WERE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS REGENERATED?

Transcription

1 WERE OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS REGENERATED? (A consideration of the energizing source of believers before the day of Pentecost) Part 2 The Evidence from Scripture Disproves Regeneration of O.T. Saints. A Paper Presented To The Grace Bible Conference July 14, 2013 By Kevin Jeffrey, pastor, Grace Bible Church, Titusville, Fl. INTRODUCTION Richard Trench in his book Synonyms of the New Testament states concerning regeneration: Paliggenesia (regeneration) is one among the many words which the Gospel found, and, so to speak, glorified; enlarged the boarders of its meaning; lifted it up into a higher sphere; made it the expression of far deeper thoughts, of far mightier truths, than any of which it had been the vehicle before. It was, indeed, already in use; but as the christian new birth was not till after Christ s birth; as men were not new born, till Christ was born (John 1:12); as their regeneration did not go before, but only followed his generation; so the world could not be used in this its highest, most mysterious sense, till that great mystery of the birth of the Son of God into our world had actually found. The evidence from Scripture supports the fact that the while the Old Testament saints were involved with the Holy Spirit in varying degrees, they were not regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This work of the Spirit is unique to the Dispensation of Grace. Today, we ll consider some of the facts that disprove the assumption that the Old Testament saints were regenerated. I. THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT MITIGATES AGAINST THE REGENERATION OF OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS. A. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost signified the first time that the Holy 1

2 Spirit would be poured out on all flesh. 1 B. The Holy Spirit came upon saints in the Old Testament to perform a particular 2 3 service. The Holy Spirit would come and go upon saints. Absence of the Holy Spirit is tantamount to being an unbeliever today. 4 C. The evidence from the Old Testament does not suggest the type of change in the human spirit of Old Testament saints that is in evidence at regeneration of New Testament saints. King David sought for renewal of his human spirit. The Hebrew word for renew is kun which means to make something steadfast. According to Brown Driver and Briggs lexicon it means to be directed in aright, of ways. 5 D. The term pneumatikos which is used in Scripture to mean pertaining to or emanating from the spirit (human or Holy) is primarily a New Testament term. It is used only once in the Old Testament (Hosea 9:7) to emphasize a rational man The New Testament usages emphasizes one who in the realm of their human spirit has Holy Spirit enablement to understand and to see matters taught by Him. 6 7 Today, believers can be renewed in the spirit. Believers also can worship God there. 8 E. The absence of the the indwelling spirit in Old Testament saints is significant to understanding whether Old Testament saints were regenerated. The Scriptural record shows that indwelling of saints was not occurring as late as the Lord s earthly ministry, The Lord promised the disciples in the upper room that the Spirit 9 would come and indwell them after His departure. The ministry that the Spirit is performing differs sharply from any other dispensation. 1. The Holy Spirit convicts the unsaved The Holy Spirit teaches the believer Acts 2: Judges 14:6,19; 15:14; 1st Sam. 11:6; 16:13;18:10 3 1st Sam. 16:14; cf. Ps. 51:11 4 Rom. 8:9 5 Ps. 57:8; 119:5 6 1st Co. 3:1; 2:13 15;Gal. 6:1; 1st Pet. 2:5 7 Eph. 4:23 8 Phil. 3:3; John 4:24 9 John 14:17; 16: 7:39 10 John 16: st John 2:27 2

3 3. The Holy Spirit seals the believer The Holy Spirit fills the believer The Holy Spirit intercedes for the believer. 14 II. THE CONTRAST IN CAPABILITIES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS MITIGATE AGAINST THE REGENERATION OF OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS. A. Old Testament saints were absent of the life of God. 1. The Hebrew word haya which means to have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever. Also,be quickened, revive from sickness, discouragement or even death. is not used in Old Testament of spiritual life. B. Old Testament saints displayed capabilities to act right before God that were similar to capabilities of the New Testament saint, but often very distinct concerning the energizing source. We want to focus upon a several terms used that are pertinent to the issue of regeneration. 1. Old Testament saints were seen as godly Many Old Testament saints were empowered in weakness The Old Testament saint could walk in a manner that was pleasing to God. The word for walk is halak which emphasized the way one conducted their life. They could walk in manners that were pleasing to Jehovah. a. They could walk in the law. 17 b. They could walk in God s statutes Eph. 4:30; 1:13 13 Eph. 5:18 14 Rom. 8: Ps. 32:6; Other terms include: righteous ; faithful ; holy ; willing heart ; some among Israel were anointed; clean ; upright ; took delight in the law of the Lord; healthy countenance. 16 Heb. 11:34 17 Eph. 16:4; 18 Lev. 26:3 3

4 c. They could walk in the ways of Jehovah. 19 d. They could walk in the fear of Jehovah Believers in this dispensation walk by means of the Spirit ; in a newness of life ; as born ones of light. 23 C. The uses of fruit of the Spirit terms in the Old Testament are similar but distinct from the provisions given the believer today. A survey of those terms produce distinct differences from the New Testament saint s ability to partake of the fruit of the Spirit. The occurrence of the terms do not denote a singular fruit with multiple parts as is seen in the New Testament. Nor are all of the terms available to every Old Testament saint. 1. Old Testament saints could express a kind of love, one that differs from love in this dispensation. The standard for love was lower than that of the 24 believer under Grace. The love of Old Testament saints could be selfish. 25 Isaac s love for Esau was due to a commonality. Jacob s love for Joseph 26 was sentimental. Certain aspects of the love of Old Testament saints was beneficial.the Greek word Phileo is substituted often in the Septuagint for ahav. 2. The Old Testament saints could express a kind of joy. Joy is the Hebrew 27 term imha which means to be glad. The joy expressed by the Old Testament saint is contrasted with words that denote a sad disposition. Joy 28 is contrasted with grief. The joy expressed by Old Testament saints is used in good times, not bad. 3. The Old Testament saints could express a kind of peace. Shalom is the 29 Hebrew term for peace means completeness, soundness, welfare. The peace possessed was pertaining to circumstances and people rather than an inward peace? 19 Deut. 5:33 20 Neh. 5:9 21 Gal. 5:16,25 22 Rom. 6:4 23 Eph. 5:81st John 1:7 24 Lev. 19:18 25 Cf. Gen. 25:28 26 Gen. 37:3 27 cf. Neh. 8:10 28 Prov. 14:13 29 Brown, Driver & Briggs. cf. Is. 26:3 4

5 4. Longsuffering as used in the Old Testament is used of God, but not Old Testament saints. The Hebrew term for longsuffering is arak which means 30 to slow in regard to anger. The Greek equivalent is makrothumia which means to have a long holding out of the mind Gentleness (kindness) is used only of deity in the Old Testament Goodness is used in the Old Testament with reference to Jehovah, but not Old Testament saints. Goodness is tove, to be pleasing, delightful. 33 Goodness is seen in the provisions of God to Israel. 7. Old Testament saints could apply faith. Those of each dispensation 34 always lived by faith. The object of the faith for initial salvation for those in the Old Testament differed from those in this dispensation Those who were meek in the Old Testament were able to maintain an objectivity of mind to accomplish the things God desired. There were promises made to the meek in the future. The meek are promised that they 36 would inherit the earth. The meek are promised that the earth would be 37 judged for their sake. Moses displayed meekness in leading the children of Israel Some Old Testament saints are seen as exercising a type of temperance. Temperance is egkrateo which means to exercise self control. The Hebrew word apak is used to emphasize a type of restraint used by Old Testament saints. 39 D. The condition of the heart is a primary consideration distinguishing the regenerate New Testament saint from the Old Testament saint.god made provisions for governance of the heart of those in the nation Israel. 30 cf. Ex. 34:6 31 cf. Rom.9:22 32 cf. Ps. 18:35 33 Brown, Driver & Briggs; cf. Ps. 27:13; 31:19 34 Hab. 2:4 35 cf. Heb. 11: Ps. 37:11, 9; Matt. 5:5 37 Is. 11:4 38 cf. Num. 12:3 39 cf. Gen. 43:31; Ester 5:10 5

6 1. God would strengthen the heart of those in the nation Israel. The Hebrew word strengthen means to hold fast; to make firm, in opposition to timorous, faint hearted, careless, remiss and indifferent (hifil imper). Strengthen as used in the Septuagint is different than the word for strengthen used in the New Testament epistles. The Old Testament saints needed strength to deal with their physical enemies. Strength was 40 predicated on keeping the commandments.. 2. The heart of Old Testament saints could be inclined towards Jehovah. 41 The Hebrew word imports the action of stretching out or extending the heart towards an object in regard to favour, mercy, compassion. Solomon urged his sons to incline their heart to his wisdom in order that they not 42 make the mistakes he made. It is used of Israel inclining their hearts to Jehovah.. 3. God would perfect the hearts of Old Testament Saints. The proper notion is that of simplicity, sincerity, absence of guile or evil intention; implying completeness of parts rather than of degrees. A perfect heart aided the walk of the Old Testament saint There are others things the Old Testament saints could accomplish that were good. 44 C. For all of the things they could accomplish, Israel could not consistently retain 45 God s statutes and judgments in their heart. The heart of those in the nation Israel could not consistently do what God wanted, so that He promises to give them a new heart in the future. Israel s heart is blinded today. 40 Deut. 11:8 41 Ps.119:36; 141:4 42 cf. Prov. 2:2, 18; Jer. 7: cf. 1 Kings 8:61; 2 Kings 20:1 3 (Ps. 119 :80 in the statues of God) Is. 38:3. 44 The heart could have God s Word hidden [5] in it. Hiding the Word could aid an Old Testament saint from sinning against God, Ps. 119:11; (Ps. 40:8 inward parts); Some among Israel could be upright (yashar) in heart, 2 Chron. 29:34; The Old Testament saints heart could be zakah (purified), Ps. 73:13; God would not despise the contrite of heart among Israel, Ps. 51:17; The heart of the Old Testament saint could be somewhat camak (established), Ps.112:8; Israel could act right with regard to the Mosaic law. The things of God could be retained in their hearts by Israel retaining God s statues and judgments, Deut. 4:1 9; 10: Deut. 29:10 18; 1 Kings 11:1 2; Dan. 9: Cf. Acts 7:39 44; 13:38 41; Ez. 36:26 28; 37:14; 11: Co. 3:15. 6

7 III. THE NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY MITIGATE AGAINST THE REGENERATION OF OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS. A. The absence of regeneration in the Old Testament is illustrated throughout the course of the New Testament The Lord instructed Nicodemus of the necessity to be born again. The Lord s revelation of the necessity of the new birth was startling information to Nicodemus, considered the premier teacher in Israel. Nicodemus couldn t conceive the spiritual reality of the new birth. He reasoned the Lord s statement to be pertaining to physical birth The disciples did not display the results of regeneration during Christ s earthly ministry. 50 a. They lacked eternal life. Eternal life was something to be entered into before pentecost, not possessed. Eternal life before the day of Pentecost was obtained by keeping the commandments. b. They lacked consistent provisions of illumination pertaining to living for God, though certain ones were directed to carry out God s plans. 51 C. The New Testament reveals that the Old Testament saints could never reach a level of spiritual maturity. 52 D. Several mysteries revealed in the New Testament were exclusively geared towards maturity of the saints in Christ The mystery concerning concerning The Christ The mystery concerning the indwelling Christ being the believer s hope of glory John 3:6 49 John 3:4 50 Mk. 10:30; Matt. 19:16, Eph. 1:18; cf. Lk. 18:34; John 12:16 52 Heb. 7:19; 11: st Co. 2:7 54 Eph. 3:4 55 Col. 1:

8 3. The mystery of iniquity The mystery of godliness The mystery of the good news to establish believers. 58 E. None of the provisions given before this dispensation had an ability to give life. 59 F. The New Testament classifies the Old Testament saint s condition as being babes 60 G. There are New Testament Scriptures that mitigate against Old Testament saints being regenerated. 1. Sin shall not have dominion over you If those under law be heirs, faith is made void and the promise of none effect Serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter Spirit helped to mortify deeds of the flesh. 64 CONCLUSION Scripture does not provide for the regeneration of Old Testament saints. There does not exist one verse that would prove that any Old Testament saint was regenerated. Those saints often time were beset by their souls which often overwhelmed them. They did not have the permanent indwelling of the Father Son and the Holy Spirit. In fact, Israel is promised a resurrection in the future, in which they will receive eternal life. The significance of this truth is important to the believer today. A failure to recognize the uniqueness of what God is doing in this dispensation has shipwrecked the faith of many believers and undermines God s plan for the Church. As hard 56 2 Thess. 2:7 57 1st Tim. 3:16 58 Rom. 16:25 59 Gal. 3:21 60 Gal. 4: Rom. 6:14 62 Rom. 4:14 63 Rom. 7:6 64 Rom. 8:13 8

9 as it may be for one to believe the Scriptural record, the Church indeed has something better. 9