Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas
Jeremy approaches Bible teaching with a passion for getting the basic doctrines explained so that the individual can understand them and then apply them to circumstances in their life. These basic and important lessons are nestled in a framework of history and progression of revelation from the Bible so the whole of Scripture can be applied to your physical and spiritual life.
Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas
NT Framework - Frustrated by the Spirit
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Having the Spirit of God and being regenerated by Him caused the Apostle Paul great frustration; does it you?
More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com
This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).
Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner.
Intro And The Big Question
SPEAKER_02Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and our series on the New Testament framework. Today, a smaller, bite-sized piece from the larger lesson. We hope you enjoy it.
SPEAKER_00Does the Holy Spirit regenerate Old Testament believers? Was he regenerating them when they when they believed? I wrestled with this question for a number of years, but you know, you have to take time and like try to sort through things, and I'm not even right now a hundred percent sure on these things, but I lean toward the direction that the Spirit did regenerate those who believed. But it's highly debatable. Okay,
Regeneration Defined As Eternal Life
SPEAKER_00what is regeneration? Well, it's the impartation of eternal life. I'm getting that out of John chapter 3. Uh John chapter 3, which we'll turn to, so we might as well turn there now. But John chapter 3 is where Jesus is approached by Nicodemus, right, at night.
SPEAKER_01Good rabbi, good rabbi, he says.
SPEAKER_00John 3, 3. And Jesus answered and said, Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That's one of the words that's used in connection with the doctrine of regeneration is this word born again or born. It's used here, it's used in verse 5. Um Truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirits, he would be born. He cannot enter the kingdom of God. Um, do not be amazed that I said to you, you must be born again. So this word to be born, it has to do with you know being born. It's not that complicated. Verse 8, um, the end of the verse, so is everyone who is born of the Spirit, right? And then if you just follow this whole line of discussion with uh Nicodemus, you see there in verse 16 our favorite verse. Uh God so loved the world that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. So being begotten or born again is the impartation of eternal life. That's why I say that's the definition. I'm getting it out of the John 3 passage, and I'm just showing you. Okay.
Old Testament Faith And Being Born Again
SPEAKER_00Um did Old Testament believers receive eternal life when they believed? The thing is, when you read the Old Testament, you're not seeing a lot of discussion about you get eternal life when you believe, are you? But here's the thing. When Jesus said this, this was still before the day of Pentecost, wasn't it? And he expected Nicodemus to understand this truth that you have to be born, born again, didn't he? And um, this, of course, was just like an Old Testament period. So, yes, um, if a person believed in the Old Testament, they would be regenerated by the Spirit of God. And um, Jesus says this all the way through John, right? Believe in me, you have eternal life. Born again, you become children of God. John 1, 12 and 13. Well, uh, look at these verses. John 1, 12 and 13. Another concept related to regeneration is not just being born again, but what do you get when someone is born? Well, you get a child. We had one here this morning. Such a cute little baby, right? Um child. And when we believe, we become children of God. It says verse 12, but as many as received him, to them he gave right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name, who were born, there's the word, um, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, not of the will of man, but of God. So this is not just a natural birth, right? It's a it's a birth of God. And we call this regeneration. And that means we become children of God. And so this is the concept of regeneration. Um elsewhere, 2 Corinthians 5.17, we are a new creation. Okay, this begetting, this birth, is a creation of God. Uh, you are a new creation. The moment you believe, you you are a new creation. And of course, we are, you know, Romans 6 says we are now made alive, and we're to live in newness of life. So all this is coming from the concept of regeneration. Uh Ephesians says, you know, you are a new man and therefore put on the deeds of the new man, right? So you're a new man. Well, what's this? It's again, it's related
New Desires Without New Power
SPEAKER_00to regeneration, right? And some people describe it, they say, well, we have it we have a new nature now that is disposing us to the things of God. Uh so we want to do the things of God. And the Old Testament of the saints, I think, had this because if you read Psalm 119, which is that really long psalm, it just goes on and on and on. Like, how many ever verse? Hundreds of verse, almost a couple hundred verses. And throughout that, it's it's the psalmist expressing the love for the word of God, love for the righteousness of God, love for the things of God. Where does that come from? Where does that desire and love come from if not, you know, they've been regenerated and they have these new desires that are part of their new man, their new nature. Um, but the problem in the Old Testament was that they didn't have the Spirit of God to empower them to live that new life. And I think that's the problem with Paul in Romans 7. When he became a believer, he's, of course, regenerated, but um, in Romans chapter 7, he's he's struggling because he won't you know he has these desires to do the things of God. He says, In my inner man, I want to do. And that inner man is the new regenerate creature that he is. Okay. And he wants to do the things of God, but he says, But the things I don't, the things I hate, that's what I do. You know, and he's so frustrated.
SPEAKER_01Um, you can look at that frustration a little bit, Romans chapter 7. Right there after Acts.
SPEAKER_00Romans chapter 7. Um, for example, verse 15, he says, What I'm doing, I don't understand. I'm not practicing what I would like to do, but I'm doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, well, I agree the law with the law, confessing, hey, the law is good. You know, in other words, the law is righteous, and it's true. Uh so now no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. And I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. But the willing is present in me, just the doing of the good is not. See, that's the problem. So, I mean, you can be regenerate, of course, and have the desire to please God, but the doing of it is not present in you. So, what has to happen? Well, you know, Paul comes to the end of his rope in verse 24. Wretched man that I am, who will set me free from the body of this death? And then he finally comes to the realization, he says, Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. In other words, there's an answer. There is an answer for how the desire to do the good can actually be done. It's just not in us, it's not latent to us, it's not natural to us. Um, and chapter 8
Walking By The Spirit In Practice
SPEAKER_00describes it. What's the answer?
SPEAKER_01How do we do the good that we desire to do? How? This isn't rhetorical.
SPEAKER_00We have to walk by the Spirit, which is the concept of dependence. I use a walker because you know, you my grandfather used to carry his cane to Walmart and then he'd leave it in the buggy and they'd call him every week. You left your cane in the buggy again, uh, he wasn't depending on his cane. He was he didn't want to stand his way all the time. So when you're not depending on the spirit, it's like not depending on your cane. You're not resting on it, using it. And we need to learn how to walk by the spirit. That's what Romans eight is all about.
Closing Encouragement And Rating Request
SPEAKER_02We hope you found today's lesson productive and useful in growing closer to God and walking more obediently with Him. If you found this podcast to be useful and helpful, then please consider rating us in your favorite podcast app. And until next time, we hope you have a blessed and wonderful day.