BT: As
it pertains to the question of "regeneration" and being "born again," the
church, and especially the "rivalist" (Revivalist)
Yikes! thanks, no offence intended. Perhaps this was one
of those Freudian slips :>)
Iz:Yup, probably. :-)
BT: The truth
is, the NT does not use the term, as modern evangelicals do, for that
which goes on in the "heart" of new converts. It speaks only in terms of the
great and vicarious regeneration Book
chapter and verse please? Titus 3.4-7
BT: Izzy, maybe you can help me out
here, but it seems to me that your eyes would need to have been opened prior
to this "born again" experience (that moment when you put your faith in Jesus
Christ) or you never would have had the ability to even have the desire
to be receptive to the things of God. Do you understand what I'm saying and
can you help me out here?
Iz:
Well, Bill, maybe it was kind of like when you married your wife.
First you fell in love. And then you joined each other in
matrimony. The marriage part is like when you got born again and became
one. There was a
precursor, but it wasn't consummated until you were one spirit so to speak.
BT: Paul tells us
that Christ re-gathered all things (Eph 1.10) and that in him all things
have their being or ontological There you go
using one of those “nonbiblical” words, Bill. I had said
something the other day in reference to our ontological status in Christ,
to which you responded that you didn't understand what I was talking about. I
used the term here to give that first statement some context. Yes, we
sometimes use non-biblical terms to speak to biblical
concepts. My gripe has never been that we do this. My gripe is with the
hypocrisy of those who do the same but berate others when they do
it.
Iz: I
find that interesting, Bill, since this whole discussion got started
because you objected to those of us who were using the term "spiritual"
in front of death because you considered "spiritual" to be a nonbiblical
term. So, since then, I've been trying to point out that you, also, use
"nonbiblical" terms all the time.
Right?
(? Am I looking at the
ontological me in the mirror, or at Izzy’s decaying physical body? Do people
get cosmetic surgery for ontological bodies? Meanwhile my
body gets a day older every day, and a day closer to the grave. But my spirit
is renewed and growing every day. That’s why I’ll be happy to trade in
the old model of my body for a new/improved version!) Yeah, I hear you there. I do hope God doesn't want any
brickin' done when I get to heaven though. And don't say he'll probably stick
me in the furnace! :>) I laid brick in Minnesota one winter, replacing
burned-out walls inside of taconite furnaces. If I stood in one place too
long, my boots would start on fire. Too hot for me!!
Iz:
I'm sure there's a lesson in there somewhere. :-) So are you agreeing
with me that our physical bodies really are dying, and you are speaking only
metaphorically about our bodies being risen with Christ at the moment?
Izzy
