regeneration

The Summation

There are many that may disagree with my teaching on regeneration, however none have given any real refutation to the thought. I am open to any such rebuttal in the future, and would certainly change my mind if there was a line of thought based on Scripture that would prove that regeneration was an Old Testament concept. This should include the how of regeneration before the offering of Christ. I would also like to have alternative answers to the questions that my teaching answers. (ie: The need for Sheol, the fact that the Holy Spirit did not indwell the Old Testament saints, why the Holy Spirit could not come until the Lord Jesus ascended, etc.)

There is no Old Testament or New Testament reference that states that the Old Testament saint was regenerated. It is strictly an assumption to say that they were regenerated - an assumption based on nothing in the Word.

Aside from all that has been presented is the possibility of other questions that might be answered by this teaching.

Some possibles:

1. Why is the relationship between Satan and God different since the cross?

2. Why is the relationship between Satan and the Old Testament saint different than that of the New Testament saint?

3. Why did the Old Testament saint not have the benefits of the fruit of the Spirit?

4. Why were the Old Testament saints not sealed by the Holy Spirit?

5. Why were the Old Testament saints not baptized with the Holy Spirit?

6. Why is there no baptism mentioned for the Old Testament saint?

7. Why is there such a change in God's relationship with saints between the Old and New? In the old they went through a priest, today we are priests, in the Old they could not approach God, today we have direct access to Him.

8. Add some more in - I suspect that there are others.

These questions are not related directly to regeneration, but they are directly related to the fact that there were some major shifts after the cross - these shifts were due to the work of Christ - they were not possible before that work was finished.

I trust that you will not reject what has been presented just because it does not fit into your assumptions about the teaching you have received. I also trust that you will take time to consider what has been presented in light of the Word and, over time, find that there might be some validity to it - if not then thank you for honesty giving it some thought.