{"id":1676,"date":"2023-07-18T16:24:54","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T16:24:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=1676"},"modified":"2024-01-16T18:56:11","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T18:56:11","slug":"justification-and-regeneration-by-charles-leiter-post-13-a-change-of-realms-from-sin-to-righteousness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/?p=1676","title":{"rendered":"Justification and Regeneration by Charles Leiter \u2013 Post 13: A CHANGE OF REALMS FROM SIN TO RIGHTEOUSNESS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I recently finished reading a book by Charles Leiter entitled Justification and Regeneration.  It is inexpensive on Amazon  (link: Justification and Regeneration (Expanded Edition): Charles Leiter: 9780981732152: Amazon.com: Books<\/a>).  I believe this book is worth reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter Thirteen is entitled \u201cA Change of Realms from Sin to Righteousness.\u201d  The basic theme is that regeneration is an exchange of realms that includes the ninth representation of regeneration, i.e., the Christian\u2019s passage from a state of slavery to sin to a state of slavery to Righteousness.  The opening citations are of Romans 6:6, 14, 16-23.  Chapter Thirteen contains four headings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first heading is \u201cOnly Two Masters.\u201d  There are only two masters; namely, sin and Righteousness.  These two masters are diametrically opposed  to one another.  They are so different it is impossible to serve both.  Jesus\u2019 words of Luke 16:13 (NET) ring true:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13<\/sup> No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second heading is \u201c\u201dAll Men are Slaves.\u201d  Pastor Leiter correctly writes that without exception all people are slaves.  The only question is does a person serve a good master who blesses them with life and peace.  Or, does a person serve an evil master who curses them with death and destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third heading is \u201cSlaves to Sin.\u201d  A slave to sin (Romans 6:6, 17, 20) lives under the dominating power of sin.  They cannot not obey sin.  To be a slave to sin is a dangerous condition.  John 8:31-36 (NET) makes it clear that no slave of sin will be in heaven:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

31<\/sup> Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, \u201cIf you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples 32<\/sup> and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.\u201d33<\/sup> \u201cWe are descendants of Abraham,\u201d they replied, \u201cand have never been anyone\u2019s slaves! How can you say, \u2018You will become free\u2019?\u201d 34<\/sup> Jesus answered them, \u201cI tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. 35<\/sup> The slave does not remain in the family forever, but the son remains forever.36<\/sup> So if the son sets you free, you will be really free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fourth heading is \u201cSlaves to Righteousness.\u201d  The eternally good news is that at a person\u2019s conversion (when they experience justification and regeneration) they cease to be a slave to sin and become a slave to Righteousness.  In Romans 6:17-18 Paul talks about being freed from sin.  PLEASE NOTE that he is NOT speaking about sinless perfection, but about emancipation from one master (sin) and enslavement to another Master (Righteousness).  See p. 112.  \u201cEnslavement\u201d to Jesus is a good condition!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be a slave to Righteousness means to live under the dominating power of Righteousness where Righteousness rules and reigns demanding obedience.  For example, see Jeremiah 20:8\u20139 (NET) and especially v. 9b:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8<\/sup> For whenever I prophesy, I must cry out, \u201cViolence and destruction are coming!\u201d This message from the Lord has made me an object of continual insults and derision. 9<\/sup> Sometimes I think, \u201cI will make no mention of his message. I will not speak as his messenger any more.\u201d But then his message becomes like a fire locked up inside of me, burning in my heart and soul. I grow weary of trying to hold it in; I cannot contain it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are unsure about your salvation or are not a Christian, it is vital that you continue reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation<\/em> and Spiritual Growth<\/em> (book link at Xulon Press: https:\/\/www.xulonpress.com\/bookstore\/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638<\/a> ).  At Amazon the book link is  https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual\/dp\/1662828632<\/a> .  I also have a website in which I am updating the content in the book.  The link to my website for the book is https:\/\/thesalvationmeter.com<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 please (1) read through \u201cGod\u2019s Plan of Salvation\u201d so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the \u201cSinner\u2019s Prayer\u201d meaning every word.  If you do, you will be reconciled to God \u2013 saved – through Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s Plan of Salvation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe.  As a part of His creative actions, He made humans (male and female) in His image to know Him.  For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve.  But Adam and Eve sinned, whereby sin was passed down to all of humankind so that we became sinners separated from God.  Nothing we could do on our own could bridge that separation so that without God\u2019s intervention, hell would be our eternal destination.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy God provided humankind with the only means of salvation, which is through Jesus Christ who is God\u2019s only unique Son.  While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever repent and trust in Him for their salvation.  Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Christ\u2019s sacrifice and exhausted God\u2019s wrath against every believer.  He now calls all unbelievers to repent of their sins and trust alone in what Christ did to save them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we repent of our sins and completely trust in Christ alone that He died for our sins and rose to life from the dead, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7-25;  Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Matthew 1:18, 20, 24-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:17; 9:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cSinner\u2019s Prayer\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life.  I know I\u2019m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell.  But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven.  I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation.  Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior.  Thank You so much for saving me.  I am now Yours forever!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or “fair use” is available and\/or to secure direct permission for specific works.  The quotations from commentaries are considered to be “fair use.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNASB95\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked “NCV” is taken from the New Century Version.  Copyright \u00a9 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scriptures marked “NET” are quoted are from the NET Bible\u00ae  http:\/\/netbible.com copyright \u00a91996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.  All rights reserved”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked “GW” is taken from the God’s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations.  Quotations are used by permission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible\u00ae, Used by Permission HCSB \u00a91999,2000,2002,2003,2009 Holman Bible Publishers. Holman Christian Standard Bible\u00ae, Holman CSB\u00ae, and HCSB\u00ae are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I recently finished reading a book by Charles Leiter entitled Justification and Regeneration.  It is inexpensive on Amazon  (link: Justification and Regeneration (Expanded Edition): Charles Leiter: 9780981732152: Amazon.com: Books).  I believe this book is worth reading. Chapter Thirteen is entitled \u201cA Change of Realms from Sin to Righteousness.\u201d  The basic theme is that regeneration is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[322],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gospel"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1676"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1676\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1678,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1676\/revisions\/1678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}