WEREOLDTESTAMENTSAINTS REGENERATED?

(AconsiderationoftheenergizingsourceofbelieversbeforethedayofPentecost) Part2 TheEvidencefromScriptureDisprovesRegenerationofO.T.Saints.

APaperPresentedTo TheGraceBibleConference July14,2013 By

KevinJeffrey,pastor, GraceBibleChurch,Titusville,Fl.
INTRODUCTION RichardTrenchinhisbookSynonymsoftheNewTestamentstatesconcerningregeneration: Paliggenesia(regeneration)isoneamongthemanywordswhichtheGospelfound,and, sotospeak,glorifiedenlargedtheboardersofitsmeaninglifteditupintoahighersphere madeittheexpressionoffardeeperthoughts,offarmightiertruths,thananyofwhichithad beenthevehiclebefore. Itwas,indeed,alreadyinusebutasthechristiannewbirthwasnottillafterChristsbirthas menwerenotnewborn,tillChristwasborn(John1:12)astheirregenerationdidnotgobefore, butonlyfollowedhisgenerationsotheworldcouldnotbeusedinthisitshighest,most mysterioussense,tillthatgreatmysteryofthebirthoftheSonofGodintoourworldhadactually found. TheevidencefromScripturesupportsthefactthatthewhiletheOldTestamentsaintswere involvedwiththeHolySpiritinvaryingdegrees,theywerenotregeneratedbytheHolySpirit.This workoftheSpiritisuniquetotheDispensationofGrace.Today,wellconsidersomeofthefacts thatdisprovetheassumptionthattheOldTestamentsaintswereregenerated.

I.THEMINISTRYOFTHEHOLYSPIRITINTHEOLDTESTAMENTMITIGATESAGAINSTTHE REGENERATIONOFOLDTESTAMENTSAINTS. A.ThecomingoftheHolySpiritatPentecostsignifiedthefirsttimethattheHoly 1

Spiritwouldbepouredoutonallflesh.1 B.TheHolySpiritcameuponsaintsintheOldTestamenttoperformaparticular service.2 TheHolySpiritwouldcomeandgouponsaints. 3 AbsenceoftheHoly Spiritistantamounttobeinganunbelievertoday.4 C.TheevidencefromtheOldTestamentdoesnotsuggestthetypeofchangein thehumanspiritofOldTestamentsaintsthatisinevidenceatregenerationof NewTestamentsaints.KingDavidsoughtforrenewalofhishumanspirit.The Hebrewwordforrenewiskunwhichmeanstomakesomethingsteadfast. AccordingtoBrownDriverandBriggslexiconitmeanstobedirectedinaright,of ways.5 D.ThetermpneumatikoswhichisusedinScripturetomeanpertainingtoor emanatingfromthespirit(humanorHoly)isprimarilyaNewTestamentterm.Itis usedonlyonceintheOldTestament(Hosea9:7)toemphasizearationalman TheNewTestamentusagesemphasizesonewhointherealmoftheirhumanspirit hasHolySpiritenablementtounderstandandtoseematterstaughtbyHim.6 Today,believerscanberenewedinthespirit.7 BelieversalsocanworshipGod there.8 E.TheabsenceofthetheindwellingspiritinOldTestamentsaintsissignificantto understandingwhetherOldTestamentsaintswereregenerated.TheScriptural recordshowsthatindwellingofsaintswasnotoccurringaslateastheLords earthlyministry,TheLordpromisedthedisciplesintheupperroomthattheSpirit wouldcomeandindwellthemafterHisdeparture.9 TheministrythattheSpiritis performingdifferssharplyfromanyotherdispensation. 1.TheHolySpiritconvictstheunsaved.10 2.TheHolySpiritteachesthebeliever.11

1 2

Acts2:1617 Judges14:6,1915:141stSam.11:616:1318:10 3 1stSam.16:14cf.Ps.51:11 4 Rom.8:9 5 Ps.57:8119:5 6 1stCo.3:12:1315Gal.6:11stPet.2:5 7 Eph.4:23 8 Phil.3:3John4:24 9 John14:1716:7:39 10 John16:811 11 1stJohn2:27

3.TheHolySpiritsealsthebeliever.12 4.TheHolySpiritfillsthebeliever.13 5.TheHolySpiritintercedesforthebeliever.14

II.THECONTRASTINCAPABILITIESOFTHEOLDANDNEWTESTAMENTSAINTS MITIGATEAGAINSTTHEREGENERATIONOFOLDTESTAMENTSAINTS. A.OldTestamentsaintswereabsentofthelifeofGod. 1.TheHebrewwordhayawhichmeanstohavelife,remainalive,sustainlife,live prosperously,liveforever.Also,bequickened,revivefromsickness, discouragementorevendeath.isnotusedinOldTestamentofspirituallife. B.OldTestamentsaintsdisplayedcapabilitiestoactrightbeforeGodthatwere similartocapabilitiesoftheNewTestamentsaint,butoftenverydistinct concerningtheenergizingsource.Wewanttofocusuponaseveraltermsused thatarepertinenttotheissueofregeneration. 1.OldTestamentsaintswereseenasgodly15 2.ManyOldTestamentsaintswereempoweredinweakness.16 3.TheOldTestamentsaintcouldwalkinamannerthatwaspleasingto God.Thewordforwalkishalakwhichemphasizedthewayone conductedtheirlife.Theycouldwalkinmannersthatwerepleasingto Jehovah. a.Theycouldwalkinthelaw.17 b.TheycouldwalkinGodsstatutes.18

12
13

Eph.4:301:13 Eph.5:18 Rom.8:2627 Ps.32:6Othertermsinclude:righteousfaithfulholywillingheartsomeamongIsraelwere

14 15

anointedcleanuprighttookdelightinthelawoftheLordhealthycountenance.
16 17

Heb.11:34 Eph.16:4 18 Lev.26:3

c.TheycouldwalkinthewaysofJehovah.19 d.TheycouldwalkinthefearofJehovah.20

BelieversinthisdispensationwalkbymeansoftheSpirit21 inanewnessoflife22 asbornonesoflight.23 C.TheusesoffruitoftheSpirittermsintheOldTestamentaresimilarbutdistinct fromtheprovisionsgiventhebelievertoday.Asurveyofthosetermsproduce distinctdifferencesfromtheNewTestamentsaintsabilitytopartakeofthefruitof theSpirit.Theoccurrenceofthetermsdonotdenoteasingularfruitwithmultiple partsasisseenintheNewTestament.Norareallofthetermsavailabletoevery OldTestamentsaint. 1.OldTestamentsaintscouldexpressakindoflove,onethatdiffersfrom loveinthisdispensation.Thestandardforlovewaslowerthanthatofthe believerunderGrace.24 TheloveofOldTestamentsaintscouldbeselfish. IsaacsloveforEsauwasduetoacommonality.25 JacobsloveforJoseph wassentimental.26 CertainaspectsoftheloveofOldTestamentsaintswas beneficial.TheGreekwordPhileoissubstitutedoftenintheSeptuagintfor ahav. 2.TheOldTestamentsaintscouldexpressakindofjoy.JoyistheHebrew termimhawhichmeanstobeglad.27 ThejoyexpressedbytheOld Testamentsaintiscontrastedwithwordsthatdenoteasaddisposition.Joy iscontrastedwithgrief.28 ThejoyexpressedbyOldTestamentsaintsis usedingoodtimes,notbad. 3.TheOldTestamentsaintscouldexpressakindofpeace.Shalomisthe Hebrewtermforpeacemeanscompleteness,soundness,welfare.29 The peacepossessedwaspertainingtocircumstancesandpeopleratherthan aninwardpeace?
19 20

Deut.5:33 Neh.5:9 21 Gal.5:16,25 22 Rom.6:4 23 Eph.5:81stJohn1:7 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.LongsufferingasusedintheOldTestamentisusedofGod,butnotOld Testamentsaints.TheHebrewtermforlongsufferingisarakwhichmeans toslowinregardtoanger.30 TheGreekequivalentismakrothumiawhich meanstohavealongholdingoutofthemind. 31 5.Gentleness(kindness)isusedonlyofdeityintheOldTestament.32 6.GoodnessisusedintheOldTestamentwithreferencetoJehovah,but notOldTestamentsaints.Goodnessistove,tobepleasing,delightful.33 GoodnessisseenintheprovisionsofGodtoIsrael. 7.OldTestamentsaintscouldapplyfaith.Thoseofeachdispensation alwayslivedbyfaith.34 Theobjectofthefaithforinitialsalvationforthose intheOldTestamentdifferedfromthoseinthisdispensation.35 8.ThosewhoweremeekintheOldTestamentwereabletomaintainan objectivityofmindtoaccomplishthethingsGoddesired.Therewere promisesmadetothemeekinthefuture.Themeekarepromisedthatthey wouldinherittheearth.36 Themeekarepromisedthattheearthwouldbe judgedfortheirsake.37 Mosesdisplayedmeeknessinleadingthechildren ofIsrael.38 9.SomeOldTestamentsaintsareseenasexercisingatypeof temperance.Temperanceisegkrateowhichmeanstoexerciseself control.TheHebrewwordapakisusedtoemphasizeatypeofrestraint usedbyOldTestamentsaints.39

D.Theconditionoftheheartisaprimaryconsiderationdistinguishingthe regenerateNewTestamentsaintfromtheOldTestamentsaint.Godmade provisionsforgovernanceoftheheartofthoseinthenationIsrael.

30 31

cf.Ex.34:6 cf.Rom.9:22 32 cf.Ps.18:35 33 Brown,Driver&Briggscf.Ps.27:1331:19 34 Hab.2:4 35 cf.Heb.11:2439 36 Ps.37:11,9Matt.5:5 37 Is.11:4 38 cf.Num.12:3 39 cf.Gen.43:31Ester5:10

1.GodwouldstrengthentheheartofthoseinthenationIsrael.The Hebrewwordstrengthenmeanstoholdfasttomakefirm,inoppositionto timorous,fainthearted,careless,remissandindifferent(hifilimper). StrengthenasusedintheSeptuagintisdifferentthanthewordfor strengthenusedintheNewTestamentepistles.TheOldTestamentsaints neededstrengthtodealwiththeirphysicalenemies.Strengthwas predicatedonkeepingthecommandments.40 . 2.TheheartofOldTestamentsaintscouldbeinclinedtowardsJehovah.

41

TheHebrewwordimportstheactionofstretchingoutorextendingthe hearttowardsanobjectinregardtofavour,mercy,compassion.Solomon urgedhissonstoinclinetheirhearttohiswisdominorderthattheynot makethemistakeshemade.42 ItisusedofIsraelincliningtheirheartsto Jehovah.. 3.GodwouldperfecttheheartsofOldTestamentSaints.Theproper notionisthatofsimplicity,sincerity,absenceofguileorevilintention implyingcompletenessofpartsratherthanofdegrees.Aperfectheart aidedthewalkoftheOldTestamentsaint.43 4.ThereareothersthingstheOldTestamentsaintscouldaccomplishthat weregood.44 C.Forallofthethingstheycouldaccomplish,Israelcouldnotconsistentlyretain Godsstatutesandjudgmentsintheirheart.45 Theheartofthoseinthenation IsraelcouldnotconsistentlydowhatGodwanted,sothatHepromisestogive themanewheartinthefuture.46 Israelsheartisblindedtoday.47

40 41

Deut.11:8 Ps.119:36141:4 42 cf.Prov.2:2,18Jer.7:2226

43

cf.1Kings8:612Kings20:13(Ps.119:80inthestatuesofGod)Is.38:3. TheheartcouldhaveGodsWordhidden[5]init.HidingtheWordcouldaidanOldTestamentsaintfrom sinningagainstGod,Ps.119:11(Ps.40:8inwardparts)SomeamongIsraelcouldbeupright(yashar)in heart,2Chron.29:34TheOldTestamentsaintsheartcouldbezakah(purified),Ps.73:13Godwouldnot despisethecontriteofheartamongIsrael,Ps.51:17TheheartoftheOldTestamentsaintcouldbe somewhatcamak(established),Ps.112:8IsraelcouldactrightwithregardtotheMosaiclaw.Thethingsof GodcouldberetainedintheirheartsbyIsraelretainingGodsstatuesandjudgments,Deut.4:1910:1217. 45 Deut.29:10181Kings11:12Dan.9:711. 46 Cf.Acts7:394413:3841Ez.36:262837:1411:19 47 2Co.3:15.
44

III.THENEWTESTAMENTCOMMENTARYMITIGATEAGAINSTTHEREGENERATIONOF OLDTESTAMENTSAINTS. A.TheabsenceofregenerationintheOldTestamentisillustratedthroughoutthe courseoftheNewTestament. 1.TheLordinstructedNicodemusofthenecessitytobebornagain.48 The Lordsrevelationofthenecessityofthenewbirthwasstartlinginformationto Nicodemus,consideredthepremierteacherinIsrael.Nicodemuscouldnt conceivethespiritualrealityofthenewbirth.HereasonedtheLordsstatementto bepertainingtophysicalbirth.49 2.ThedisciplesdidnotdisplaytheresultsofregenerationduringChrists earthlyministry. a.Theylackedeternallife.50 Eternallifewassomethingtobe enteredintobeforepentecost,notpossessed.Eternallifebeforethe dayofPentecostwasobtainedbykeepingthecommandments. b.Theylackedconsistentprovisionsofilluminationpertainingto livingforGod,thoughcertainonesweredirectedtocarryoutGods plans.51 C.TheNewTestamentrevealsthattheOldTestamentsaintscouldneverreacha levelofspiritualmaturity.52

D.SeveralmysteriesrevealedintheNewTestamentwereexclusivelygeared towardsmaturityofthesaintsinChrist.53 1.ThemysteryconcerningconcerningTheChrist.54 2.ThemysteryconcerningtheindwellingChristbeingthebelievershope ofglory.55

48 49

John3:6 John3:4 50 Mk.10:30Matt.19:16,1719 51 Eph.1:18cf.Lk.18:34John12:16 52 Heb.7:1911:40 53 1stCo.2:7 54 Eph.3:4 55 Col.1:2627

3.Themysteryofiniquity.56 4.Themysteryofgodliness.57 5.Themysteryofthegoodnewstoestablishbelievers.58

E.Noneoftheprovisionsgivenbeforethisdispensationhadanabilitytogivelife.
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F.TheNewTestamentclassifiestheOldTestamentsaintsconditionasbeingbabes60

G.ThereareNewTestamentScripturesthatmitigateagainstOldTestament saintsbeingregenerated. 1.Sinshallnothavedominionoveryou.61 2.Ifthoseunderlawbeheirs,faithismadevoidandthepromiseofnone effect.62 3.Serveinnewnessofspirit,andnotintheoldnessoftheletter.63 4.Spirithelpedtomortifydeedsoftheflesh.64

CONCLUSION ScripturedoesnotprovidefortheregenerationofOldTestamentsaints.Theredoesnotexist oneversethatwouldprovethatanyOldTestamentsaintwasregenerated.Thosesaintsoften timewerebesetbytheirsoulswhichoftenoverwhelmedthem.Theydidnothavethepermanent indwellingoftheFatherSonandtheHolySpirit.Infact,Israelispromisedaresurrectioninthe future,inwhichtheywillreceiveeternallife.Thesignificanceofthistruthisimportanttothe believertoday.AfailuretorecognizetheuniquenessofwhatGodisdoinginthisdispensation hasshipwreckedthefaithofmanybelieversandunderminesGodsplanfortheChurch.Ashard

56 57

2Thess.2:7 1stTim.3:16 58 Rom.16:25 59 Gal.3:21 60 Gal.4:35 61 Rom.6:14 62 Rom.4:14 63 Rom.7:6 64 Rom.8:13

asitmaybeforonetobelievetheScripturalrecord,theChurchindeedhassomethingbetter.