CONVERTED AND REGENERATED
ROMANS 6:16-23
Introduction: Key verse: 17
The Apostle Paul knew whereof he spoke. He knew the Lord in Redemption and Conversion. These are great subjects to study. Every believer should know and understand what the Lord has done for him in redemption.
I. THE HUMAN RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL
A. Conversion requires a commitment…
1. Of the total personality, Matthew 18:3, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
2. Of the intellect, Matthew 13:15, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
3. Of the will, Acts 3:19, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”
B. It requires an understanding of God’s atonement [the state of being at one or being reconciled, so that atonement is reconciliation].
1. To feel the guilt of sin, Romans 3:19, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
2. To feel the love of God, 1 John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
3. To repent of that sin, Mark 6:12, “And they went out, and preached that men should repent.”
a. To change one’s mind for better, with abhorrence of one’s past sins, Acts 2:37, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
b. After repentance comes conversion, Acts 3:19, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”
4. To surrender to God’s offer of salvation, John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
II. THE RESULTS OF CONVERSION IS…
REGENERATION: The buying back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom.
A. Redeemed from the curse of the law, Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”
1. The law makes us guilty and subject to the judgment of God, Romans 3:19, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
2. For if we break one point of the law we are guilty of all, James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
B. Redeemed out of the slavery of sin, Revelation 5:9,“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
III. THE RESULTS OF REDEMPTION IS…
A. A new creature, a changed man, 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.”
1. Old things are passed away, Ephesians 4:22, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
a. In the past we fulfilled the desires of the flesh, Ephesians 2:3, “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
b. We walked in the vanity of our minds [depravity, devoid of truth], Ephesians 4:17, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,”
2. All things are become new, Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
B. A new man with a nature to obey God, 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.”
1. We are His people, Psalm 100:3, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
2. We are the works of His hands, Psalm 138:8, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
3. We shall fear Him, Isaiah 29:23, “But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.”
C. A new man with a nature to glorify God, Romans 15:6, 9, “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.”
1. A righteous nature, Isaiah 60:21, “Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.”
2. Partakers of the divine nature in Christ, 2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
CONCLUSION
Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed thro’ His infinite mercy, His child, and forever I am.
No. 92 in the Broadman Hymnal