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View Full Version : What is or is not carried over from the first birth?



Churchwork
02-14-2006, 09:09 AM
Let us see how much is included in the phrase “that which is born
of the flesh.” All that I inherit from the parents who beget me—such
things as affection, talent, cleverness, gentleness, humbleness, love,
peace, determination, and patience—these all, and more, come with
my natural birth. Whatever I have before the new birth, and no
matter how lovely it is viewed in human eyes, is included by the
words of the Lord Jesus as being in this realm: that “ that which is
born of the flesh is flesh.” For this reason, we need to ask ourselves
whether all that we have after new birth is born of God. Or does that
which I have still include that which is born of the flesh? Let us not
reason that only the sins and uncleannesses of the flesh need to be
eliminated, whereas natural gentleness, patience, loving-kindness,
cleverness, and talent can all be retained and carried over without
ever being born anew of God. Who among us truly recognizes that
all which we inherit from the first—that is to say, from that which is
of the flesh—must be denied and laid down? Let us humbly
acknowledge that only what comes from believing in the Lord Jesus,
from trusting in God, and from appropriating through the Holy Spirit
is acceptable and pleasing to God.

argy stokes
02-15-2006, 12:24 AM
We've also inherited our mitochondria from our maternal ancestral line. Too bad my line ends with me.

Churchwork
02-15-2006, 04:48 AM
God doesn't care about your line. Man cares too much about his own fleshly line. God cares about your not going to hell; this is why He does everything possible within His righteousness and holiness to convince to enter into the new creation. How saddened God will be if you never receive His loving gift of eternal life and instead choose to be eternally separated from the One Who created you. What a tragedy this would be! Yet, if this is what you want, this is what you shall have, for God will not coerce you into loving Him. If He did so, it would not be love, but something else.