The Baptist Commentary

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

2010-05-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

The law of the Spirit, is the commandment to believe in Christ, for through faith a person takes possession of the Spirit of promise, in the form of the earnest of the inheritance. Observance of the law of the Spirit, is to follow, obey, and conform to the guidance of the Spirit, not grieving or quenching it. Looking forward to Romans 8:5, it is to think like the Spirit, always attentive to the things of God.

To believe, our faith must include the observance of the law, or else our faith is dead, worthless, and unfruitful. Yet, by our faith, we are freed from the law. This is true, because faith is not produced, through the observance of the law, but rather, the law is observed through faith. The works of the law are burdensome, when performing them in order to obtain a reward. But, if we have confidence that we have already obtained the greatest reward, and observe the law out of love, respect, honor, and gratitude, then the law is obeserved without effort or desire, and the burden is almost nonexistant (Matthew 11:30). And for doing that which seems to be effortless, God is faithful to reward.

Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2010-05-28T06:00:00.002-04:00

The regenerate, who have turned to righteousness and have received the Holy Ghost of promise, are no longer under the condemnation, in which they find themselves, when attempting to observe the law to gain righteousness, as described in Galatians 3:10. This is the state which Paul describes in the later part of chapter 7.

Here Paul describes those who have been freed from the law, by converting to righteousness and following after the Spirit.

I have listened to many preachers who preach awesome sermons on the latter part of Romans 7, but then turn elsewhere for the answer to Pauls dilemma. When that happens, it becomes obvious that they do not properly understand Romans 8.

Condemnation - to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on; to pronounce to be guilty; to judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service.

Are these not descriptive of what Paul described in Romans 7? Was he not passing judgment upon himself, based upon his own ability to fulfill the law? Was he not determining his own guilt, when he desired to do good, but saw that he could only do that which was evil? Did he not profess to have been brought into the captivity of the law of sin, which was in his members?

He saw himself to be a wretched man. And the only way a person can be free from such a wretched man, is through the power of the Holy Ghost. This is only possible, through the gift of the promise of the Holy Ghost, provided by inheritance (Ephesians 1:11) to each regenerate man, but possessed (Ephesians 1:14) only through faith and conversion.

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

2010-05-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

Christ only dwells in our hearts through faith (John 14:18, John 14:20, John 14:21). Faith, without works is dead, or rather worthless. A persons is not saved by merely understanding, or being persuaded, that Jesus is the Christ. As Jesus sets forth in John 14, a person must love Him and must keep His commandments. If a person looses faith, turns back to the world, our returns to disobedience, Christ will not continue to dwell in such filth.

The Regenerate Man Defined

2010-05-08T06:00:00.007-04:00

Regeneration occurs at the time appointed by the Father. It will occur some time between conception and physical death. When it occurs, the person will be completely unaware that any change has taken place. With this change, the person has aquires a new second nature. The first nature, the carnal nature, is loosed from total domination and control over the person. In Romans 6:6, Paul describes this as the old man being crucified. I like to describe it as when Paul and Silas were in prison and the earthquake shook the foundations of the prison and "immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed". Despite the doors being opened and their bands loosed, Paul and Sila remained in thier prison cells. At regeneration, the cell doors are opened and the bands are loosed, and the person is free to turn away from, or convert from, the power of the carnal man. But, he is not yet aware that this has happened. He has not yet discovered how to even do this. Because of this, the person will continue to be over powered and controlled by the former carnal nature, unknowingly and freely yielding himself to it (Romans 6:16).

Only after regeneration, is it possible for the person to hear the gospel. As Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit". When the gospel is heard, the way out of the prison is made manifest. Now, it is up to the person to choose how to exercise his free will. He will either choose to continue being lead by the carnal man, or he will trust in the gospel message and use the gift of the Holy Spirit to subdue the carnal man.

With regeneration, the person has been adopted as a child of God. As with any family, you have two basic types, although there are many varying degrees between the two. A child will be either obedient or disobedient. He will either do all that is possible to please the Father, or he will hate the Father and be rebellious toward Him, or be at some varying degree between these two extremes.

Having now been adopted as a child, the person is subject to the laws of God and His chastening. As revealed in Hebrews 12, God chastens His children in hopes that they might be exercised by it and yield the fruits of righteousness.

Having now obtained the inheritance of Eternal Life (Ephesians 1:11), the person, regardless of works (the required works of God), will live forever (John 6:51) with Christ in immortal heaven.

These are the elect of God, for whom Christ died. This is true grace, undeserved, unmerited, unwarranted, without any works, including that of faith. They are numbered so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. From these a remnant shall be presently saved.

Ephesians 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

2010-05-25T06:00:00.003-04:00

The love of God is so huge. It is far reaching and towers over us. It is far greater than anything we will ever be able to fully comprehend in this mortal life. But, to even begin to comprehend it, we must be given the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38), which reveals these great truths to us (1 Corinthians 2:10, John 14:26, Hebrews 6:4).

There are four aspects to Gods love for His chosen people. It has length, width, and depth, which are obvious measurements of obejcts of mass, that we use every day. The fourth apsect is also a measurement of every day objects. That measurement is endurance, or how long it will last. This apsect of Gods love, like the other three aspects, is also beyond our ability to fully comprehend in this life.

Even though, it is by the gift of the Holy Ghost, that we are able to know the things of God, we are limited in our knowledge, by our ability to comprehend what the Spirit reveals to us. We must be open to the teachings of the Holy Ghost, and at the same time gaurd ourselves against imaginations of the carnal mind.

Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

2010-05-24T06:00:00.002-04:00

Even though God allows mans free will to make the choice to convert and believe in Christ Jesus, He must still grant you that privilege. But, do not use this as an excuse as to why you fail to do so, for He is faithful to grant the priviledge according to His promise, and the power to overcome and tear down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4, Nahum 3:12).

Pray for yourself, as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, "to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man".

Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

2010-05-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel placed their faith in God, but because they had God in the world in a physical form, which they could witness, and because they had the Holy Spirit, within the inner sanctuary, they did not receive the Holy Ghost which is given under the New Testament by faith in Christ. Although, a few chosen Kings and Prophets did recieve it, it was not generally given (John 7:39) to the regenerate children of God, whether Jew or Gentile. This is why the Gentiles of the Old Testament were without God in the world and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope.

Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

2010-05-21T06:00:00.006-04:00

The "election of grace" is not the same as the election of God, which was before the foundations of the world. The context of this passage suggests an election by obedience. Recently, it occurred to me what Paul was actually saying.

In verses 14 – 16, Paul comments that there is a possibility of this group being provoked into becoming a part of this remnant, a sure sign this election take place in the present. In verse 16, he indicates that they are Holy, being part of the same lump as the firstfruit, partaking of the root. He describes them as the branches which were removed, which once were partakers of the same root that this remnant now partakes. Therefore, this is a choosing, or an act of picking out, performed by grace.

How does grace pick and chose?

It chooses those who are able to humble themselves and believe the gospel. It chooses those who seek for deliverance. Of such a people, Jesus spoke in Matthew 5 when He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." and so on. The gospel is not for the rich, for it is a very difficult thing for them. It is for those who see themselves in need of a physician. For this reason only a remnant will be saved presently.

1 Corinthians 1:21 & 27 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe… But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

I found the following in the "A Welsh Succession of Primitive Baptist Faith and Practice".

"There has been all along the blood-tinged ages of martyrdom an uninterrupted preservation of the primitive creed and ritual of the church of the Pentecost, so signally inaugurated in the upper room in Jerusalem. There is no missing link in this celestial chain from age to age of the remnant according to the election of grace."

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins

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When each elect person is adopted at regeneration, he is buried into death (Romans 6:3, 4, 5, 7, Colossians 2:12, Galatians 3:27). The person, completely unaware that regeneration has taken place, continues living just as before (Galatians 4:1). Having been delivered from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13), the person is now willingly the servant of sin unto death (Romans 6:16) reaping his just reward (Romans 6:23).

When a person hears the truth, the gospel of his salvation, and believes in Christ, he receives the reward of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), which is the earnest of his inheritance (Ephesians 1:14), eternal life (Romans 6:23). Having been made free from sin (Romans 6:7) at regeneration, he has become a servant of righteousness (Romans 6:18).

Leviticus 26:3, 9, 11, 12 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them (conversion)… For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you… And I will set my tabernacle among you (referring to the Holy Spirit): and my soul shall not abhor you… And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

The Holy Spirit will only dwell among those who are living righteously, following after its guidance. A regenerate person, having not yet converted from his sin, is considered to be "dead in sin and trespass". He is in the same state as the righteous man who turns from righteousness back to iniquity. Paul repeatedly makes this argument in his epistles, and even more so in Romans.

Related passages:
Romans 8:11
Romans 8:13
Colossians 2:13
Ezekiel 18:24
Ephesians 4:18-19

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2010-03-18T08:15:00.003-04:00

For we are the product, or result of labor and skill, possible only of God the Creator, being transformed at the very nature, from one type to another, and translated from power and authority to another, and given the capacity to know and do that which is righteous, which God before determined that should do.

We are in Christ as a result of God’s workmanship, and not by our own strength or power. As Colossians 1:13 teaches, it is God who "hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son". We are translated from one place to another, just as Enoch was translated, from earth into Heaven above, solely by the power of God. We are translated by God in this way when we are regenerated and adopted as children. Furthermore, at this same time, we are created, or rather transformed, being changed in nature, but not in character. This change in nature is the implanting of a second nature that enables the person (Colossians 1:12), for the first time in his life, to have the capacity to "see" the kingdom of God. As this passage further teaches, this takes place so that we are positioned to be able to do good works. In other words, we must first obtain the capacity at regeneration, before we can later receive the ability through faith, from the Holy Spirit. Paul refers to these two natures as the old and new man. They are also known as the carnal nature, which is born of the flesh, and the spiritual nature, that will be born, or brought to life (John 3:6), by conversion. These works were "before ordained that we should walk in them". These works are the required and approved works, even our faith. The use of the word "should" does not mean that we will, but rather that we ought to do so; it is our duty, or as Paul says, "our reasonable service". As I stated above, this is a change in nature and not character. Character change takes place when the person converts, after having first trusted in the gospel of his salvation, and then believed in Christ (Ephesians 1:13). This then results in the person becoming a new creature, having put away the former unfruitful things that were prevalent in his life.

Related passages:
John 6:29

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2010-05-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new kind of person, he is uncommon, his behavior has changed, he is established upon a firm foundation, his priorities have changed, he no longer lives for himself, but for Christ, the old man being subdued; observe, many things about him are different. (Personal Translation)

Therefore, if a man has converted to Christ, he is a new person. He will be different than he was before having noticeable changes in his character. He will be established, unlike before, desiring to be a good and faithful servant. When a person is regenerated, he does not immediately manifest the internal change that occurs during regeneration. The person is not even aware of this change until the new man begins to war against the old man. It is not until the person chooses to convert from his sinful ways and live his life in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that he is considered to be a new creature. If the person has truly converted, he has put away that which was of the natural and has taken hold of the new which is spiritual (John 3:6). He has begun subduing the old man and its control over him, allowing the new to take the lead. He has become a new person, and according to scripture, has set himself apart from those of unrighteousness, is consider to be a peculiar type of person, and a member of the royal priesthood of God.

Related passages:
John 3:6
Ephesians 4:22
Exodus 19:5
Deuteronomy 14:2
Titus 2:14
1 Peter 2:9

2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.

2010-05-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

For that reason, from this point forward, we cannot differentiate the regenerate from the rest, when they live according to their carnal nature: nevertheless, we can distinguish Christ according to ones behavior, yet from now on we cannot distinguish Christ any further. (Personal Translation)

Because the regenerate can be in either of these two conditions - unconverted or converted, it is impossible to know if a person is regenerated by observing his behavior, if he has not yet converted to living for Christ. He may not exhibit any characteristics, or he may only exhibit a few characteristics, that could be discerned as one converted. Therefore we can only know that a person is regenerate when he manifests Christ like characteristics, and not by any other means.

2 Corinthians 5:15 And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

2010-05-18T06:00:00.002-04:00

And [that] he died for all, that they which live (Greek "zao" meaning "are efficacious" – they which have the capacity to live) should not henceforth live (manner of life) unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

And because He died for all his people, those which are efficacious (have the capacity to live) should not hereafter continue a manner of life which is for their own purpose, but instead for the purpose of him which died for them, and rose again. (Personal Translation)

When a person is regenerated he is given the capacity to comprehend spiritual things. In this passage, Paul builds upon that truth, teaching that this type of person should not continue living for himself, like he did before regeneration. Instead, the regenerate person should exercise this new capability to live his life in accordance with the purpose of Christ.

Related passages:
Colossians 1:12

The Regenerate - Converted Defined

2010-05-13T06:00:00.052-04:00

Having obtained the inheritance of eternal life at regeneration (Ephesians 1:11), the converted take current possession (Matthew 19:16, John 3:15) of eternal life, by way of the earnest (Ephesians 1:14).

The converted receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38), the Comforter (John 14:16, John 14:26), the earnest of thier inheritance (Ephesians 1:14). And are partakers of the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5, Revelation 20:6).

They have escaped the condemnation of the carnal man (John 3:18), and have chosen to walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:1), rather than fulfill the desires of the flesh (Ephesians 2:3). They have chosen to mind the things of the Spirit, rather than the desires of the flesh (Romans 8:5). Rather than remaining in the 2nd Death, they have been resurrected to life (Romans 6:4) through the Spirit (Romans 8:13).

Having been born of water, they have now also been born of the Spirit (John 3:5). Or, as John puts it in his first epistle, born of God (1 John 5:4, 1 John 5:18). This new birth of the Spirit is the indwelling of Christ within (John 14:17, John 14:20, John 14:23). The person has freely chosen to love the Lord, and to obey His commandments (John 14:21). By doing so, he has become a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15). He has put away his former life of unrighteousness, for which the wages were death (Romans 6:23), and has yielded himself a servant of righteousness (Romans 6:16) unto obedeince unto God.

Having converted, being quickened by the Spirit (John 5:21, John 6:63, Romans 8:11, Ephesians 2:1), to walk after the Spirit, the person has ceased from sin (1 John 3:9, 1 John 5;18), and has found the victory to overcome the world (1 John 5:4).

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

2010-05-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

Christ suffered one time, a single act for all of whom He was the sacrificial offering, the righteous for the unrighteous; the innocent for the guilty. "Once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself". "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many", for if this were not true, then "must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world", each time a person believed and converted.

But Christ did not die for the believers, nor did He die only for those who have become children of God since His death. But instead, He died for all of God’s chosen, since the beginning of time unto the last day. Once for all He died, but not for all of mankind. He was "put to death in the flesh", so that "we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Yes, sanctified - to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin -through His death, one time forever more, and not through our faith! "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified". Then after three days in the grave, He was "quickened by the Spirit".

Three days separate His death from His resurrection. These are two different events, each one bearing its’ own significance and accomplishing different things. By His death, we have been purified and freed from the guilt of sin. By His resurrection, death has been swallowed up in victory, for under the Old Testament, death reigned. But now, "a new and living way" has been made possible. Also by His death, He tore down the veil that separated the first tabernacle from the second. Under the Old Testament "the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God". The priests, which were a shadow of the body of believers, accomplished the service of God, void of the Holy Spirit, "for the Holy Ghost was not yet given", "the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest". But of the New Testament, which was to come, Jesus "spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive". And now under the new covenant, by our faith, we enter into this "new and living way". For now, "after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory". "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh".

In the Old Testament, God dwelled among a chosen nation of His elect, in the Tabernacle made with hands.

Leviticus 26:3 & 11 "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them… I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you…"

Deuteronomy 4:30-31 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is] a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

In the New Testament, God dwells among the believers of His elect, in the tabernacle not made with hands – this is the Holy Spirit of promise.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?"

Washing of Regeneration: What the Holy Spirit actually says

2010-02-03T07:51:00.003-05:00

Regeneration and conversion are often thought to be the same, but they are two very distinct and completely different events. An attempt to compare these two would be like comparing the growth of an apple tree to the development of an apple. Regeneration is the tree and conversion is the apple, and you cannot have an apple without an apple tree.

When regeneration and conversion are understood to be two separate events, the distinguishing features become obscured when the two are not rightly divided and their characteristics are jumbled.

The word regeneration “palingenesia” can only be found twice in scripture. The Morrish Bible Dictionary interestingly says, “It will be seen that the word regeneration has not in scripture the sense of ‘new birth,’ to which the term has been commonly applied. Intimately connected with regeneration is the idea of ‘washing,’ referring probably to a cleansing, or separation from old associations, which is essential to the idea of regeneration”. And when rightly divided, this will be found to be very true.

The first use of this word is found in Matthew 19:28. The use of the word here is in regards to a new birth. This usage is in regard to a change of power and authority. Christ takes a seat upon His throne at the right-hand of God. God took His kingdom from the nation of Israel after the flesh and gave it to the spiritual Israel of promise (Romans 9:8). These and other changes are described as the shaking of heaven and earth (Daniel 7:13-14 & Hebrews 12:26-28).

With this study I hope to be able to not only convince, but also to prove, that the use of regeneration spoken of in Titus 3:5 is the same as that in Matthew 19:28.

The scriptures reveal five changes of power and authority that occur at the time of regeneration. Although there is no stated order in which these occur, I will discuss each one in what would seem to be the most logical order. Just to clarify, each of these are solely spiritual in nature and do not involve any action, decision, or even conscientiousness on the part of the person. In fact, the person cannot know when regeneration occurs, only that it has taken place at some time in the past.

• Translation
• Crucifixion
• Spiritual Baptism
• Adoption
• Inheritance

Translation

A lot is revealed by Jesus concerning translation in John chapter 6. In John 6:44, Jesus teaches that no man can come into His authority, unless he is delivered into His authority by the Father. In John 6:37, He teaches that all who are delivered into His authority will be received by Him. In John 6:50, He teaches that all that are delivered to Him will live forever. And in John 6:39, He teaches that of all those who are delivered into His power and authority, not a single one will ever be taken away.

Colossians 1:13-14 provides us with a word picture of the translation event. At this point one should think of John 6:44, and give great consideration to the word “draw” which means to pull up or out; to raise from any depth; as, to draw water from a well. And this definition is clearly made manifest in these passages. God reaches down into the depths of darkness and delivers us from its power and authority setting us down on the other side of a great barrier that no man can cross (Genesis 3:24) without the Fathers divine intervention. These passages from Colossians do not describe the transference of the person physically, but instead of the transference of the title of ownership of the purchased possession.

Baptism

Paul uses baptism, "baptizo" meaning to be cleansed by submersion, to reveal another aspect of regeneration. He uses this figuratively in Romans 6:3-7. He teaches that during regeneration, a spiritual baptism of cleansing takes place. This is consistent with his teaching from Titus 3:5, when he uses the phrase “the washing of regeneration”. This cleansing is the victory of Christ over death being applied. It is the blotting out of our transgressions against God, which were atoned by Christ on the cross.

Crucifixion

Also in Romans 6:3-9, Paul uses crucifixion “soos-tow-ro’-o”, meaning to render helpless, and makes several references to the person being buried into death with Christ. Prior to regeneration, the carnal nature has complete and utter control over the person. This carnal nature is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be (Romans 8:7). Therefore, by the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5) and the adoption of children (Ephesians 1:5), when Christ’s victory over death is applied, the carnal man is put to death (Ephesians 2:16), or rather loosed from total dominance. This loosing renders the carnal man helpless against the power of the Holy Spirit. It enables the person, for the first time, to be able to subdue the carnal man, but only through the power and strength of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13). It is the person’s free will choice to convert to Christ and receive the Holy Spirit (John 14:23), enabling His power and authority over the carnal man. For more details on subduing the carnal man, see my study Born Again by Conversion.

Although the person is cleansed by the loosing of the carnal nature, it remains to be the dominant force in his life. To provide a word picture, regeneration is the removing of the shackles and the opening of the cell door, making a way of escape from the prison cell in which the person has been kept by the power of darkness. Now, all he needs to do is find his way out to enjoy this new freedom, and this is the purpose of the gospel message. Jesus also said this very same thing in John 13:10, "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit". In other words, the person is now willfully allowing the carnal nature to reign over his mortal body (Romans 6:12) and yielding himself to its service, by obeying its lusts (Romans 6:13). This is why Paul describes this aspect of regeneration as being baptized into death. Despite having been transferred into this new realm, over which Christ has dominion, the person is not automatically conformed to its ways and means. At this point, the person is described as being asleep (Romans 13:11, 1 Corinthians 15:34, Ephesians 5:14) because he has not yet been awakened to this glorious change. As dead (Romans 6:7, Ephesians 5:14, Luke 15:24, John 5:25, John 11:25, Romans 11:15, Romans 14:9, 1 Corinthians 15:29, Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13, 1 Timothy 5:6, 2 Timothy 2:11, and many others) because the person is unfruitful and unskillful in the ways of righteousness. As a child of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 3:6) because he is rebellious and in love with the world. And even a child of the devil (1 John 3:8 & 10, 2 Timothy 2:26) because he is yielding himself to be the devils servant (Romans 6:12).

Adoption

Paul, in the opening chapter of his epistle to the Ephesians, sets forth a progression of events which should be undisputable. The first of these events is the adoption of children by the Father, who has predetermined those to whom His glorious grace shall be applied. Paul makes no mention of belief, or of the gospel, until he gets to the third and final item in this progression. This is the true substance of 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us”. He loved us before we ever even gave any thought about loving Him. In fact, before we were ever even conceived in the womb of our mother, He chose to love each one of His elect and chose them to be adopted as His children. He chose to make each one accepted in the beloved.

By why must we be adopted? God created man in His likeness and in His image. Some will argue that Genesis 5:3 does not support the claim that Adam passed, his now defiled nature, to all his prosperity. But, Romans 8:29 says that the elect were predestinated to be conformed (made agreeable) to the image of His Son, and Ephesians 1:5-6 supports this stating that we were predestinated to be adopted where in He has made us accepted (agreeable). In other words, a person must be adopted in order to once again obtain the image and likeness of God.

By adoption, the person becomes one of God’s children. But again, this is only a spiritual change, and is the same as the change in authority and ownership mentioned above, in the discussion of translation. There is no change physically to the person. Paul describes the person at this point, as being no different than one who has not been adopted, in Galatians 4:1. Give a lot of consideration to what Paul is saying. The hier, as long as he remains to be a child, is no different than the servant, which is obviously not a child of the father. The point that Paul is attempting to make is, they are both unlearned, without the knowledge needed take control of any part of the fathers estate. Another way you could look at this would be, they both are carnally minded, minding the things of the flesh. They are both in love with the world and are not prepared to be given any responsibility over anything pertaining to the Fathers estate. Notice another very important thing that Paul points out. It is only the heir that is under governors and tutors, to bring him to faith in Christ (Galatians 3:24-25), not the servant. The servant is still under the complete control of the carnal nature; the carnal nature that is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be (Romans 8:7).

It is important to understand why certain scriptures may not appear at first to support this fully. It is all about proper perspective. All of those who the Father adopts as children are, from the Fathers perspective, His children, whether they acknowledge this fact or not. Not all of God’s children will acknowledge Him as their Father. To those who do receive the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:5-6), the Spirit of His Son will be sent into their hearts and they will cry Abba, Father! And these will be obedient unto Him and will obey His commandments, without burden. They will love the Lord their God, and He will be their God.

But to those who do not acknowledge Him and are rebellious against Him, and who love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil (John 3:19), the wrath of God abides upon them (Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 10:31). They will be chastened (Hebrews 12:7) and those who are exercised thereby (Hebrews 12:11) will turn from their wicked ways and convert and be healed (Matthew 13:15, Mark 4:12, James 5:20). They will enter into the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3) departing from the broad way and the destruction they have known, entering in through the strait gate of life, which few are able to find (Matthew 7:13-14).

Inheritance

At the time of adoption the person is bequeathed an inheritance (Ephesians 1:11) of Eternal Life and Salvation. Although this inheritance is bequeathed, the same as a father would bequeath his inheritance to his children, there are some differences. The first difference that needs to be understood is that in place of the Father, the Son was the testator (Hebrews 9:16), who died so that the testament would be of force (Hebrews 9:17). The person has obtained the inheritance, because the Son died in place of the Father, but can only take possession of the earnest of it, through faith in Christ when they receive the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14).

A person is only able to take full possession of the inheritance when he departs this mortal world (1 Peter 1:4). Until that time, God has appointed a mediator (Hebrews 9:15), just as a father would appoint an executor for his will. Should the father pass before his children, the executor distributes portions of the estate to the children as needed for support. Whether for food, clothing, education, etc…, the executor pays for these things by withdrawing from the estate. Jesus, acting as mediator, gives us varying measures of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:14) in accordance with our faith and obedience, for blessing, reward, and strength. For more details concerning the earnest of our inheritance, see my study on Born Again by Conversion.

Summary

God uses multiple perspectives to teach a single truth. He did this in Daniel and Revelation. He also did this in the gospels and epistles, for example, with the kingdom of heaven. I hope you will be able to see the evident connections of how these five changes of power and authority are intertwined with each other. They are truly multiple perspectives provided by God’s word to enable the Bible student to gain a proper understanding of Regeneration.

When I think of regeneration, I think of the story of Adam. The fall of man is the reverse shadow of what must be accomplished in order to return to favor with God. Did Adam have a choice to eat the forbidden fruit? Of course he did, without question. But, did Adam have a choice in being driven out from the Garden of Eden? Did Adam have a choice to return to the Garden of Eden and partake of the Tree of Life? No, I am afraid he had absolutely no choice in the matter.

The Foreknowledge of God

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Foreknowledge - the knowledge of something before it exists or happens.

This definition can be understood from two different perspectives, and only one is correct, as it pertains to Gods foreknowledge.

From one perspective, God could have looked into the future and chosen a person based upon the persons actions. But, if this was correct, then God would have been a respector of persons. Anything given to the person, as a result of his actions, would have been a debt, rather than a freely given gift.

From the other perspective, God could have predetermined a particular end. This is the proper perspective.
Scriptures states, "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation" (2 Thessalonians 2:13). He did this so that the person might believe. In other words, God predetermined that each of His elect would be "made meet", or rather enabled (Colossians 1:12), that they might be sanctified by the Spirit and believe in the truth. He did this, "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" (Ephesians 1:5). God predetermined that His chosen would be regenerated, so that they might freely choose to convert (Ephesians 2:10).

Giving consideration to Acts 2:23, if God's foreknowledge was according to the first perspective above, then that would be to say, God looked into the future the see if Christ would be crucified to allow Him to determine if He could save His people. Sorry, I don't think this is the proper perspective of foreknowledge.

Just remember, NO person, by his own power, can obtain salvation by faith, or by any other means, no matter how much he may desire to do so (Romans 9:15,Romans 9:16, Romans 9:18). It is only possible, if God shows mercy unto the person. It is only possible, if God first enables the person (Colossians 1:12, John 6:65). It is only possible, if God first draws the person (John 6:44, John 6:65), or rather translates the person (Colossians 1:13).

The Regenerate - Unconverted Defined

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All of God's elect children are buried with Christ into death, as Paul describes regeneration in Romans 6. This is true, because there is no immediate knowledge of regeneration. The person continues his life here on earth just as he did the day before, unconverted, in disobedience to God, in love with darkness. However, now he is doing these things freely, yielding himself a servant of sin.

The regenerate unconverted disobedient person is now able to believe in a god, and is subject to being mislead to idols and false gods. Having now a new second spiritual nature, the person is able to hear and understand the gospel. According to 1 Corinthians 2:11, the old carnal man can only know and understand carnal things. But God is spiritual, and to know or understand spiritual things, a person requires the spiritual nature to reveal such things to him. We are given this new spiritual nature at regeneration "that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God".

The regenerate unconverted are filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, and unmerciful.

This is grace without works, unmerited, unwarranted, undeserved.

Baptism

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There are three (3) baptisms referred to in scripture.

1.The first, and least taught, baptism takes place at regeneration. It is a spiritual cleansing and is the same as the "washing of regeneration" referred to by Paul in Titus 3:5 and the same as being "born of water" referred to by Jesus in John 3:5. Paul uses this metaphor in Romans 6:3-4.

2.The baptism of the Holy Spirit can occur next, or after water baptism for church membership.

3.Water baptism can occur before the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or after. But, neither can occur before the washing of regeneration.

A shadow of baptism can be found in the Old Testament and the washing of the Levites.

First (1st) and Second (2nd) Death

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1st Death

The first death is a spiritual death. This is greatest death which "surely" (Genesis 2:17) came upon all mankind as a result of Adams trangression. This death was passed from Adam to Seth (Genesis 5:3) and to all mankind (Romans 5:12, Romans 5:18). It is often referred to as the carnal man, which has total domination over every human being until regeneration. Only regeneration can loosen the carnal man from this total domination (Romans 6:6, Colossians 1:12).

2nd Death

After regeneration, a person has two natures, both the old carnal man, which remains, and a new spiritual man. Although the carnal man has been loosed (Romans 6:6) from total domination, it remains in total control, until the person learns how to use the gift of God to subdue him. According to Romans 6:16, from the time of regeneration until conversion, the person is willfully yielding himself to the control of the carnal man. The control and influences of the carnal man can only be subdued through the power of the new spiritual man (Romans 8:13).

Therefore, the regenerate unconverted man is referred to in scriptures as being dead, because he is yielding himself to the control and influence of the carnal man. (Matthew 8:22, Matthew 23:27, Romans 8:13, John 5:25, John 11:25, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:7, Romans 11:15, 1 Corinthians 15:29, Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 5:14, 1 Timothy 5:6, and many more). More often than not, references to the dead are those of the second death.

It is only from the second death that a person can take part in the 1st Resurrection.

The Unregenerate Man Defined

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Adam was created in Gods image, after His likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). That which God created, including Adam, was "very good". (Genesis 1:31). When God created Adam, He "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). When God placed Adam within the garden of Eden, He "commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). When Adam transgressed this commandment, Adam became a dieing soul and was no longer in Gods image or after His likeness. He was no longer "very good". He had become carnal in nature.

This is most evident in the record of Seths birth (Genesis 5:3). Adam "begat a son in his own likeness, after his image". Adam did not pass the image and likeness of God on to Seth, instead he passed his fallen, carnal, dieing soul, to Seth, and to every human concieved since that time. This is further supported by Paul when he states, "as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).

Paul teaches that "the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7). The carnal nature is not, and can never be, subject to the commandments of God.

The unregenerate are rarely spoken of in scripture. They are often an understood type. A few places in scripture where they are mentioned are:

Galatians 4:1 Now I say, [That] the heir {regeneration}, as long as he is a child {unconverted}, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

Romans 7:2-4 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to [her] husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed {regeneration} from the law of [her] husband. So then if, while [her] husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law {regeneration}; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ {regeneration}; that ye should be married to another {conversion}, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

In the following, the unregenerate are not mentioned, but are understood, since all humans are not buried with Christ.

Romans 6:2-4, 5-6 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin {regeneration}, live any longer therein {unconverted}? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ {regeneration} were baptized into his death {unconverted}? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death {regeneration - unconverted}: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life {conversion}. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him] {regeneration}, that the body of sin might be destroyed {conversion}, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin {regeneration}.

Before a man can be subject to the commandments of God, a change must occur. That which happened to Adam, must be reversed. The first step is to return to the garden of Eden, so that we might put forth our hand and take of the Tree of Life.

For the elect of God, this first step occurs at regeneration.

John 6 - I am that bread of life

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When Jesus is tempted in the wilderness, he reveals a great truth in his rebuke of the tempter, as He proclaims, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3) He clearly proclaims that a person cannot "live" - have life; possess life; to partake of life - by eating bread alone. He then sets forth a second condition that must also be met, which is obedience unto God. Both conditions must be achieved for a person to "live", or as defined above, to possess or partake of life. These are two distinctly different conditions which must be accomplished.

In John 6, Jesus teaches with another parable and uses bread symbolically. Within this parable, Jesus makes the following statement, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you." I am sure at first glance you probably see little, if any, similarity between this statement and the passage above. But when we carefully examine the meaning of this statement, using other passages from this same parable, it becomes more evident. In verses 32 & 33, Jesus uses the analogy of bread to represent Himself, by stating the following, "...my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven... For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven..." He even makes this truth very clear in verse 35, as He continues with, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger..." And again in verse 48, "I am that bread of life." As Jesus teaches using this parable, He further distinguishes that the bread specifically refers to His flesh, or His body. This first occurs in verse 51, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh..." From these passages we learn that:

Jesus is the bread. Verses 33, 35, 41, 48, 51
The bread that is given is the body of Christ. Verse 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57
"He that cometh... shall never hunger". Verse 35
Any man that eats this bread (or flesh) will "live for ever" or "not die". Verses 50, 51, 58

But how does a person consume Christ's flesh? This is the same question that was asked by His audience, and eventually caused them to disburse. But, the answer to this question is revealed by Jesus, within this parable. In verse 32, Jesus says that the Father gives us the true bread, and in verse 35 that the person "that cometh... shall never hunger", indicating that the person that "cometh" is a consumer of the bread. A previous study of John 6:44, reveals that the word "cometh" simply refers to a person being removed from one place and transported to another. This would be true when it involves God, as stated in verse 32. Therefore, as determined in the study of John 6:44, a person consumes the bread when the Father translates the person from the dominion of darkness into the dominion of Christ, also commonly known as regeneration. The Doctrines of Grace are confirmed by this truth. They teach that when a person is regenerated he will "live for ever" in immortal heaven, just as Jesus has taught in these passages. All the regenerate of God will be in heaven, having been saved by Christ's death and the grace of God. They teach that the elect are saved by grace and not by works of righteousness. So, now we have the answer to the question at hand, "How does a person consume Christ's flesh?" The answer, "A person consumes the bread at regeneration, or when he is adopted as a child."

To this point, I have not covered the second condition spoken of by Jesus, in this chapter of John, with good reason. I wanted to establish the meaning of the bread and its role in this parable, without having to deal with two different analogies at the same time. Before I turn to this second analogy used by Jesus, I would like to cover a particular passage, within this parable, that He included.

In verse 55, Jesus stated, "For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." An in-depth study of this passage reveals little as to the meaning that it holds. In fact the meaning is so simple, that if you look too hard, you will miss its meaning all together. Jesus is simply stating that His flesh and His blood are distinctly different. Yes, both food and water are consumed; both are required for the body to survive, but yet they are very different. Food differs from water, just as a hamburger differs from a cola. One is eaten and the other is drunk. One is solid matter and the other is liquid matter. And lastly, they each sustain the body in different ways. They are consumed differently and serve different purposes. I found the following interesting facts:

A person can live without food for quite some time, usually for many weeks. The body will use its fat and protein stores (muscles) to help it survive. If a person has a lot of fat stores (is very heavy), they will live longer than a person who has very little fat (very thin), so how long a person can survive depends a lot of the person. Of course, if you go without food for a few weeks, you will be very weak since you have been using your own muscles for energy.
Water is a different story. A person will die within 3-4 days without water. The size of the person really doesn't make much difference.

The consumption of the bread is for a particular purpose, the consumption of the blood another. The consumption of the bread is accomplished by one means; the consumption of the blood is accomplished by another means. Having determined that the consumption of the bread is accomplished at regeneration, let us now turn our focus to the passages, in which Jesus speaks of both eating and drinking. In verse 35, Jesus states, "he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst", meaning that the person who is translated into His dominion, from darkness, will never hunger; secondly the person that "believes" on Him shall never thirst. By this, Jesus teaches that a person's faith is synonymous to the act of drinking. There are no such distinctions made of faith to eating. The evidence cannot be denied that drinking His blood is the same as "believing" or having faith. This is commonly known as conversion. As we look further at these two conditions, set forth by Jesus, such as, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you", we find that in order for a person to actually possess life, the person must not only be regenerate, but must also believe. Paul and others also make parallel statements in their epistles, which are often errantly thought to say something completely different.

"if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live"
"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death."
"Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
"Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? ...if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments"
"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life"
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him"
"He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life"
"that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life"
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live"
"Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life"
"For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"
"For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead?"
"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life"

These are but a few of the many passages which parallel the teachings of Jesus from John 6. If you are familiar with the Doctrines of Grace, you are well aware that they teach this same truth. First and foremost, a person must be regenerate to live forever. Secondly the person must believe to live. But, where you may stumble, is in the fact that a person does not have life, or has no life within, except he believes. I agree that this is a difficult concept to grasp. As we continue, I believe you will begin to accept the facts set forth in scripture.

Jesus says, "...he that believeth on me hath everlasting life". The word "hath" indicates possession, such as to hold in the hand. Only those who believe possess everlasting life. How is this possible? Ephesians 1 teaches that the child of God is first adopted and given an inheritance. More specifically, it teaches that the adopted child has "obtained" this inheritance, meaning it has been bequeathed. This conveys ownership without possession. It simply means that the person has been allotted a portion of the Fathers estate. The person, having been adopted as a child, has been added to the legal declaration of how God wishes his estate to be handled. The person will take possession when he departs this world, whether by physical death or on the last day. Then further into the chapter, we find that when the person first trusts and then believes, he receives the Holy Spirit, which is the "earnest" - a small amount given in advance - of his own inheritance "until the redemption of the purchased possession". The person takes possession of the earnest, which is derived from, the inheritance the person has already been allotted. This earnest is only for the time he remains here in this world. Once the "redemption of the purchased possession" has taken place, the earnest is no longer necessary, because the person then takes possession of the fullness of the original inheritance.

According to Jesus' own words, a person need only to eat the bread to live forever. Believing - drinking the blood - is not required for a person to live forever. This supports the long held beliefs of some that regeneration, which is our deliverance from the dominion of darkness and translation into the dominion of Christ, must occur first and foremost. Then secondly, when and if the person drinks the blood, which is to believe, he partakes of the Holy Spirit, taking hold of the earnest of the inheritance, which is eternal life and eternal salvation. At this point it is very important to note that Jesus says a man need only eat of the bread to live for ever, and that a man must both, eat of the bread and drink His blood, to possess life. He NEVER states that a man can drink - believe -without having eaten - being washed by regeneration.

According to most errant theology preached today, believing brings about regeneration and must first be accomplished before a person can live forever. In this study we have discovered that Jesus does not support these false teachings. He explicitly distinguishes that it is His flesh - the Bread of Life - by which a person lives forever. The bread that He gave for the life of the elect world, was His own flesh, His own body. This means that the children of God will live for ever, as a result of His death, and not their faith. Also from this study we have seen how Jesus further proves that drinking His blood, is the same as believing. He teaches that His blood - The New Testament - provides life now, in this present world, through faith. This life that we take possession of, by our faith, is the earnest of the inheritance, which we have already obtained as a result of Christ's death. With the earnest being derived from the inheritance of eternal life and eternal salvation, the earnest which we take possession of, is therefore, of the same substance - eternal life and eternal salvation. "For we [being] many are one bread, [and] one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life"

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

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The seed referred to here is the seed of Abraham, which is Christ. The seed is the Comforter, which is only obtained through obedience (John 14:15-16). Christ, in the form of the Comforter, dwells only within the obedient (John 14:17, 23). Therefore, being born of God is the same as being born of the Spirit, and is referring to conversion, not regeneration.

We all sin, even the converted, but there is a difference. The converted have realized thier sin. They have submitted themselves to the Father (Hebrews 12:9), seperating themselves from the rest of the world. They not only realize thier sin, but they confess thier sins to God, and God is faithful to forgive them of thier sins. Therefore, they no longer commit sin.

We should also consider Galatians 5:16-18. When a person is subduing the old man, by putting on the new man, he has ceased from sin.

Peter further states that a man has ceased from sin when, "he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God".

Related passages:
John 14:15-16
John 14:17, 23
Hebrews 12:9
Galatians 5:16-18
1 Peter 4:2

Adoption of Gods Elect

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Every elect person of God will be adopted as a child, at the time determined by the Father. This occurs during regeneration, without any knowledge by the person. Every adopted child begins in disobedience and is chastened of the Father. Those, who are exercised by the Fathers chastening, then freely choose to convert to a new and living way yielding the fruits of righteousness. (Ephesians 1:5, Hebrews 12:6,11)

The significance of 70 A.D.

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70 A.D. marked the "time of the end", not the end of time. At this time, a very important event took place, that is rarely discussed in churches today. It marked the completed transition of the new Kingdom of Heaven. It was the fulfillment of prophecy regarding the destruction of Jerusalem, carried out by the Roman armies under Titus. In 66 A.D., Cestius Gallus marched his twelfth legion from Antioch and surrounded the city, and could have taken it easily. But instead, and for no aparrent reason, he left. This is known as the greatest military blunder of all time and was the fulfillment of Luke 21:20. This stirred the Jewish rebellion with false hope, and greatly angered Rome. In 70 A.D. Titus, son of Emperor Vespasian and prince of Rome, united four Roman legions and destroyed the city of Jerusalem and its temple. This was the end of the nation of Israel as Gods chosen people. It was the end of the Old Testament, the Levitical Law and ceremonies. It was the end of animal sacrifice. It was the end of God dwelling on earth in man made buildings.