Choleric,
The previous post by Randy on being "born of the Spirit" is a perfect example of where Neo-MAD differs from the original teaching of Mid Acts dispensationalism. Let me show you the errors of Randy and those in the Neo-MAD camp. Randy certainly implies that being born again has nothing to do with beimng saved, writing that:
The Lord Jesus said that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of the Spirit (Jn.3:5). We also know that only those who are now saved have been translated into the kingdom (Col.1:13). So if words have any meaning it is absolutely necessary for the sinner to be born of the Spirit in order to enter into the kingdom of God so therefore being born again is necessary for salvation.
Randy says:
Anyone who is familiar with the meaning of the Greek word translated "regeneration" knows that that word literally means born again. In the following verse the Apostle Paul describes how he was saved:
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).
Here Paul uses the word "regeneration" in regard to his salvation.
This word is translated from the Greek word paliggenesia, which is the combination of palin and genesis.
Palin means "joined to verbs of all sorts,it denotes renewal or repetition of the action" (Thayer's Greek English Lexicon).
Genesis means "used of birth, nativity" (Thayer's Greek English Lexicon).
When we combine the meaning of the two words we have a "repetition of a birth."
It is obvious that the reference is not to a "physical" rebirth, or the repetition of one's physical birth. Paul could only be speaking of a repetition of a spiritual birth. And the words that follow make it certain that the "birth" of which Paul is referring to is a "spiritual" birth—"renewing of the Holy Spirit."
I wonder if Randy would argue that a regeneration of the Spirt is not necessary for salvation.
Randy also says:
This is not referring to the new birth but instead to the glorious body the Christian will put on at the rapture, and that is the same "blessed hope" referred to here by Paul:
"Awaiting our blessed hope, and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).
This refers to the Christian's inheritance:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Pet.1:3-4).
This is a body that is reserved in heaven and is described as being incorruptible. This matches up perfectly with the description of the body which Christians will put on at the rapture:
"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven" (2 Cor.5:1-2).
"We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel" (Col.1:3-5).
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Cor.15:51-53).
Let us also look at the following verse from the pen of John:
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (1 Jn.3:2).
These Christians were taught that when the Lord Jesus appears then those still living "shall be like Him," meaning that they would also have glorious bodies like His glorious body. The Scriptures will be searched in vain for any teaching that the saints who remain alive at the Lord Jesus' coming to set up His kingdom will be changed at His return. This is obviously referring to what will happen at the rapture, and only those in the Body of Christ will be caught up then. That means that those who received the Jewish epistles are members of the Body of Christ--despite the teaching of those within the Neo-MAD community.
In His grace,
Jerry