Thematic Bible: Regenerating


Thematic Bible




so that He could dedicate her [to Himself], after cleansing her by means of the washing of water [i.e., immersion], accompanied by the word. [Note: "The word" here refers either to a person's profession of faith (See Rom. 10:9) or to the Gospel message (See Rom. 10:17), both of which are associated with immersion]. Verse ConceptsHoly Spirit, Types OfBible, Given ForTypes Of ChristCleansing The BodySanctified OnesBeing Cleansed From SinThe Church UniversalThe Effect Of The Word Of GodCommunication In MarriageLoving Your WifeSanctificationRenewalcleansing


These people have been [specially] selected, and [their acceptance was] pre-planned by God the Father, and they were set apart through [the work of] the Holy Spirit. This resulted in their obedience and sprinkling [Note: This is a figurative reference to the Old Testament practice of cleansing, See Exodus 24:7-8] by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God's unearned favor and peace be continually upon you. Verse ConceptsAbility, Of God To SaveGod, All knowingFaith, Nature Ofethics, and graceelection, to salvationElection, Results InGod, Unity OfHoliness, Believers' Growth InGod's ForeknowledgeRevelation, Responses ToSanctification, Nature And BasisSprinklingAbundance, SpiritualObedience To GodPredestination, Of EventsForeordained PlansOrderliness In SalvationThe Trinity In SalvationThe Holy Spirit, And SanctificationSprinkling BloodGod In Three PersonsGrace Be To YouThe FatherThe Blood Of JesusSanctificationIdentity In Christ

If a person rids himself of the common ones [i.e., the influences of evil people and qualities], he will be an instrument for [God's] honor, dedicated, suitable for use by the Master, [and] prepared for [doing] every good deed. Verse ConceptsFutilityGood WorksReadinessSelf DenialChristians, Names OfHoly VesselsPurgingPeople Have HonourUseful PeoplePreparationSanctificationChanging Yourselfcleansinginstrumentsmasterpiece





If you know that Christ is [truly] righteous [verse 1], then you should also know that everyone who does what is right has been [spiritually] conceived [and eventually born] by God [See 5:18]. Verse ConceptsBorn Again, Results OfBirth, SpiritualRighteousness, As FaithNew Birth, The Means OfNew Birth, Evidenced ByFruits Of RighteousnessRighteousness Of ChristLoving Everyonebridgespractice


No one who has been [spiritually] conceived [and eventually born] by God continues to live a sinful life, because God's seed [i.e., His word, See Luke 8:11] continues to live in his heart, so he cannot [continue a life of] sin, because he has been conceived by God. Verse ConceptsBorn Again, Results OfThe New Man In ChristBirth, SpiritualOffspringRegenerationSalvation, Nature OfSeedSin, Avoidance OfNew Birth, Results OfFruits Of RighteousnessContinuing In SinUnable To Do Other ThingsLiving In SinSpiritual Offspringpracticerebirthimpossible




We [who preach the true Gospel] represent God; the person who knows God listens to our message; the one who does not belong to God does not listen to us. This is how we can know [the difference between those speaking by] the Holy Spirit of truth and [those speaking by] the spirit of [Satan's] error. Verse ConceptsRevelation, In NtDistinguishingBeing MisleadOther People Of GodGod's TruthErrorThe Spirit Of TruthTelling The TruthDeceptionListening To GodPerspectiveTruth Not Being In Us



It was God's purpose to bring us into being [spiritually] by the message of truth, so that we could become a kind of "firstfruits" of those He created. [Note: "Firstfruits" here suggests either that Christians are the best of all of God's creatures (Num. 18:12), or that they were the first to be converted, with many more to come]. Verse ConceptsBorn Again, Produced Byelection, to salvationBeing Born AgainAssurance, nature ofBirth, SpiritualGospel, Promises OfOrigins Of Spiritual LifeRegenerationSalvation, Nature OfNew Birth, The Means OfPredestination, Spiritual EventsBible, Names OfBible, Given ForReceiving God's WordMetaphorical FirstfruitsWhat God's Will IsExerciserebirth

Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, a person cannot see the kingdom of God [i.e., enter it. See verse 5], unless he is born from above [Note: The words "from above" are also used in verse 31, but in this place they could also mean "again," or "anew" and refer to the source of a person's second birth]. Verse ConceptsBaptism, significance ofAffirmationsBorn Again, NecessaryBeing Born AgainSpiritual Blindness, Removal OfBirth, SpiritualKingdom Of God, Entry IntoThe New NatureNecessityOnce Saved Always SavedRegenerationResurrection, SpiritualNew Birth, Necessity OfDatingEternal SecurityChrist Telling The TruthTruly TrulyNew BirthJesus BirthNew BeginningsEclipserebirth

You people show [i.e., by your conversions] that you are a letter from Christ, delivered by us [i.e., the result of our ministry], not written with ink but with the Holy Spirit of the living God; not on stone tablets [i.e., as in the case with Moses' ministry], but on tablets of the human heart. [See Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10]. Verse ConceptsFreedom from the LawCovenant, the newGod, Living And Self sustainingPaul, Teaching OfTabletsNames And Titles For The ChristianThe Spirit Of GodStones As MonumentsWriting On PeopleOther References To The HeartEclipseLiving For GodMinistryministering



Every person who believes that Jesus is the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one] has been [spiritually] conceived [and eventually born] by God. And everyone who [continually] loves God, who did the conceiving, also [must continually] love the person whom God has [spiritually] conceived. Verse ConceptsBorn Again, Produced ByAssurance, nature ofGospel, Responses ToOrigins Of Spiritual LifeOrthodoxy, In NtRegenerationUnity, Of God's PeopleLove Towards God, Results InNew Birth, Evidenced BySaving FaithBenefits Of Faith In ChristSaid To Be The ChristBelieving In ChristJesus BirthLoving EveryoneFathers LoveFamily ConflictChild Of GodLoving Childrenbridgesparenthood

[Such people] were born of God, not of blood ties [i.e., from physical descendants], nor of the will of the flesh [i.e., merely from a sexual desire], nor of the will of man [i.e., from a husband's desire for offspring]. Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainNew Birth, The Means OfThe Holy Spirit, And RegenerationBirth ControlNot My Will But God'sMere MenOther People Of GodWhat God's Will IsThe Will Of MenNew BirthGod's PlanJesus BirthMaking DecisionsRaising ChildrenPassionDecision MakingGods PlanChild Of GodGod's Plan For Usfatherhoodrebirth

It was God's purpose to bring us into being [spiritually] by the message of truth, so that we could become a kind of "firstfruits" of those He created. [Note: "Firstfruits" here suggests either that Christians are the best of all of God's creatures (Num. 18:12), or that they were the first to be converted, with many more to come]. Verse ConceptsBorn Again, Produced Byelection, to salvationBeing Born AgainAssurance, nature ofBirth, SpiritualGospel, Promises OfOrigins Of Spiritual LifeRegenerationSalvation, Nature OfNew Birth, The Means OfPredestination, Spiritual EventsBible, Names OfBible, Given ForReceiving God's WordMetaphorical FirstfruitsWhat God's Will IsExerciserebirth