also to the same abiding. Jesus has made Peter as head of other disciples and to the church. But theologians always undermine the authority given to Peter, because they are of the devil. Ministerial gifts are manifestations to be visible by people. But this conversion will be inside the person, it is personal, and it will not be seen as we see the ministerial gifts. But this will make a Son into a Bride, it will be heavenly. God will abide in Peter first and converts him. Then, Peter will lead the rest of the disciples also to the same abiding, and they will also be strengthened. So, the other disciples also will be converted.
Now, let us see the whole thing about conversion: Conversion begins by repenting and by becoming righteous; then, born of the Spirit; born of water (word); born of God; may be converted even with ministerial gifts; then abiding with the Holy Ghost as in John 14:16; and it is followed with the abiding of God the father and of the Son as in verse 23. Conversion is step by step growth up to, God abides in us. Servants of God will always try to convert other people to a higher level. This is conversion.
In John 8:41, the scribes and Pharisees told Jesus, "We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." Then Jesus replied to them in verse "44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do." That is, their father is the devil. So, religious people say that God is their Father, but Jesus says that the devil is their father. Jesus told about them in Mark 4:12, "That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand;" that is, they may see and hear, but God will not give them spiritual understanding, and so they will know nothing. Again, it says, "lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them." that is, God neither want them to be converted, nor their sins to be forgiven. At present time, they are theologians, pastors, and preachers. They are intelligent, eloquent, and prominent; but God will not reveal to them even the spiritual basics; and so, they will not understand scriptures; and so, they will not be converted. Matthew 13:15, John 12:40, Acts 28:27, all say the same. They spin scriptures, show themselves as representing and serving God, but their sins will remain, and will not be forgiven to them. So, they will go to hell. They will not be converted.
"1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." That is, Jesus wants us all to be saved. When he became a man, he pleaded to the priests, scribes, and Pharisees, to look in the scriptures, since it says about him. They didn't care, but they hung on to their Judaism. So, Jesus rejected them and told them that their father is the devil. So, God wants us all to be saved, but he has rejected not only the priests and scribes, but also the Pharisees. That is, God has rejected not only the pastors and preachers, but also the zealous religious congregation. I am an ordained and licensed pastor from a prestigious international denomination. Pastors are dedicated to our denominational declaration of faith, but we don't care about the bible. But we will not tell this openly. We will use the bible to reinforce our denominational doctrine. We are taught how to do it. Every pastor is dedicated to their own denomination, since our pay checks come from them, but not from the bible. "John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." So, there are a few, who are godly in their hearts, are picked by God the Father, and given to Jesus Christ, and they will be saved.
James 5 says, "19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." Here the conversion is from making an error in the truth of the word of God, either in understanding, or in teaching. If they made an error in the truth, God will reject them as sinners. We may take it as a mistake or a minor thing; but God takes it very seriously. If we do not know the truth, we must not teach the word of God, the bible. "James 3:1 says, My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." It is a warning not to teach, if we are not sure of the word. If we teach an error, it is sin, and we will receive severe condemnation. God tells us to convert such a sinner, who teach an error. So, God is willing to convert such a person, who makes an error, but God do not want to convert religious Pharisees and scribes. God has rejected such people; and we will know them, even though they will put up a show as people of God, because they will reject the truth. If we teach the them the truth, if they are not evil, they will accept the truth, and we have saved a soul from eternal death, which is hell. Now, basic conversion is a sinner become righteous; and top conversion is a disciple receives the abiding of God. So, by conversion, someone can barely escape hell, and another person may become the bride of Christ. If you do any kind of sin, be converted to righteousness and holiness, and escape hell and inherit his kingdom.
Generally, regeneration is the renewal or restoration of our body, from an injury. If there is a wound in any part of our body, if it is infected and deteriorated, it must be regenerated. We may do it by cleaning the wound, applying medicine, protecting from infection, and so on. Let us apply it to the spiritual. If a group of people fell in false doctrine, or a person fell in sin, we must bring them back to faith and truth. This is regeneration. "Titus 3:5 says, "he saved us, by the washing of regeneration," and so on. But washing is, water by the word of God. "Ephesians 5:26 says, That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." That is, we must clean it with the water. But, in practice, most of us will memorize the word and will keep it on top of the dirt. That will not clean anything. Memorize the word is good but use it to clean the junk or wash the dirt away. Or, in another word, obey the word so that we will be regenerated in our life. Mostly, the word "regenerate" applies to backsliders coming back to life; like the prodigal son repented and came back not to sin anymore, and to be a good servant.
One most important thing; Jesus was telling about a heavenly regeneration. In "Matthew 19:27 ... Peter.. said unto him (Jesus), Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Here, the phrase "in the regeneration" refers not to a recovery, but to new status in heaven. The time is at the end of the world; world is destroyed; the evil people were thrown into the lake of fire; the final judgment is at hand; and those, who are worthy, are regenerated to heavenly glory. In verse 27, the question was; what they will get in exchange for the things they have given up and for serving God. In verse 28, Please notice, they will be glorified in their spirit body, and will be seated to judge, in the same level of Jesus Christ. This is the heavenly regeneration.
Separated is to set apart; separate us from common core; to make us sacred,
consecrate us, and to purify our lives. God separates us, means that God
converts us from being flesh, to be spirit, or from worldly minded to
heavenly minded. We will live a
holy life thereafter. How God does that? God gives us the holy spirit to
lead us a godly life. That is, we will be born again or born of the Spirit.
So, our soul receives the spirit as part of us; and so, we are our
soul and spirit; and we live in our body. Our body will pull us to do fleshly
and worldly things, but our spirit will pull us to do godly and heavenly
things. We must be led by the spirit, but not by the flesh; then we will be
spiritual. Then, we will be practically born of the spirit. If we have his
Spirit in us, through his Spirit, we will receive him, who is the resurrected
Lord Jesus Christ. This is how to receive him. Most Christians say that they have received Jesus
Christ as a cliché, but they have not received him, so there is no proof in
their life. But, if we receive Jesus Christ through his Spirit, he will give
us power to become his sons, which will manifest through our lives, which
will be real, and will be the proof. "John
3:12 says, But as many as received him, to them gave
he power to become the sons of God, .." The
more we follow the spirit; God will give us more spirit and
grace. Please notice that the Spirit and grace are given to us by measure.
The more we receive, the more power we will have. So, we will grow from being the
children of God to be the Sons of God. As this process begins, we will be
separated from the things of the flesh and of the world and will merge with heavenly
things. This separation is
known as consecrated life, or as we are sanctified. Then, we will live for
God and please God. But again, there will always be clichés; it says that "we are saved
and sanctified". Clichés of religious people will not bring any change
in their lives. But whoever are converted from flesh to the Spirit are
separated.
"Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 ... if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." The rich young man came to Jesus and asked him, what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus gave him the commandments to obey. The man said that he obeys all of them, even from when he was young. Jesus accepted that; so, what he said must be true, and if so, he will inherit eternal life; probably in paradise. Then the young rich man asked Jesus, "what lack I yet." That is, do you want me to do more? Jesus said; "If thou wilt be perfect," do the things in verse 21. That is, "if you want to become the bride, sell all your property, give to the poor, and follow me." But, if he does not want to be perfect, he doesn't have to do anything more; that is, if he is satisfied with paradise, he doesn't have to do them. So, the young man did not pick up the offer but went back sorrowfully. Jesus made a comment saying in verse "23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven." So, a rich man will not inherit the kingdom of God; but Jesus did not say that eternal life will be taken away from him, if he do not want to become perfect. Kingdom people are in new heaven, new Jerusalem, and in the tabernacle. The new earth people are just subjects, people who will be comforted, and they are not in the ruling category. But religious people say that he will go to hell since he denied selling his property and give it to the poor to become perfect. But, we don't have to become perfect to have eternal life; but, if we want to be the bride of Christ, we must become perfect. Jesus says in Luke 14:28, to count the cost that how much you can afford and willing to do, then pursue and achieve one of the four levels. Anyone is eternal life.
"Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 16 ... saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;" If we study the context passage, we may understand it more clearly. However, verse 16 says that God writes his laws in their hearts and mind, that is, God's laws have become the part of their heart and brain, and so, the laws are infused into their being. So, they will automatically walk by it; and so, these people will not sin anymore; and so, they are sanctified. The only sins they have on them are the past sins that they have committed previously. Verse 14 and many other scriptures say that the blood of Jesus will be applied to such people and they will be forgiven from all their past sins. Now; they will not sin anymore, and all their past sins are forgiven, and they are perfect. Now, God will abide in them. Please notice; only sanctified people are made perfect, or God sanctifies them before he makes them perfect. Jesus says in Matthew 5:48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Jesus Christ told his disciples to become perfect as their Father, who is God. Disciples are like sanctified people, and so they can become perfect. But Jesus did not tell common people to become perfect. He tells them to repent. So, please begin there; grow from there and become a child of God; one of these days after you have grown enough, he may ask you also to become perfect. Then, you know that you can become perfect. Please grow up, one step at a time. Then, be ye perfect as your Father is perfect.
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Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his
Gospel; it is the true Gospel to inherit Eternal life. Genesis 3:1-4 & 2 Corinth 11:2-4. But Preachers, who are Serpents of Satan, preach the life of man Jesus just to believe, but not to live as a chaste virgin, as the gospel; it is another gospel, which cannot and will not give Eternal life.The true gospel will convert evil people to do good and thereby they will inherit the kingdom in heaven.
John 3:19-21 say that people are two kinds, evil and true. Evil doers will not come to the Light, who is God; but people of truth come to God for their deeds to be made manifest. We have good and evil people by our standard of our society or culture. These evil people may be converted to be doers of truth by the power of God, and they may inherit the kingdom of God in heaven.
Email: Pastor True Gospel