The Power Of God Unto Eternal Salvation by Elder J. H. Purefoy

• PREFACE
• The Power of God unto Eternal Salvation
• 1. THE SAVING POWER OF GOD’S CHOICE.
• 2. THE SAVING POWER OF GOD’S WILL.
• 3. THE SAVING POWER OF GOD’S PURPOSE.
• 4. THE SAYING POWER OF GOD’S MERCY.
• 5. THE SAVING POWER OF GOD’S LOVE.
• 6. THE SAVING POWER IN GOD’S PREDESTINATION.
• 7. GOD’S SAVING POWER IN THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST.
• 8. GOD’S SAVING POWER AS SEEN IN REGENERATION.
• 9. GOD’S SAVING POWER MADE MANIFEST IN THE EVERLASTING PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS.
• 10. THE DISPLAY OF GOD’S SAVING POWER IN THE RESURREC¬TION FROM THE GRAVE.
• CONCLUSION

8. GOD’S SAVING POWER AS SEEN IN REGENERATION.

In the Holy Spirit’s work of regeneration we have quick¬ening, repentance, faith, the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is the workmanship of God by which sinners are cre¬ated new creatures, created in Christ, unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should, as new creatures, walk in them. Such are born again, born of God, born of in¬corruptible seed . “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” To be born again means that the sinner, male and female, must be regenerated, must be made a new creature, new and spiritual. Regeneration makes the sinner a new creature in soul, but not in body. It is in the resurrection that the regenerated sinner is made a new creature in body. The bodies of the saints are all regenerated and made new and spiritual and glorious in the resurrection and not before. Let it never be forgotten that the work of regeneration does not end till the mortal bodies of the saints are regenerated in the resurrection, and fashioned like unto the glorious body of Jesus. Quickening, or the imparting of eternal life to the sinner, is the first step, so to speak, in the work of regeneration. “You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Eph. 2:1. Then comes godly sorrow for sin that “worketh repentance unto salvation;” then faith, hope and love, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Regeneration makes the heart pure, and none but the pure in heart or soul shall see God.

Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” If the heart (soul) is not made pure before death there is no hope for it after death. “As the tress falls, so shalt it be. Regeneration of soul therefore is absolutely necessa¬ry to eternal salvation, and in this the saving power of God is as clearly seen as it is in all that has been said before in this article. Regeneration is not only necessary for eternal salva¬tion, but is also necessary to the enjoyment of eternal salva¬tion, and for the enjoyment of heaven and immortal glory. Re¬generation fits the soul for heaven, just as the resurrection fits and prepares the body for that blessed abode. Regenera¬tion also brings the sinner into spiritual existence in soul, while the resurrection is absolutely necessary to bring the body into spiritual existence. The spiritual change that must take place in the sinner, both in soul and body, in order to his eternal salvation and preparation for a home in heaven, begins with quickening and ends with the resurrection. Quickening makes the sinner spiritually alive, to God in soul and the soul is made a partaker in the divine life and nature. On the other hand the resurrection makes the sinner spiritually alive to God in body, and makes the body a1 partaker of the divine life and nature. The saved sinner is not a perfect and complete spiritual being in both soul and body till alter the resurrection of the body. Then in the reunion of soul and body we have the glorified saint in the likeness of Jesus, both in soul and body. “If Christ be in you, the body is dead be¬cause of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Rom. 8:10.