www.scatteredchristians.org
"QUICKEN" - Not "Born-again"
"MADE FREE" - Not "Set Free"
 
Rightly dividing the word 'quicken' we see a marvelous example of Paul's 'more excellent' way - which is 'beyond the Gospels' and from the Risen Christ  Being born again is a term reserved for the Jews in John and in I John - not for one to become a Christian today!

Another one of Paul's 'more excellent way' teachings is that when we are earing people say they are set free is 100%, they need to learn that being 'set free' is totally untrue.  Death / Rapture, etc. will set us free, but until then, we are "made free."

As a Christian, you may think that now that you are 'born free', were 'set free.' If you are truly a sincere Christian, than you are the one who has to set yourself free from some of your wicked ways through the power and hope of the scriptures and by being obedient to faith, etc. However, as we learn from Paul's own battles, we will nevr be 'set free' totally while we are 'down here'!  If a person thinks he is 'totally set free' then he hasn't read all of Paul's manner of life. He probably doesn't even realize rightly dividing and how it shows us that we are now sinless but will still do things wrong - thus, the need for the judgment seat of Christ where our WORKS will be judged, not our souls, and that Christ's righteousness is what is imputed to us - and that we are rewarded after the judgment seat for those 'few' things we do that are actually pleasing to God, according to Paul's teachings ONLY!


Born-again?
Born again is a term used to the Jews, not be used by Christians today.
  • 1) The fact that everyone uses it ought to send warning signs to us today.
  • 2)  John 3:7 shows the importance of knowing the "thee's" and "thou's."
  • I John 3:9 tells the tribulation Jews that if they have sinned at all, they can not be born of God.
  • Is that 'to' us today?  Not at all!

  • "QUICKEN"
    Paul says 'quicken!'
    Quicken - make alive

    Old Testament / Gospel usage.
    A dead person being made alive - John 5:21; Romans 4:17

    We will be quickened after we die physically.
    Romans 8:11


    However, this is the exciting news!

    We die spiritually

  • We die in Romans 7:9, so we do know that we have to be made alive again spiritually.
  • So, we must be made alive again - spiritually!
  • We are quickened - made alive!
    Ephesians 2:1 - And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
    Ephesians 2:5 - Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
    Colossians 2:13 - And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.

    There is more!
    We are MADE FREE - not set free!
  • Read Romans 6:14-23 - we are made free from sin... (vs. 18,22)
  • Romans 8:2 - made from from the law of sin and death.
  • Galatians 5:1 - don't let the 'do's' and don't' of Paul put you back in bondage.
  • II Corinthians 5:21 - we are made the righteousness of God in him.

  • So, can you can see that saying we are 'born-again' says nothing -and is just plain confusing as it takes folks to a place in the Bible that is not written to them?  That reference in John is there FOR them, but not TO them.  So why send folks to John 3:7 when Paul explains it so much better?

    This is why we are follow Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles
    - not to follow John or any of the apostle's doctrine today - Peter, James, Jude, etc. etc.


    Bonus notes:

    Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
    old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
    II Corinthians 5:17

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
    which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
    Ephesians 2:10

    Do you see the depth of this simple 'rightly dividing' awareness?
    Great, isn't it!



    Now you see it,
    But now they still don't!
    But at least you do!

    I hope you do, anyway!
    M Paulson