Homily on Romans 7:15-25a Delivered to St. Christopher's Church New Carrollton - July 5, 2026

 

Wretched man that I am! 
Who will save me from this body of death?

Father, what we know not, teach us; and what we have not, give us; and what we are not make us. For the sake of your Son, Jesus in whose Name we pray.  Amen.

A very devout woman who posted comedic skits on FB to convey a clear Bible doctrine, would in a sobering post declare that she was a saved and born again Christian, and since her baptism, she was no longer a sinner. Friends, she is not the only one who has been taught this untruth. Jesus’ blood cleanses us of our sin guilt – all of the sins we have committed -  so we’re no longer guilty before Holy God. At the very nanosecond following our cleansing, God’s Holy Spirit comes into us giving us new life in Christ; He regenerates us so that we are no longer spiritually dead before God, but rather raised to new life in Christ. *So we have all of this going for us, right? You got the blood that cleanses us. We have had our sin guilt removed. And the Holy Spirit God comes to live in us to begin the work of sanctification, which is a big word that means being transformed into the image of Christ, and the Father puts Christ’s righteousness into us so when He looks on us He sees Christ. So we got all this going for us. Why do we still sin? Why do we still mess up? Before we answer that question, let's identify God's definition of sin – anybody knows that? It's a very simple answer.  God's definition of sin is breaking the law: it's as simple as that.

Let’s look to the Bible for confirmation. In James 2:1-10 the Spirit speaks about loving one’s neighbor – a law, and the different ways that law could be broken. He says that if you claimed to keep the whole law, but chose to ignore one of them, you have broken all of the law. From a practical viewpoint: So if the community ordinances say to pick up after your dog when he relieves himself and you choose not to, you have broken the law, you have sinned. If God says do not lie, and you try to work around that by painting it white to make it a “little white lie” – “it’s just a little lie”-no one needs to know right? ha! God knows - you have broken His law, you have sinned. If the speed limit says 25 and you are doing 45 because you’re late, you have broken the law and potentially placed someone else in danger because of your poor choice; you have sinned.

So the question comes again. Why do we still sin? Because we choose to. But the overarching reason is that we still retain the falleness of humanity from Adam's act of sin. Paul, in his letter in Romans 7, transparently confesses that he is of the flesh – that is, the remaining fallen humanity is still in him – still in us. Never once does he say that the devil made him do it!…This is Paul, the super apostle, telling us he was still a sinner! Like him, we cannot free ourselves from our falleness. Although we have been converted, we have not been relieved of our fallen humanity. The converted side of our being wants to honor the Lord, to obey Him, express our devotion to Him, but sin dwells still in us. We are a new creation, a new life, have new longings and new aspirations, new impulses - that are incarcerated in redeemed humanity. Working toward all that is right, good, and holy is a challenge because it has to penetrate through our fallen humanity and our humanity must war against that. Paul is in anguish; he cries out for rescue from this body of death! 

What is the body of death Paul is referring to? Some suggest it is the fallen humanity; another view is based on a judgment practice in ancient times for one who has murdered another. The murderer is forced to have the dead body – the corpse of the person murdered -- strapped to his back to die a slow death because the decaying body would infest the healthy body and eat him to death. Paul saw the presence of his fallen humanity as a corpse strapped to him – that’s why he cries out – wretched man that I am! Who will free me from this body of death!!?? Paul concludes as we all should conclude: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen? So in God’s grace we must battle continuously with the sinful fallen humanity per Philippians 2:12-13 – working out with the Holy Spirit our salvation (this is not working for our salvation, this is once we are saved working in tandem with the Holy Spirit's guidance and counsel), removing the old self and putting on the new, following the Spirit’s lead in our transformation - walking that path that He has designed for us.

So, we come back to the whole “am I still a sinner after being saved” question. 1 John 1 clearly answers that question. After affirming God’s salvation plan in Christ, John speaks to the churchgoers at verses 5 to 10 where he clarifies that we still sin after we are saved. He says if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us; we make Christ a liar and God’s word is not in us. But - in good news there is always a "But God": If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and His blood continues to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Does our sinful nature – our fallen humanity that we still carry in us and the battle we daily wage against our flesh, our fallen humanity -- does it make us weary and tired (it certainly makes me tired!), does it make us feel heavy laden? What does Jesus tell us in our Gospel lesson today? Yes, Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I willgive your rest. That rest is a place in our relationship with Jesus where we can experience His peace and His joy, His rest - even in the battle.

All of us can point to an act of sin or law breaking that we have done since our salvation – we all have whether we accept it or not. Jeremiah 17 says "The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse, so who can understand it?" (often in the Bible the reference to "heart" is not speaking about our physical hearts but, rather, the center of our desires and wills). We must repent and seek God’s forgiveness. One of the more devastating things we do in our fallen humanity is hold onto anger with a death-grip, which becomes bitterness over time to the point where it poisons our relationships with each other, and alienates us from God. It becomes an idol. We choose not to forgive others, Jesus says, then God will not forgive us. We can try to cite our reasons for being bitter – because so and so did this or that, and God just looks at us and asks us do you want me to put the shoe on the other foot? Do you want Me to remember all of your sins and choose not to forgive you?  

In His love and omniscience, God will choose the proper discipline for each of us; discipline - in this instance - being a disciple or one who is learning to live a certain way, a way that focuses on Jesus. God may allow us to feel the consequences of our wrongdoing, giving us a reckoning that we are not progressing in our thinking and doing - showing indications of a maturing faith. He trains us to confess and repent, teaches us the proper fear of the Lord so that we can be forgiven. Isn’t that good news? We are sinners who repent and God forgives us without any condemnation! That we will sin isn’t good news but God’s provision for addressing that is! One of God’s promises is to discipline us in the way He has designed for us; we mess up, commit a sin because our fallen wills and desires that stem from the mind and heart cause us to trip up. Friends:  God loves us too much to let us live in a lie. Hebrews 12:6 tells us He will discipline us; again, discipline doesn't mean beating us over the head with a 2 by 4, even though I make a joke about that sometimes. It is a training in righteousness and godliness. The Spirit uses the instrument of grace – God’s word – to train us. Disciplining may also mean that He sometimes will allow things to happen as a result of our choices influenced by our fallen hearts or wills. He will allow us to feel the consequences of that error so that we may realize we must continue to obey Him even when we don’t want to. Yes, you heard me right – even when we don’t want to. That’s called faith and trust that God’s way is the only way through this battle. And this is true for any Christian who’s born of God. And so when we choose to do it our way instead of God's way, we will suffer the consequences, but God does not condemn us because we who are saved are continually cleansed by the blood of Christ, and restored to the path of righteousness.

So I am going to cite some scriptures that urge us to seek God’s mercy, advises us how to protect ourselves from the world, the flesh, the devil – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride in riches. Part of the godliness training is our accepting & wearing our spiritual armor that God has provided us for defensive and offensive purposes. In Ephesians 6:10-18 the Spirit directs us in putting the armor on; we are fighting spiritual battles so spiritual armor is a necessity. Every day God wakes us up we must put on that armor. Every vulnerable part of our faith walk is to be protected, lest we get lured back into sin. The parts of this spiritual armor are: the breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, truth girded about our loins, feet ready to share the good news, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit, and praying in the Spirit – the last two items being critical to the effectiveness of the rest of the armor.  We cannot do this apart from the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. If you think that you can be transformed and protected in your walk without God’s Word and His Holy Spirit, then you have been deceived in a mortal way. Because we cannot. Peter tells us,in his first letter 5:8-9, that the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone. Who is he looking to devour? Not the people he already has in his control. He's looking to devour us. Those who have been chosen by God. Because he does not want to see us have that victory that Zechariah talks about in our first lesson where we are rejoicing in God. The devil does not want us to rejoice in God: he wants us to hate God as much as he does. As we commit to the effort of the Spirit’s work in us, we will see ourselves beginning to mature to the extent that our sin acts begin to dwindle. 

In addition to armor, we have an advocate in this struggle: 1 John 2 identifies our intercessor as none other than our high Priest Jesus Christ, who continually intercedes for us. Also see Romans 8:34. As we wrap up I want to refer you to a small handful of scriptures about what else God provides for us in our battle: His amazing love and mercy.  While we don’t have the time today to read them through I'll give you the cite and you can check your Bible or BibleGateway and search forgiveness of sins – long list of scriptures!     The scriptures I will share are just a glimpse of what God is doing. This instrument of grace that He gives us is powerful. But do not abuse God’s grace by sinning on purpose. You open yourself up to the devil. Jot these down: Psalm 32:1,3,5,11. Psalm 103:11-14; Isaiah 44:21-22. They all confirm to us God’s mercy and love in the act of forgiveness of our sins, blotting out our mess-ups, intentional or unintentional. Remember, though, not to take God’s grace in vain like Israel did; the Old Testament is filled with accounts of their sin which led to their utter destruction. An even closer to home example: last summer we began praying as a church for the church without a script seeking God’s face, direction, grace and mercy and His provisions. Each week I looked forward to the prayer group growing; however, each week the prayer group lost a member, until after a month of that we were down to 3, sometimes 4 people. And then, it ceased altogether. Shortly thereafter, a brick gets thrown at the upstairs kitchen window, and through the window in our sanctuary. Not too long after that, a brick is hurled at the front door and then thrown through a sanctuary window. Then the man goes around to the chapel window, kicks it in, and once inside he trashes the chapel. A coincidence – I think not. God’s ways and discipline are sometimes to allow the negative in order to produce the positive in us. Do not abuse God’s grace, but rather rejoice that He has loved you and I before we were a little twinkle in our daddy's eye - from before the beginning of time, that He has given us everything we need to fulfill our calling. That He extends us mercy and grace – things we do not deserve in the least bit. Friends - Is God good to us? Can we praise Him again for all He has done and is doing for us individually and what He desires to do for St. Christopher’s to keep our hearts open and our church doors open. Let’s end with the 1^st verse and Refrain we sang at the beginning of the service and Rejoice– Amen? Waving our scarves lifting our hands: let’s give Him praise and honor - maestro.  

ENDING – Brothers and Sisters – In all our battles, may we cling to the Rock who is Christ as we move thru battle against the world, the flesh, the devil, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of riches, so that when we are finished with this life and this body of death, our reward will be total bliss, no more tears, only complete joy to the glory of God. Amen?

"Sirs, What Must I Do To Be Saved?"

 [This talk was delivered by me June 1, 2025 at St. Christopher's New Carrollton; based on Acts 16:22-34, John 17:20-26; Revelation 22]

The jailer falls down before Paul and Silas and asks:
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Some Christian groups maintain that baptism is required before a person can be saved; some say that only those baptized in their denomination or in a certain way will be saved. Some say that you have to be well-schooled in a catechism prescribed by their denomination before you can be considered a candidate for salvation. And some denominations teach that once you are saved, you can be lost.

But how did Paul respond? Any body?

"Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Let everyone say it together!

He did not say: Well, first, you have to sign up with our church and commit to tithe or otherwise your membership will be declined. Then you must complete 20 hours of doctrinal learning and pass the test at the end. If you cannot pass the test, you may need to repeat part or all of the class. And then, perhaps, we can talk about baptizing you so that you can be saved.|| Nor did Paul say – oh, well, you weren’t born into the –name the particular Christian denomination – I mean, you worshiped idols! We’re going to have to take this under advisement to figure out if you are even a candidate for salvation. And neither did Paul say – oh, your lifestyle does not sync up with Christian values; you have to change your lifestyle before we can even continue the discussion about how to be saved.

No - none of that was said nor implied. Why? Because the Holy Spirit had already positioned the jailer for salvation. You see, it was not a coincidence that Paul and Silas wound up in this particular jailer’s prison. Let’s see what God’s Word says about this. If you have your Bible or a Bible app on your phone, go to Ephesians 2. We are going to look at verses 1-10. Ask for a reader. Now as we read this passage let’s allow the Holy Spirit to teach us.

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Grace and faith. Paul writes that twice in case we didn’t get it the first time. The Grace gives us the ability to believe, the faith gives us the ability to act. We humans can presume and tell ourselves that “someday I’ll get around to ‘formalizing’ or settling into my salvation – right now I need to focus on my career/my university education/sowing my oats before I can take that next step” – as if salvation is something to be attained on a checklist of things to-do.

Believing here means committing our life to Christ. We are willing to sacrifice our perceived ‘lordship’ to make Christ our Lord and Sovereign. So the question that is begged to be asked is “what are we being saved from?” What do we think we are being saved from? Let’s look again at verses 1-3. Ask for a reader.

The same Holy Spirit moved Paul to write in Romans 6:20-23, that we are all born spiritually dead because of Adam’s sin DNA we carry. We are born slaves to sin. But by grace through the faith we receive, we are saved by the blood of Christ, and given new life (called regeneration or being born again as Jesus spoke about in John 3) – you see God is the author of our faith and of our salvation, so that no one can boast about how she or he won God over. Say Amen if you believe because what God has done in you?

In our Gospel lesson in John 17, Jesus tells us that in addition to His praying for us – yes He sits at the Father’s right hand and intercedes for us (Rom 8:34) who have been chosen and saved by the Father, Jesus put His Spirit in us – not for ornamental value or to lord over someone, but rather to humble us so that we may be one and love one another as He loves us. In the preceding verses of John 17, Jesus indicates what He is praying to the Father for us: protection in Jesus’ name and protection from the evil one; to have Jesus’ joy in us; and that the Holy Spirit would sanctify us by the truth of God’s word and the transformative work the Spirit would do in us, and that we may be with Him and see His glory.

I’d like to share a story with you that I came across. There was a man who had been convicted rightly of murder, and subsequently found guilty and sentenced to death. He was put on death row in prison. He admitted his guilt and knew that the state’s response was life for life. As his appointment to his execution grew nearer, something began stirring within him. Most of his life was a fight against the goads, and he had hurt or harmed others just as others had done to him. But one day, a noise-cancelling quiet came over his cell. When you are on death row, quietness is a luxury that you did not have, yet at that point in time, all the surrounding noise was silenced. He hears a voice that asks him why is he here? The voice not so much audibly as internally speaks his name and asks again, why are you here, and tells him that he had fought against Him much of his life. The voice begins to sound like thunder, and the cell vibrates; no one else heard it or felt it but the man. For the first time in his life the man experienced a fear that he could not fight against. It must be a dream he reasoned. Then a strange bright light engulfs the cell and the Voice says: I Am Jesus whom you have been fighting against. Now, in this place, I have chosen you to serve me and teach my word to those fellow prisoners here who are lost and to whom I will direct you, so that they may experience the release from the real prison – the prison of sin and death. I declare you righteous and have freed you and I am sending you to others in this place so that the Holy Spirit will be in you and will guide you to bring back to me those men who have been in a life-long prison like you. In this place I will use you to plant my church. Very soon you will hear footsteps that are coming to your cell to tell you that your execution has been permanently stayed and that you will be relocated to another area where I will show you all you will need to accomplish the work I have for you. Long story short, the light fades and the man hear the footsteps. Still in awe and a fear inexplicable, he watches the warden open the cell door, and tells him the news about the execution pardon. What had once been a pathway to hell, was now a mission field for God. The man asks for a good study Bible and is mentored by another prisoner who also became born again in the prison, and together they establish a prison ministry that was both challenging and rewarding.

Like Paul and the man in the story, we have all been at war with God at some time in our lives. Some of us are still kicking against the goads. These last 7 weeks have been a repeated opportunity from God, a repeated summons from the Holy Spirit God and the Bride of Christ – His Church – to Come. To come into real relationship with Jesus, to be one in Him and in the Father, and desire, thirst for Him. To Come, and drink in the water of Jesus’ truth for sanctification as His saints or people separated unto Him to be remade in His image. To be blessed with the healing tree of life that Adam and Eve forfeited. To respond to the voice who has been asking you, why are you here, still stuck in your unrighteousness? Jesus says He is coming soon, and His reward is with Him to repay according to everyone’s work. Jesus – whose very name means salvation – and in whose Name by God’s will we too will know the awe and inexplicable joy of His salvation.

In the mustard seed of faith given us by God we ask: Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And Jesus tells us, COME BELIEVE ON ME, YOUR LORD JESUS. LET ANYONE WHO IS THIRSTY COME. LET ANYONE WHO SEEKS ME COME AND TAKE THE LIVING WATER FREE–it is already paid for! AMEN! HALLELUJAH!

 We’ve come this far by faith…

Forgiveness – My Story [Inspired by the crucifixion of Christ as told from the perspective of an unnamed thief circa 31AD]

      

Seven hours is a long time when you’re in trouble. 

I keep goin’ over this in my head ‘til it hurts – “how did I wind up here?” 

*Sigh*. I’m guessin' it started when I was a youth – I got mixed up with some fellows –one of’em was the son of my mother’s sister; they were bullies and stole stuff from people who were naki, real weak. It was scary first time, but when you poor and your pockets all of a sudden got coins in'em, the fear just goes away--like a scared bird--when you hear them coins clinkin' together - mmmh – you feel rich! But, uh, if I was gonna tell the truth – course not somethin’ I be sayin’ to my partners, I really was scared each time we stole stuff from people cuz I kept asking myself, how many more times can we get away with it? But later, when there wunt nothin’ to eat, hungry took over fear; no sech thing as free food. 

Ev'rythin' was goin' good enough...somedays you gettin' enough for some food and somedays you be gettin' enough for food and shoes, and even a decent robe! Then one day, this rich man who look like he was a lawyer or sumthin was gone on the road that goes from the Engedi in the wilderness all the way to Jerusalem and Samaria. You see, there’s this little spot on the road up between the mountains so travelers can’t see what’s in front of ‘em or behind’em. It’s real wind-ee, you know? So this rich lookin' ol’ man had a bunch-a bondsmen – so you know he had coin -  they went afore him with this noisy rattlin’ cart fulla loot; couldn’t hear much by that noise. Too many of’em to try to steal from that stash. But, when they gone afore enough so you couldn’t see’em and they couldn’t see you or them master, we made our move. One of our gang gagged the ol’ man an’ pull’him down off his donkey; you could hardly hear his little whine. The fellow what’s grab’him kept him down, while the rest of us pick’d his pockets an’ stole the purse hangin’ on the animal. When we got our plunder, the fellow who was holdin’ the ol’ man down told him not to make any noise or else… we ran back to the thicket where we been hiding. I was shaking ‘cuz we never in all the time we be doin’ this – we never hurt somebody to make’em bleed; I mean the ol’ man was alive but he was scared-er than me. Never been so scared in my life! This was the most hard we e’er done to somebody – they just usually throw their money at us and run. Now, I’m the one who runnin’. I also thinkin’ – when we first started working this shohd, this robbin’, we bein' just glad to get a coin here, a coin there, but, y’know, we was “lucky” – we got away erry time! An’ we stole from a lotta people. This one, this time though -- I swore on my father’s head this gone be my last time. We could sell alla stuff we had store, an I buried some coin for me when nobody lookin’. I beg’ the gang to lay low for a while ‘til this blew over. Are greedy leader  he laughed at me. He always greedy – we threw fists once ‘cuz he wanna take mos'of da plunder, but this time he says layin’ low might be a good idea. Says we won’t be stealing for a while. I liked the sound of that, and it made me feel good an' comfutable to hear'em say so. 

Well, he was right, but not the way I wanted him to be right. 

We made it to our reggla cave where we like tuh go ‘cuz it hides from the main road. But this time, some kind of way, they found us. Where’d we mess up? We tried runnin’, but the soldiers come up on us. Guess we muss’v  run outta  “luck.” Our leader and one of the other fellows tried  fightin’ their way out – I kept tellin’em to stop, stop man, then one of’em hit one-uh the soldiers and him an’ the leader tried gettin’ way to the wilderness; in the end, though, well--they didn’t make’it. I tried to bribe the soldiers with the purse – they like bribes, but they wont having' it today for some reason. The soldiers then tie' me up with leather straps and rough rope; they make me walk all da way to Jerusalem. I knew what was comin’. Jewish men never gets a fair trial no matter what. The Romans always wanted to make an example of criminals. Ha - muss’v been my turn.

Seven hours is a  l o n g  time. A long time. 

I got hanged onna stake next to two other fellows – one was a rebel who tried-duh get some other Jews to go up on the Roman governor. He be a thief too like me and he was very angry. The other man was this Rabbi I heard ‘bout – he been upsettin’ all da villages, and making the Pharisees mad. The soldiers ha'done a number on him – he was beat up bad, and looked like they tortured ‘im; he looked half dead. He really muss’v done somethin’ wrong for all that! The fellow on my other side started cursin’ him, callin’ him a blasphemer. An’ sayin’ he was God anna  new king! I tol’ the beaten up man “if yous a god, get us down offa these crosses!” I added my own cursin’ ‘cuz I was angry I got caught an’ now here I was. Hangin’ on a crossbeam. I asked him, “if you god then why you hangin’ on a crossbar like us? Why they treat you so bad? What kind of god are you?” Only, I wished right then he was God, ’cuz seven hours is a long time to hang on a crossbar ‘n’ stake.

The day wored on, an’ the sun’s heat made the air feel like it’s full of needles. The angry fellow kept on with his rilin' on the tortured man; kep’ callin’ him Yeshua, which kina made me laugh ‘cuz the name means “God saves.” Yeah, right. So I’s in and out of consciousness. But one of those times I start thinking about it -- then I 'emember seein’ this Yeshua walkin’ with a crowd some time afore all of this. . .hey! He’s da one that healed the lame man! That man’s legs were all messed up – he’s always beggin. I’s on the edge of the crowd but I saw most of it with my own eyes. Thought it was a scam though… It was hard to remember who this Rabbi was ‘cuz I mean his face so messed up. An’ I heard him mumblin’ words I just barely make out over the angry fellow’s yellin’ – like, he was talkin’ to somebody and tellin’em that the people should be forgiven. 

Seven hours is a long time to hang on a crossbar and stake… 

So I come to ag’n. Angry fellow looked all used up. The Rabbi, Yeshua, was really lookin' bad and in lotsa pain. But his words—his words about forgiveness was still ringin’ in my ears – I saw what he done; I was even one of the people that the wild man John baptized. For repentance. I, I remembered seein’ Yeshua near the river one day and the wild man John said that Yeshua was the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Someone even said that He was The Messiah!! Was it true? Could it be true? I prayed for the first time in a long while that it could be true an’ that I was next to somethin’ or somebody divine. 

I was in the seventh hour on this cross and know’d my life would soon be over... 

Then Angry fellow woke up and tried to yell at Yeshua again—pantin’ with each word. With the little bit of force I had left I told angry man “to stop cuz this man, Yeshua, is innocent. We’a payin’ for our sins, but this man he’s not sinned.” I heard myself say those words like an echo. Was I still alive, then? I looked up, then the Rabbi Yeshua looked at me with eyes that seem to look all the way into my soul.  An' I felt somethin' like I nevah be feelin' before. I felt peace!  There was something ‘bout them eyes. 

With slow breaths I ask the Rabbi, the Messiah: ‘Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And the Lord, the Lamb, hangin’ next to me, and still lookin’ in my eyes said, “Truly I will remember you and you will be with me in Paradise.” 

I was forgiven! I am forgiven! I wanted to shout it out loud, but it came out in gasps. I prayed to God in heaven “toda, thank you” and tol’ the Rabbi, The Messiah Yeshua, with tears in my eyes, “toda , toda,” and I wont sure why; I just knew inside somethin’ had happened I didn’t deserve. 

See: seven hours is a long time to hang on a crossbar ‘gainst a rough wood stake only knowin’ ‘til right now, my last hour, my life had no meaning. This seventh hour changed everything—I was forgiven by Him.

Then the soldiers broke Angry man’s legs and he cried out loud cursin’ the emperor; he died just a little while later. An’ then a soldier stuck a spear in The Messiah’s side and water and blood came out. When the spear went in, I heard’im scream what should have been a scream heard all over Judea!, but his voice was thick with pain and the scream a whisper. After a short while, He said real soft strainin’ his voice, ‘I am a-thirst,’ then another soldier ran and got him a sponge soaked in vinegar, but a'fore he could suck good on the sponge, I heard him say, “It is finished.” And he died. 

Seven hours is a long time to hang nailed to a rough wood cross. 

I heard a soldier say that this Rabbi Yeshua, My Messiah, was truly the Son of God. And then I knowed -- I knowed for sure I was forgiven an’ I was gonna see my Lord in Paradise! 

An’ then it was my turn. In my head, my face was smilin’; I had spoken with the Son of God – the Son of God!! uhg! the soldiers broke my legs, then the world around me became dim, dim, then dark.

Seven hours is a long time to hang on a rough wood cross. But, 

Paradise is forever! 

                                                               ~The beginning~

                    ~by an unnamed thief at Calgary in Judea circa AD 31~

The Unpardonable Sin - What is It and Why?

This post was added in April 2024 during our Bible study on Luke's Gospel.

Luke 11:14-23 and its synoptic (parallel) account in Mark 4:20-30, also parallels Jesus' words recorded by Luke in chapter 12, verses 8 to 12. The repeated statements speak of sin against the Holy Spirit. These parallel accounts also illumine the mystery of the nature of the Triune God. Luke 12 and Mark 4 specifically note that sin and blasphemy against the Father and Son will be forgiven, but one who sins and blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Frankly, this is one of the hardest statements in scripture. What is also illumined here is the holiness of God  - the depth of which we cannot grasp, and His choice to show mercy to whom He wishes to show mercy. Mercy is not a required response from God; do not be misled: God owes no one mercy! (another hard statement) He says so Himself:  "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy to whom I will show mercy." (Exodus 33:19; Romans 9:13-18)  I have attempted within my understanding of the Scriptures to offer what is meant by the deadly penalty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit; see the attached below. 

Unpardonable Sin – Jesus’ Message on Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

The matter raised in Luke’s Gospel and Mark’s Gospel concerning sin and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit illumines for us even more the great mystery of the Triune Godhead – a mystery that cannot in human terms be fully explained nor comprehended.

Before we look at that dynamic, let us get a definition of blasphemy: Merriam-Webster says that “blasphemy, in a religious sense, refers to great disrespect shown to God or to something holy, or to something said or done that shows this kind of disrespect; heresy refers a belief or opinion that does not agree with the official belief or opinion of a particular religion.” Vocabulary.com puts it this way: “If you're saying something bad about a god, or taking the Lord's name in vain [the opposite of the Lord’s prayer where we say “Hallowed be your name”] or, questioning a religious institution in any way, you could be accused of blasphemy — insulting something sacred.” Blasphemy also includes a total and continued disregard or rejection of something holy or sacred. Since the Godhead is 3 in 1, i.e., all are co-equal, co-eternal, co-existent, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, how can only one of the Godhead be insulted to the extent of unforgiveness?

I’ll be honest – I do not know. I cannot on my own provide any verifiable light through any speculation - I can only go by what I am finding in scripture, and in researching Biblical references and works that exposit on this matter to get as close as possible (still lightyears away I’m sure) to a way to understand this. The following is a very limited explanation; one day, as the Bible says, we will be able to see and understand more fully some of the spiritual mysteries that challenge us now. Yet, I suspect that even then there will not be full disclosure as God is beyond the comprehension of any creature!

We agree on humans’ inability to fully explain and comprehend the Trinity; we can only offer very weak examples to try to illustrate the complex revelation of the Godhead. Personally, I only have very weak and very limited examples, which most assuredly pale in comparison to our Triune God. I share what I’ve found thus far.

(1)Let’s say that a trade association has 3 senior vice presidents who are all co-equal in executive authority, who co-exist within the association structure with responsibilities equal in importance to ensure a well-run organization. But they each possess a specific role unique to them within the context of the organization’s mission. One of the SVPs has the oversight, authority and leadership role of being an intermediary between the company’s paying member companies so as to develop a coalescense with their companies’ goals, and to develop in thought and action the face and voice of the industry. Another SVP has the oversight, authority, and leadership of the company’s Human Resources division to ensure that the company is well- and dynamically staffed, that all employees carry out their duties, follow company guidelines and that the company is in compliance with DOL regulations, and work as a team to promote the industry’s goals. The other SVP has oversight, authority, and leadership of the company’s financial assets and standing, ensuring that budgets are properly met, that financial assets and liabilities are correctly accounted for under existing national accounting standards, that the company is financially solvent and profitable, with an excellent credit standing that ensures the association’s goals will be undergirded by the financial wealth required for continuation of the industry’s goals. Each executes their unique but equal-in-authority roles as a leadership team to ensure that the mission of the organization is fully realized.

(2)Another example I came across: a Christian man whose three main roles and identities are the “priest” or faith leader of his family, a husband, and a father. The man physically does not change with each identity or role; those roles are unified within him.

Again, the foregoing are very weak examples! Like negative 1 minus 1! And are more symbolic or metaphorical than solid, literal explanation!

As noted, the Triune Godhead – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, are co-equal, co-existent, and co-eternal. They operate as One in three personhoods. God the Father begot God the Son and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are consubstantial, each person of the Godhead being the One Eternal God and in no way separated. All alike are uncreated and omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are understood by and revealed to us primarily within the context of salvation and worship, as explained in Scripture. As the Godhead they are in agreement in all things; again, our best understanding of our Triune God of Love is within the context of God’s salvation plan. God the Father “orchestrates and creates the plan”, God the Son implements the plan, and God the Holy Spirit administers the plan. Who was it that “administered” the first advent of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Who was in Him everyday during His humanity? Jesus further and succinctly describes the Holy Spirit’s role in the salvation plan in John 14-17 (see, for example, 14:16,26; 15:7-15,26-27; and 17:11-12,17-19). The Holy Spirit likewise God-breathed the words of the Father and Son to the epistle writers, who explain the salvation plan in depth. The Holy Spirit’s work includes convicting the world, that is, declaring the world to be wicked and sinful, deserving of God’s wrath, unable through any human effort to reconcile a relationship with a Holy God. He declares the need of a Savior-Redeemer. He indwells those believers who have been redeemed and saved through the implementation of the Son who shed His blood to cleanse them of the sin guilt and penalty. Ephesians, as in other letters, speaks to the salvation orchestration and implementation, and Romans, as well as the other epistles, speaks to the work of the Holy Spirit in believers. The Holy Spirit speaks and administers the Word of God in the lives of believers, God-breathing The Truth into each one continually as they feed on His Word, thus sanctifying each through transforming and regenerating the sin-laden hearts and souls of believers into the new life as children of God and heirs. (I have only pointed to two passages; you will find the salvation message and planall throughout the epistles.)

So here is what I think to be the crux of the matter as to the sin and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit: Rejecting the sacred work of the Holy Spirit, continuing in unbelief and defiant irreverence, resisting His work and refuting His conviction, denying His sentience and speaking of Him as being a created force of God – thus denying His personhood, discredits and blasphemes Him. Such persons who reject the directions, signs, warnings, the opportunities that He repeatedly makes available to enable persons to do that “U-turn” back to God the Father and God the Son, who are rejecting His calling for whatever reason, continue condemned and on the “broad road” that leads to the just punishment of eternal separation from God (Ephesians 2; Romans 5:1-9). “Continue condemned” because as Ephesians and Romans tells us plainly, all of the offspring of Adam were born dead spiritually, with the prognosis of permanent death – eternal darkness and separation from God, unless by God’s grace they believe and trust in Christ and thus escape the wrath of God, who imputes Christ’s righteousness into them, placing His Spirit within them.

There are some clerics who teach against the Holy Spirit, who claim that the whole world is going to be saved according to their narrow interpretation and twisting of scripture (see varying examples here and here). They also teach against the Holy Spirit through false doctrine, refuting or substituting the truth (see 2 Peter 3:15-17). There are those who say that since Jesus ascended into heaven and no longer is physically present to perform miracles, that it is not possible to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Yet this Holy Person of the Godhead has already declared that such continued sin against Him equates to blasphemy, an unpardonable sin. 

 

…this is how I am understanding this matter at this time (April 2024) based on what I am gleaning from Scripture and hearing. I still have ????? and will continue to have them. But what I will not question is what the Holy Spirit has already stated clearly, speaking and testifying by and with the words of the Father and Son as He is charged to do.

Sometimes... A Prayer Narrative

Following the pandemic shutdown, the number of people returning to the church building in person for worship has dropped significantly. At least in mine and other mainline faith communities I know about. People have become complacent, dare I say lazy, and prefer to have Zoom turned on, cameras turned off, so that they can stay in their bed clothes to 'attend' worship service. This is not secret information nor privileged secrets - folks have talked about these gaps over social media pages for a while. Persons who must have forgotten about how God wants to be worshiped - compare Exodus 19:9-11,17 and Nehemiah 8:1-8; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 11:17-22; Ephesians 5:18-20; Hebrews 10:25. We praise God that He had made available the telecommunications that allowed us to worship remotely when everything was shutdown and person-to-person contact was dangerous. We did not have to 'skip a beat' in our worship. However, that was not to be a permanent situation; that situation has been suspended. 

And here we are. Kind of like the African Americans in remote places of the south who did not know that the Civil War had ended and slavery abolished - they believed that the status quo was to be the status quo forever. That slavery would never end. Some believed they were still slaves even throughout the remainder of the 19th century. That's the locked mindset of some professing Christians. 'I'm used to being a remote 'worshiper' having only myself to deal with. Getting washed up, dressed and traveling to a building is not necessary in order to worship.' Worshiping in person has become more of 'I'll worship when I get there - if I choose to come. Who knows? Zoom is so easy - all I have to do is click some keys and 'I'm in'. 

Not only has in-person worship become distasteful, Bible study has become less of a priority so that it is no longer on the menu for too many persons who profess to follow Christ. There is no longer the appetite for it to the extent it once was. I'm not talking the kind of Bible study that is lecture-driven and that are one-way orally so all you do is sit back and maybe look up a scripture during the talk or view it on the mag screen. Or online studies where you are the only participant - where there is no 'iron sharpening iron'. Nor am I talking about personal study and Bible reading time which are essential daily disciplines. These are commendable for the purpose they serve, but is not the same as small group Bible study. I'm talking about members of a faith community coming together with Bibles open and discussing together what the Spirit wants us to learn during that session. Some churches are able to do a hybrid type of group Bible study so that some meet in person and also accommodate via Zoom members who cannot drive, who may be using their work break to participate, are at home with their young ones and might be able to listen and engage in discussion a little at a time, etc. Other churches may do Bible study solely on Zoom where vibrant discussions take place.  Many church leaders have sought ways to engage their members in this vital spiritual discipline through as many practical means that are available, and yet, participation has either decline or has become almost nonexistent. I may be out of line, but I have to ask myself, how can we legitimately refer to ourselves as followers of Christ, if we do not study the scriptures together? How will we come to a knowledge of the truth? When a person of 50 has attended church services for all of his or her life, and is unable to grasp who the "Let us" of "Let us create mankind in our image" is - which is fundamental/foundational truth, how has such a person been using their Bible? Is it truly an open book, a place to seek God and determine His will, or is it on the shelf? What has happened to the desire to see the treasure God has given us in His Word, to taste and see the goodness of God throughout His Word? Do we even consider it to be God's Word, to even consider that it is meaningful for all who consider themselves human, created in God's image? Christ values every utterance from the mouth of the Father, so much so that He is called The Word! That He is the wisdom that we are to seek in scripture. He shared scripture amongst His disciples in an interactive way all during his ministry. Sometimes, it seems that we have recreated worship to please ourselves so that it is just enough 'Christian' in it to get by. What god does a person with that mindset serve? When will a person who belittles the gift of God's Word realize that with such distaste, how can you be saved? What would you even be saved for if worshiping God in the way He wants to be worshiped has no appeal for you?

'Thus saith the Lord:'  (Hebrews 2:1-4)   1)Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2)For if the message declared through angels proved valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, 3)how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was confirmed for us by those who heard him, 4)while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will. 

Sometimes, only a very small percentage of a congregation may gather for Bible study. Where are those who bend the knee to commune at the Lord's Table, for it is the same Word who commanded the observance of this New Covenant? I ask God will it always be this way? Am I doing enough to engage others? Please tell me what more I should be doing! [I want to say to those who give the excuse - "well, I don't want to seem ignorant because I don't know all the answers and embarrass myself! So maybe later." -- I want to ask them, "Be sure to rehearse that excuse convincingly well, because Judge Jesus is coming soon and He will be asking."] 

But a recent small group study completed, and after the closing prayer, the picture that came to my mind was Abraham speaking to God, who was angry with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah: "How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin!" and who was poised to destroy completely every human in those places. Read the account in Genesis 18:22-33 in your own Bible. Abraham began to plead with God because his nephew Lot and his family lived in that wicked place. Lot would go to the gate - which in those times was like the convening place for conferring with the leaders of the city or town and where they held their town meetings. In that way, he figured he had bought time or some kind of favor to be relieved of any unwanted assault or attention, for the people were aggressive with their sexual immorality and lusted with heat - seeing any and everyone as someone to be joined with regardless of gender or species. Lot thought that he had made peace enough with the people so that they would not prevail against his family. The money and illusion of power and importance Lot enjoyed took precedent over hating the very thing that God hated, and instead, deluding himself into justifying his continued presence in that wicked and evil city was not an issue for him.

And Abraham, some distance away, knowing that God was going to wipe out completely both cities, kept asking God these 'what if' questions: what if like 50 people might be righteous in the city, will you still destroy everyone--what if forty-five are in the city, will you still destroy everyone--what if, what if, what if, and Abraham, sensing that he's walking a thin line here, stops at what if ten - hoping that would cover Lot's situation. I was thinking, what if, Lord, our study group was only 30 people, would you still show us your favor and blessing? What if there were only twenty-five of us, would you still show us your favor and blessing? What if, what if, what if, what if, what if there are only 4 of us studying your Word together regularly, would you still show our congregation favor and blessing?  

Lord, not only am I praying for the 100, or the 30, or the 4, but Lord I am asking you to please send more laborers into this harvest, persons who believe Bible study is a vehicle to open our minds, hearts to the revelation of You, to knowing You, to growing closer to You, to living in this wicked world and yet not being of the world, that it is within your Word the stuff to teach us to pray and to shape and inform our prayers so that they will be in alignment with your will, to understand your will for each of us? I should be praying, What if our congregation could be a congregation that studied your Word zealously and applied it? What would our congregation look like?  What if we choose not to neglect so great a salvation, so great because your only Son was hanged on a cross to make a way for us to know you, to commune with you, to worship you and serve you and each other? What would our congregation look like then? What if we obeyed Christ's commandments - for which we must open His Word to find - with our whole hearts, minds and souls - what would our church community look like? What could we accomplish in our surrounding neighborhoods? What gifts could we employ that You have or would graciously be giving us to use to your glory and to serve others which will bring people to Christ? 

Sometimes, I wonder what if and pray, like now, to see such faith in action before I leave this earth, to see more congregations become on fire for Christ and what He would have us do. That we would be the community of love, that we would enjoy learning more and more about our Lord so that we can effectively lead our households to become lovers of righteousness? Lord, what if we prayed your Word together regularly? What if what we do daily will cause you to say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant'? 

Why would you let us build a house for you if we are not worshiping you now in the way you would have us do? If we fail, would You not be justified to take that house from us and give it to those who have a zeal for you and who sacrificially serve you daily? 

Father, I beseech your mercy, I offer up confession that we have forsaken what identified us as your children. Like the prodigal, we left well dressed, full of life, eager to be independent. We are now in tatters, unsure of where we are in your plan, unsure of our ability to do anything, and with our faces pressed into the mire. If it is what it would take, please chastise us, also, so that we can be shocked back into spiritual sanity and return to you without question, without hesitation. Lord, for the sake of your name and in the power of the Holy Spirit may He saturate us in awareness of what we must do now, rather than choosing to wait "for just the right time, sometime." Today is the day of salvation, now is the time to return. Praying for that miracle, Lord, praying and trusting that our sometime has come to fullness and our what ifs into faith in action. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Special Mid-Summer Bible Conversation on Hard Sayings in the Bible (Question 3 - Born Again))

  

1.    John 3 Rebirth - "Being Born Again" & Salvation. This passage is so loaded doctrinally!   I think the three most offered answers when people are asked if they are born again are: “I don’t believe in that holy roller stuff!” (no doubt referring to the frantic behavior of some who are presumed touched by the Spirit during worship); the second is, “what do you mean?”; and, lastly, “I don’t know!” Some believe that being born again means that God refreshes us with His Spirit, which would infer that we are reborn several times.

God reveals to His people the character or operationality of salvation for believers. (we find a further level of understanding in John 4.) Salvation was not earned by being legally ‘right’ by an obedience to the Law. God says that the 10 commandments and the other Mosaic laws could not eternally save; in the Law God demonstrates how to worship Him, how to rely solely on Him for our needs; He refers to the Law as a "disciplinarian" that would reveal our need for a Savior, but which could not eternally save someone. Nicodemus and other religious leaders of his time relied upon both the Torah – God authored,  and the Talmud, or the “Oral Law” – human interpretation of the Torah. Holding fast to both the Law and interpretations developed by the priests and rabbis was the standard of righteousness that was thought to make them worthy of life in the world to come.

Before we go into the deep exposition of Jesus’s words in John 3, let’s look at Ephesians 2 to get a fundamental understanding of salvation.

 

Evangelicals and others generally believe that salvation is a synergistic process – that before you can be saved, you have to develop faith, so that salvation is dependent first upon actions we take. That is, according to some beliefs, it is our efforts through which we can negotiate a peace with God that makes us worthy of salvation. Or, more commonly, “you have to get right before you come to Church!” Reading the first 3 verses of Ephesians 2 we are told by the Holy Spirit a different beginning. [read a couple of times from different versions - easy to do at the Biblegateway.com link above] Can a dead person believe in God and develop faith? Because the Spirit is telling us here that we were dead – D E D D -- spiritually. We were consumed by lusts that lent to trespasses – the act of going outside of the law into forbidden area – and by a myriad of sins, which are inherent in us and easily influenced by the satanic world culture in what we think, do, and are.

 

Answer this: when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, was Lazarus really dead? Or was he in-between life and death in some suspended state of consciousness? Put a pin in the Ephesians passage for a minute and Let’s see what the Spirit tells us at John 11 about Lazarus. We’ll read verses 11-17, and then pick up at 38-39. 

Not only was Lazarus dead, but his body was beginning to decay – there was already a stench emanating from Lazarus’ tomb! Lazarus was dead – D E D D. There was no life in him – not even one gasp of breath. So when Jesus got to the tomb, did He wait for Lazarus to come out simply because He was present there in front of the tomb? Did the mourners – both genuine and in tradition – through their tears and crying, through their pleadings, cause Lazarus to come back to life? Or was Lazarus starting to remove the many bandages that were on him so that he could be ready for Christ’s arrival? NO! NO! Read verses 41-44. No matter how much crying and mourning, no matter that the family believed that “someday” in “the resurrection” that their beloved brother would return to them – someday, somehow, somewhere. No. It was only by the power of God in Christ that Lazarus is raised from the dead. Jesus COMMANDS Lazarus to come out! He commands him. It was not until then that Lazarus could move, become sentient, become alive and obediently come forward from the tomb (since he was bound head to toe, some scholars suggest that he came forward without walking). He was made alive by Christ, regenerated/re-created. Regenerated is a word you’ll hear church folk say sometimes; it means, relative to being born again, to form or be formed again; come or bring into existence once again spiritually through the Holy Spirit.

Going back to Ephesians 2 again at verses 1-3: Spiritual death is as insusceptible by human efforts as was Lazarus’ physical death. What is worse is that the spiritual death which we ALL walked in – you know that expression, “dead man walking”, was and is the result of the inherited sin nature from Adam. Our already condemned state of spiritual death was exacerbated with our being infused with a world culture influenced and guided by the devil and his demons. We were objects of God’s wrath, because God loathes sin and does not “entertain”, i.e., He does not become Abba to spiritually dead people. We were born spiritually dead, dead relationship with God, and remain so until a similar command is given to us to become alive spiritually. let’s pick up at verse 4 through verse 10. [reader reads it] What does the Spirit say had to occur before we could be saved? [God had to make us alive; He calls us out of our spiritual death (KJV says quickened)], He without any help from us resurrects us or raises us up back to spiritual life, raises us up as it were to life in the Spirit, placing His Eternal Spirit within us to regenerate us and deposit a new faith instantaneously as He did with Lazarus. In the face of those Bible truths, the thought that we of our own volition according to evangelicals and others who make that claim, can prepare ourselves to be saved, can clean up our life to become fitting before a Holy God, can read scripture and understand it and then apply it in a way that pleases God is ludicrous! Can dead people think? Can dead people reason?

Do you think that being raised from the dead changed Lazarus’ outlook on life? When God raises us from spiritual death to spiritual life, He performs an unequivocable miracle within us where we not only come to life but are endowed with the faith needed to please God. God has chosen – we did not originate that choice - to create new life in us, restores us to spiritual aliveness. This is the "process" referred to in John 3 as being born again.

So with this detailed backdrop on God's salvific plan, we can now 'unpack'  Jesus' explanation to Nicodemus of being born again. We’ll take it step by step.

(a) Nicodemus bravely comes at night to where Jesus is staying. What he had to say he did not want to ask in an open forum or on the street as many of the Pharisees liked doing with the purpose of tripping Jesus up. Nicodemus wanted more than what his opening words said; Jesus, who was fully God and fully man knew in His Godship what was on Nicodemus’ heart, what brought him out of his home at night to seek Him out Jesus, and so Jesus wastes no time getting to the heart of the matter. Cool, right? Read verse 2. During the course of the conversation Jesus would ask Nicodemus how could he, i.e., Nicodemus, who was a teacher of Israel not understand the requirement of being born again and what that means. Even today, those who have a standing within the Church of God are still puzzled by what it means, although they have before them God’s Word of truth that provides the answer.
(b) Entering the kingdom of God – was Jesus saying that in order to go to heaven you have to be born again, thus equating the kingdom of God with heaven? It is true that many equate God’s kingdom with heaven since God and Christ sit on thrones in the Kingdom. In studying this passage, I am thinking that Jesus, in speaking of the kingdom of God, means not just the ‘heavenly’ Kingdom, but His universal kingdom – God’s rule, over those who are His Church – both here on earth and in heaven. It is not a singular geographical location, nor is it solely heaven. I mean, what did Jesus teach us to pray in the Lord’s prayer about God’s kingdom? [allow answer] That God’s kingdom would also be on earth. So the kingdom is borne from heaven, "from above", – i.e., God’s rule emanates from heaven. Thus, I think that Jesus was referring to entering into God’s theocratic spiritual domain where worshipers on earth and heaven obey God and do the work and will God has appointed them to do. The Holy Spirit binds together believers who are living on earth into this kingdom domain which is growing with believers daily. Jesus’ parables of the kingdom refers to this change of rule within our hearts while we are still alive on earth. Therefore, It is not a geographical location as Jesus confirms in the account at John 4 where Jesus’ encounters the Samaritan woman. Jesus further shows the invisible aspect of the kingdom of God when He says that "the kingdom is within you" – [ask for any questions or more clarification]
(c) Born again of water... Let’s talk about the “water” first. Jesus says we must be born of water and Spirit before we can enter into the kingdom. Nicodemus was clearly puzzled because he knew that in order to be born, conception must take place and one must live in the waters of a mother’s womb for nine months. So he tells Jesus, I’m a grown man; I cannot climb back into my mother’s womb! So we come to this point on which Christians will sometimes disagree – even Christians within the same denomination! I do not want this to be an argument, or a "2 by 4" insistence on a point of view, or judgement but rather an opportunity to share what we have learned, and allow the Holy Spirit to correct any misplaced thoughts.

This is where believers have different viewpoints of what the “water” represents, namely:

• Some say that the “water” is baptismal water – that you have to have been baptized in water in order for the ‘salvation transition’ to take place; 
• Others say that Jesus was telling Nicodemus that only those born from the womb – who lived within that protective sac for the duration would meet the requirement of “water”. 
• Yet others say that the ”water” means that a person will be required to know God’s Word – which the scriptures metaphorically refer to as water, as part of the qualification for being born again.

My personal thought, based on the context of the conversation, is that the “water” refers to the waters of birth from a human mother.  Jesus says as He continues explaining this regeneration process to Nicodemus: “what is flesh is flesh (born of a woman) and what is Spirit is Spirit” (born of God). It would seem that in being born again, a person must first be human born of a woman. As such, there are no born again angels, no born again animals. In passages of the Gospels where we read about the person that hanged on the cross next to Jesus, and who confessed his belief in Jesus as Savior and Messiah, the criminal had first rejected Jesus and had joined in with the other criminal in the verbal abuse of Christ. (Mark 15:29, 32) Luke’s account in chapter 23, verses 39-43 reflects that when the Holy Spirit opened the thief’s mind and heart, the thief repented and rebuked the other criminal for his continued castigation and berating of Christ, and then asks Jesus to remember him when He enters the kingdom. Jesus, who in His Godship foreknew the “election” of the thief, did not act surprised by the thief’s question, did not have to convince the thief that his change of heart was by the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit did His work with the thief, so that Jesus responds, “Truly I tell you today that you will be with me in Paradise”, i.e., he would be raised back to life and would live again in Jesus' presence. Jesus does not add, “but, first we have to get you down from this cross and baptized in the Jordan River or the temple pool for this salvation to stick, and then put you back up on the cross.” Some denominations equate the Christian water baptism to the water baptism that John the Baptizer performed for the forgiveness of sins – a baptism of repentance. It was synonymous to a cleansing ritual under the Mosaic Law that would make God's people ready to worship Him and to come into His presence before the Tabernacle. The Christian’s cleansing is by the blood of Christ and the Word according to Ephesians 5 and Hebrews 9; it is a continual cleansing – when you’re not in the Word you are not getting clean! As scripture shows us and even the catechism shows—to some extent, that water baptism does not guarantee salvation; rather, it is an outward sign or symbol of an inward grace or saving faith transferred to us, so as to make a worthy commitment to Christ. According to Ephesians 1:12-14, it is God the Holy Spirit in us that is the guarantee. In Romans 6:2-4, the apostle Paul refers to the grace of salvation that causes us to die to sin – being transferred from spiritual death and darkness, to spiritual life and light. Creating a complete change of heart within the individual, and becoming submitted to Christ using the metaphor of being baptized into Christ’s death, i.e., dying to Christ is dying to sin, as Christ died for all sin. Then there comes the raising to life, The Life of Christ sustained by the Holy Spirit.

(d) Born again through the Spirit. Undoubtedly, Nicodemus – as some professing Christians do even now – saw and see the Holy Spirit or Spirit of God solely as a power or force of God. They did not/do not understand the personhood of God the Holy Spirit. Also, during the “Old Testament Times” the Holy Spirit’s work in and with a human was often limited or bestowed for a particular time frame or purpose. Like the anointing of artisans in the building of the Tabernacle; in God’s prophets who spoke by the Spirit; the writers of OT scripture who were informed by the Spirit. Or the accomplishment of miracles and such. However, due to what Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah would accomplish on the cross, God the Holy Spirit would actually dwell within a person who has confessed Christ crucified for his/her sins, and who have made Jesus the Lord over their life; they recognize that they have been bought or redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus and no longer can claim ownership of themselves. 1 Corinthians 6 plainly shows that one’s salvation becomes operational within a person who has been washed in the blood, which justified them before a Holy God, and who are sanctified (set apart by God to accomplish His purpose through them) through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which guarantees that position. [repeat slowly] God the Holy Spirit had Paul communicate this truth more than once to the churches of his day (see Ephesians, Romans, et al.), and has caused it to permanently reside in the collection of holy writings, i.e., the Bible – made holy because it’s Author, God the Holy Spirit, is Divine. Jesus, during His last night on earth, told soon-to-be traumatized disciples in John 14-17 that the Holy Spirit would come and be in them, indwell them to guarantee their salvation and empower them for God’s purposes for them. Romans chapter 8 tells us plainly that the Spirit gives life, and if He does not dwell in a person they are not of Christ – no matter how they identify themselves. Ephesians 1 tells us that God has placed the Holy Spirit in those who are saved as a guarantee of our salvation, signifying that the Holy Spirit is tasked with the growing of believers into the image of Christ. [touching back to the “election” - a hard saying whose explanation would consume the better part of half a day - God foreknew who He would choose to be graced with salvation; therefore, God the Holy Spirit cannot be influenced by any rite or ritual to indwell someone who is not called to salvation – no matter what happens within the worship tradition of a congregation. We humans are made individually aware of our salvation, but we cannot read anyone’s heart – let alone police our own without the Spirit’s intervention. In Acts 11:16 and 1 Corinthians 12, scripture refers to this indwelling as being baptized by the Spirit. It is that baptism which guarantees our salvation. (Ephesians 1:13,14)

(d) Sainthood. The Roman Catholic Church for hundreds of years has claimed the right and authority to reward certain persons with the designation of sainthood. Such individuals were believed to be men and women of “heroic virtue” who would after their deaths hold a privileged place with God in heaven. [see full article here] Because of this, saints were considered to be spiritual guides and mentors, who would add their prayers in heaven to those offered by Christians still living in the material world. Their ranks include martyrs, kings  and queens, missionaries, widows, theologians, parents, nuns and priests, and “everyday people” who dedicated their lives to the loving pursuit of God. The designation process is called canonization, which has been described as a long and a politically fraught process. The first canonized person by the Roman Church occurred in 993 AD; certain named persons in scripture, including the apostles and those associated closely with Christ, were posthumously referred to as St. Peter, St. Mark, St. John, etc. Yet, is this the Bible’s definition of saints?  [see also full articles at the online Encylopedia Brittanica, on this day, BBC report]

I’m afraid not! In scripture passages (and this is just a partial list) we find the opposite: at Matthew 27:52, Acts 9:13,32, 41; Romans 1:7; Romans 8:27; Romans 12:13; Romans 15:25, 26.31; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 16:15; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:10; and Revelation 5:9. As you read these passages, you will see that these were written to the common folk who worshiped God in the community of believers. These were persons indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit calls them “saints.” (pls. note that of the commonly used Bible versions, only the NIV omits the word “saints” and uses instead, “holy ones”). 

For those whose minds are still married to the Roman Catholic See’s self-authority to name saints, let us go deeper into the language in which these passages listed above were written – Koine Greek. The word for “holy” in the Greek language derives from the word hagios (HAH-gee-ohs). Interestingly, there are passages in the Old Testament, e.g., Psalm 31:23; Deuteronomy 33:2-3; 2 Chronicles 6:41, to name a few - speak also of “holy ones” or saints; in that instance the Hebrew word kedosh or phrase kol kedoshav is used. So what does holy one in scripture refer to? It is translated – appropriately – as “saints” (harking back to the Latin translation of hagios to "sanctus") – which means individuals set aside by God through the Holy Spirit indwelling them to do God’s holy work and purpose. God does not make us saints because of our works, but because of His work in us. We could never on our own merit be made a saint through heroic works, despite the “sainthood” that the Catholic Holy See authorizes itself to perform.  We become saints positionally – that is, when we are saved and born again through the Spirit, God makes our position that of being holy, covered by Christ’s blood, no longer estranged from Him. We are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12-13). Again, God does not make us saints because of our works, but, rather, because of His work in us, through the Holy Spirit, Who makes us “children of God, born of God, heirs with Christ.” That is the Biblical definition of what a saint is. The Bible does not claim levels of sainthood as some have been led to believe; as seen above, sainthood is not a title earned by exceptional acts, therefore to be something that places persons at a better advantage than others. That is not Biblical. There are no lower saints, higher saints, etc. Sainthood is a position in which God places all who have been saved - being a saint simply means that God makes holy what was once unholy. (See 1 Peter 2) (Dr. Charles Stanley preached more than once on this topic because of the ingrained wrong understanding held by many as to what God calls a saint. The sermons can be found online at intouch.org.) It is surmised that the Roman Catholic Church was persuaded to promote the idea that persons "achieving" sainthood would be assigned to different levels of holiness by the governing body incorporating culturally accepted teachings in that regard. This would appease some, and by so doing, the Roman Church would place itself in a role of authority presumed endowed by God, but which is, in truth, one that God never gave it.

Per the above, not all translations make the distinction of translating the original languages for "holy ones" as "saints" in the English translation, but the Hebrew and Greek words cited above will be present each time. Translations that use the word “saints” appropriately in their English versions (this list is not all-inclusive but am citing some of the familiar translations/versions) are the English Standard Version, the Amplified Version, the 21^st Century NKJV, the American SV, the Holman Christian, International Standard, King James V./NKJV, The Living Bible, NASB, and NRSV. The NIV does not include the word saints in either the Old or New Testament, no doubt because of the Latin rendering of "sanctus" for the ancient Hebrew and Greek words. It translates the original Hebrew and Greek as "holy ones" without the added Latin version.  

So is it wrong to call the apostles St. so and so? No. What is wrong is not calling all of the persons saints that God calls saints.

So, by God’s determination, He sets aside persons to carry out His will. He does not leave this up to a denomination or a political process; only He can read the heart and know its contents. Jesus plainly says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” 

So to sum up: how does God make His determination as to who He sets aside? The process is formally called election. In the Old Testament we see God's hand at work: it was those who were bought/redeemed by blood from enslavement in Egypt, and brought into covenant relationship with Jehovah God/Elohim/Adonai, who would be called to be holy as God is holy. Their keeping covenant with God would allow them to be in right standing with God, or as some are described in the Old Testament, being “righteous persons.”  (Deuteronomy 7:6-8; 2 Samuel 7:23-24; et al.) God created a people through whom He would reveal Himself, record the oracles and employ them in God’s Name, and it would be that God ordained/set aside nation through whom the Messiah – God’s remedy and salvific provision would come; He would become the bridge that heals the broken relationship between God and humanity. In the OT, those saints or persons set aside or apart by God to carry out His holy purpose would be enabled to do so by the Holy Spirit - e.g., see 1 Kings 8:53 - for a determined time frame. The psalmist David, in Psalm 51, asks God to not take His Holy Spirit away from him; the psalmist knew that God’s Spirit would rest on certain individuals for a limited time and for a unique purpose – that He would not be permanently indwelling persons at that time. Things would change upon Christ’s coming and His work at the cross. He fulfilled the requirement to be a perfect sacrifice for the death-dealing sin inherited from Adam. Because of that one act, we who are not under the Mosaic Covenant are graced to enter into a New Covenant with Christ that would restore our relationship with the Father. The Holy Spirit baptizes us, indwells us to guarantee that relationship; He does so following the individual’s repentance of sins and repentance of their rejection of Jesus, and removal of self from the throne that belongs to Christ and make Him our Lord.