The Real New Testament Church
  • Home
  • Contents
  • Preface
  • Plan
    • Plan - Kingdom >
      • Chapter 1 - Beginning
      • Chapter 2 - Errant Reasoning
      • Chapter 3 - Consequence
      • Chapter 4 - Adaptation
      • Chapter 5 - Original Earth
      • Chapter 6 - Renovated Earth
      • Chapter 7 - Degenerated Earth
      • Chapter 8 - Time, Space and Representation
      • Chapter 9 - Early Ages
      • Chapter 10 - Israelite Age
      • Chapter 11 - Gentile Age
      • Chapter 12 - Tribulation
      • Chapter 13 - Regenerated Earth
      • Chapter 14 - New Earth
    • Plan - Covenant >
      • Chapter 15 - Covenant
      • Chapter 16 - Major Covenants
      • Chapter 17 - Eternal Covenant
      • Chapter 18 - Renovation Covenant
      • Chapter 19 - Old Covenant for Israel
      • Chapter 20 - New Covenant for Israel
      • Chapter 21 - Church Covenant
      • Chapter 22 - Covenantal Celebration and Sign
  • New Testament Church
    • New Testament Church - Preparation >
      • Chapter 23 - Parables
      • Chapter 24 - Kingdom of Heaven Parables
    • New Testament Church Foundation >
      • Chapter 25 - New Testament Church
      • Chapter 26 - Eternal or Temporal
      • Chapter 27 - Calling
      • Chapter 28 - Description
    • New Testament Church - Composition >
      • Chapter 29 - Covenantal Headship
      • Chapter 30 - New Covenantal Headship
      • Chapter 31 - Practical Headship
      • Chapter 32 - Body
      • Chapter 33 - Governance
      • Chapter 34 - Women
    • New Testament Church - Incarnation >
      • Chapter 35 - Function and Form
      • Chapter 36 - Purpose and Mission
      • Chapter 37 - Manifestation
    • New Testament Church - Legality >
      • Chapter 38 - Law
      • Chapter 39 - Transgression
      • Chapter 40 - Justification
    • New Testament Church - Life (zoe) >
      • Chapter 41 - Life (zoe)
      • Chapter 42 - Progression of Life (zoe)
      • Chapter 43 - Birth
      • Chapter 44 - Perfect Example
      • Chapter 45 - Church Life
      • Chapter 46 - Sanctification
      • Chapter 47 - Rule of Life (zoe)
      • Chapter 48 - Life According to the Spirit
      • Chapter 49 - Return to Law
      • Chapter 50 - Faith
    • New Testament Church - Position >
      • Chapter 51 - Principle of Position
      • Chapter 52 - Position and Condition
    • New Testament Church - Confession >
      • Chapter 53 - Fellowship with God
      • Chapter 54 - Confession
      • Chapter 55 - Confession or Christ
    • New Testament Church - Doctrine and Practice >
      • Chapter 56 - Word of God
      • Chapter 57 - Values
      • Chapter 58 - Apostolic Teaching and Tradition
      • Chapter 59 - Christ-Centered
      • Chapter 60 - Simplicity
      • Chapter 61 - Prayer
      • Chapter 62 - Works
      • Chapter 63 - Giving
      • Chapter 64 - Practical Gatherings
      • Chapter 65 - Lord's Supper
      • Chapter 66 - Gathering Together
    • New Testament Church - Growth >
      • Chapter 67 - Biblical Church Growth
      • Chapter 68 - Practical Church Growth
      • Chapter 69 - Exponential Growth
    • New Testament Church - Simulation >
      • Chapter 70 - Temporal Simulation
      • Chapter 71 - Simulated Church History
      • Chapter 72 - Confirmation of Scripture
    • New Testament Church - Warfare >
      • Chapter 73 - Warfare
      • Chapter 74 - Utter Defeat
      • Chapter 75 - Freedom
      • Chapter 76 - Positional Warfare
      • Chapter 77 - Positional Armor
      • Chapter 78 - Cooperative Armor
      • Chapter 79 - Armor of God
      • Chapter 80 - Armor Appropriated
      • Chapter 81 - Full Armor
      • Chapter 82 - Life-Based Warfare
    • New Testament Church - Reformation >
      • Chapter 83 - Formation, Deformation and Reformation
      • Chapter 84 - Law and Life
      • Chapter 85 - Practice of Law
      • Chapter 86 - Practice of Life
      • Chapter 87 - From Law to Life
      • Chapter 88 - Doctrine, Desire and Dependence
      • Chapter 89 - Design, Decentralization, Demonstration and Divestment
  • Conclusion
    • Chapter 90 - From House to House: the Real New Testament Church
  • Endnotes
  • About
Vertical Divider
Picture
Vertical Divider
Vertical Divider
Chapter 7 - Degenerated Earth
Vertical Divider
Vertical Divider
The justice of God demanded the judgment of humanity for its rebellion against His authority. Consequently, mankind was banished from His presence. Separated from the highest source of life (zoe), the entire human race and its habitat, the renovated earth, experienced spiritual death.
     
The human rebellion against God did not again lead the earth to be transformed into a state of chaos. Rather than destruction, its separation from God led to reduction.
    
The rebellion of humanity caused the renovated earth to be reduced to a state of degeneration and darkness. However, it remained capable of accommodating fallen humanity.
    
A mere shadow of its former glory, the degenerated earth was unsuitable to exist in the kingdom of God. Nevertheless, God ensured His influential presence would remain on the degenerated earth. By the redemptive work of Christ, His kingdom (authority) was manifested within elect human beings. Its presence within the elect has allowed for the uninterrupted revelation of the attributes of God’s nature on earth. (cf. Romans 1:20; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12)
    
​According to plan, the fallen human race has been privileged to witness the revelation of God’s nature on the degenerated earth. Therefore, mankind has had the opportunity to recognize His existence, receive the redemptive benefit of His shared life (zoe), and repopulate His kingdom. (cf. Romans 1:19-20)
    
The angelic host has also benefitted from the revelation of God’s nature on earth. Witnessing an endless number of demonstrations of the divine nature on earth, they are given more than adequate opportunity to view His selfless love, unfailing mercy, and absolute justice in action.

    
The presence of God on the degenerated earth has served in the fulfillment of His eternal plan. His nature has continued to be vindicated and His kingdom repopulated.


                                                Kingdom Revelation
 
Like God, His kingdom (realm of authority) is heavenly and spiritual. It remains so when revealed on the degenerated earth.
    
Although heavenly and spiritual, the kingdom of God is sometimes manifested on the degenerated earth in a manner that is recognizable. For example, God’s authority during the Israelite Age was recognized by visible instruments of worship such as a tabernacle, lampstand, table, sacred bread, the golden altar of incense, the Ark of the Covenant, etc.
    
In contrast, the heavenly, spiritual authority of God during the Gentile Age has not been accompanied by visible instruments of worship. “… for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) As a result, the kingdom of God (realm of authority) manifested on earth during the Gentile Age is invisible not only to the Israelites but to the unbelieving world.
 
                                   Kingdom Citizenship
 
Mankind on the degenerated earth is not naturally qualified for citizenship in the kingdom of God. In his fallen state, he is without the necessary holiness, spirituality, and immortality.
    
Nevertheless, God has graciously provided the fallen on the degenerated earth with the opportunity for citizenship in His kingdom. The covenantal death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provided the means. It Allowing the Father the legal and moral freedom to convert fallen human beings to a state necessary for kingdom citizenship, it has presented a stunning demonstration of selfless love, unfailing mercy, and absolute justice.
    
God does not compel fallen human beings to accept His offer of kingdom citizenship. Privileged with freedom of choice, many fallen human beings simply choose to remain in a rebellious state of separation from God and His kingdom.

    
Citizenship in the kingdom of God necessitates conversion to a state of holiness, spirituality, and immortality. God graciously provided for it through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The necessary conversion occurs only by means of justification and regeneration.


Justification is a legal transaction. It provides fallen humanity with a new legal status. By the sacrificial blood of the Eternal Covenant, willing human beings have the privileged opportunity to receive the forgiveness of all transgression of divine law and a legal declaration of righteousness. As a result, God provides fallen human beings with the holiness necessary to enjoy kingdom citizenship.
     ​
​In contrast, regeneration is an organic event. It is a gracious act of God whereby He reforms or recreates degenerate human life into a new and improved state. Shared with God, the new life is spiritual and immortal and thus, suitable for kingdom citizenship. (cf. John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; Romans 4:17; 5:17; 6:4; 8:2; 11:15; Ephesians 2:1-7; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:22-23; 1 John 5:11-12)

Vertical Divider
Picture
Vertical Divider
                                  Scriptural Consistency

Since the fall of the human race, the divine standard for citizenship in the kingdom of God has remained consistent. It requires conversion from the fallen state by justification from sin and regeneration of life.
    
In the Old Testament era, the fallen state of humanity required justification from the transgression of divine law (sin) in the same manner as in the New Testament era. The words of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah revealed the possibility of justification for the people of ancient Israel. “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.’” (Isaiah 1:18) Isaiah later added, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul clarified that the Old Testament saints David and Abraham were justified by grace through faith alone. (Romans 4:1-25)
    
Old Testament saints also experienced regeneration of life like the saints of the New Testament era. Moses clarified to the ancient nation of Israel that they had the opportunity to receive new life. He said, “So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. The Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants​, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul (psuche - LXX), so that you may live (zoe - LXX).” (Deuteronomy 30:1-6) The circumcision of the heart requires regeneration of life. 
    
The Hebrew word for “heart” in Deuteronomy 30 is lebab (lay-bawb’). It is used over 800 times in the Old Testament. According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, “…heart (lebab) became the richest biblical term for the totality of man’s inner or immaterial nature. In biblical literature it is the most frequently used term for man’s immaterial personality functions as well as the most inclusive term for them since, in the Bible, virtually every immaterial function of man is attributed to the “heart.” Consequently, “….heart expresses the totality of a man’s nature and character, both inner and outer.” (1 Kings 8:23; Psalm 9:1)[1]

    
As indicated by Moses, fallen human beings cannot love God with heart and soul apart from the acquisition of new life. “People can love God with all their heart only after the heart itself has been radically changed to a Godward direction. When that happens, not only is obedience possible but so is life (so that you may live). Here more than physical life on the land is in view. There is a glimpse of life that does not end, life that comes to birth with the supernatural work of grace that alone is sufficient to account for all of these aspects of Israel’s future restoration.”[2]
    
Many of the noteworthy accomplishments recorded in the Old Testament could have only occurred through human beings who had experienced regeneration of life. For example, the leadership of Moses, the redemption of Job, the psalms of David, the prophesying of Jeremiah and the incredible sacrifices of all who are mentioned in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews.
    
New life received by the divine act of regeneration alone can account for the works of the Old Testament saints. Such works could not have been orchestrated or achieved apart from receiving new life that is shared with God.
    
The Old Testament standard for citizenship in the kingdom of God for Noah, Abram, Moses, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah did not differ from the New Testament standard for John, Peter, Paul, Titus, Timothy, and James. After the Fall, entrance into the kingdom of God has consistently required the conversion of mankind through means of legal justification and organic regeneration.
    
While the standard of citizenship for fallen human beings has never changed, there are two fundamental differences between the saints of the Old and New Testament eras. They are related to the indwelling and baptism of the Holy Spirit.
    
The Spirit of God indwelt the regenerated saints of the Old Testament. However, it was temporary, congruent with the will of God for specific occasions. In contrast, the regenerated saints of the New Testament era have been privileged to enjoy the permanent indwelling of the Spirit of God. He indwells at conversion, never to leave again.
    
The second fundamental difference between Old and New Testament saints is related to spiritual baptism. The saints of the Old Testament era were not baptized by the Spirit. Therefore, unlike the church of the New Testament, they were not joined as one heavenly, spiritual body. Instead, Old Testament era saints were an earthly assembly of people united to one another and God through mutual conversion. Relative to regeneration, they possessed an inward desire to pursue God. However, the permanency and intimacy associated with spiritual baptism was absent.
    
​The saints of the Old and New Testaments are significantly different. Nevertheless, justified, and regenerated, they are both members of the family of God and citizens of His kingdom.
Vertical Divider
Picture
Vertical Divider

 © 2025 James Hiatt                            
Vertical Divider
Vertical Divider

Vertical Divider
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly