The Divine Seed

Ardelean Rzvan Ioan E-mail: part@part.ro The Bible surprises us in 1John 3.9, by stating that Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. There is no doubt that many people, like me, have pondered upon this verse, as to be honest with ourselves, we realize in wonder, that after our being born again we can still sin, and even without too much effort. To understand this we have to grasp the mystery of the divine seed in this verse Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. I. The mystery of the divine seed In the book of Malachi 2:15 we are being told about the existence of a godly seed: But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring (godly seed in KJV). The history of Jesus birth tells what the angel said to Mary: Luke 1:35 The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Consequently, Mary became pregnant from the Holy Spirit. I am convinced that for this to be made possible there had to be a godly seed, in the proper sense, not metaphorically, even if we cant fully grasp what a seed of divine nature is like. Theologians agree 100% that Jesus is the Son of God, being born of God, but also the Son of Man 100%, being born of a woman. The Church, the wife of the Lamb must have the same genetics with the latter, to be of the same species. Neither us do we marry with somebody of another species. Thus, Man, who is by natural birth son of man 100%, becomes the son of God 100% by being born again. I am emphasizing that following this process, the concept of Gods sons is precisely selfdefining, in the way that we become Gods born sons, not Gods created sons. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GodJohn 1:12-13 Thus, the regenerated man is Son of Man 100%, but at the same time Son of God 100%, having the same nature as Christ.

Being born again does not only mean just to be forgiven of sins, but far more! Practically, Christ has founded a new species, a heavenly one, from which we are part of by being born again. In the Old Testament (OT) people would address God as Father, in his quality of Creator : Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? But in the new covenant the born again address God as Father, as sons born of Him, not created sons. I am convinced that for being born of God, there has to be a Godly seed in the proper sense, not metaphorically, even if we do not fully understand this. In a certain sense, we could declare that in the moment of regeneration, we are being inseminated by the Holy Spirit of God with a divine seed, so as Mary has been. I actually believe that this is the right meaning of the verse in Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. The word seal, in original is sphragizo, which means to lay a mark of authenticity. We all know that our authenticity as human species is given by our DNA. I take this seal, mark, this verse is mentioning, as representing our insemination with a divine DNA. Im triggering your attention to the fact that this divine seed we are being inseminated with, comes through the Word, but it is not the Word. So was the case with Mary. At the beginning, the Word came through the angel, then, following Marys approval, there came the proper seed through the Holy Spirit. The same is with the Word of the Gospel, it is preached (this preaching is illustrated as a sowing, as in the parable of the sower), and following our approval, the Holy Spirit inseminates, seals us you were sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30). First comes the approval (the covenant), then comes the insemination1. I wish to ponder upon some Scripture verses, which confirm the above-mentioned. 1. Jesus answered to them, Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods?[c] 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken) John 10:34-35. By spiritual birth, we become Gods sons and daughters. Do not misunderstand me, man does not become God, in the esoteric sense (Man god by himself), but becomes the bearer of a divine genetics. The regenerated man, being the son of God, bears in himself the divine nature. (references Ps 82:6, John 10:35, 2 Peter 1:4) We do not become independent gods, but in unity with Him, as the branch in the vine (John15.5). We are one with Him, as a Church, as mystical body of Christ, as theologians put it (John 17.21-23), and we could not be one unless we have a divine nature. 2. having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible. 1 Peter 1:23 In comparison with Adam and the angels, who are Gods created sons, Jesus is the born Son of God. (John 1:14; Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:5,6; Romans 8:29) In the same way, in the process of spiritual birth, we are born of Him. We are born of a Godly seed. (see also John 1:13, 1 John 4:6, 1 John 3:8) 3. Jesus answered: Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is

born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. John 3:5-7 We can understand from Jesuss message to Nicodimus that it is about a divine birth, of spiritual nature. 4. as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, 2 Peter 1:3-4 Thorugh spiritual birth, together with this divine seed, we receive the Godly nature in ourselves; we are made bearers of His nature, of a divine DNA, and consequently bearers of Godly character 5. God who has revealed in the OT as I am who I am, reveals Himself in the New Covenant as Father. Although we can also find in OT verses which present God as Father, they signify its paternity in creation (Malachi 2:10) The fundamental difference is that in the NT God presents us as His sons, of the same nature, not as His creation! Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God![a] Therefore the world does not know us,[b] because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.1John3:1-2 (see also Romans 8:29) 6. Thus, we can grasp Gods promise in Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them. By sowing the divine seed, God has put His nature into us. This is the way in which He puts his laws into our hearts. (see also Hebrews 8:10, Jeremiah 31:33) To conclude upon the above-mentioned, we can infer that in the process of being born again, we are being inseminated with a divine seed, in the proper sense, not metaphorically; as a result of this process, a new being emerges, of heavenly species, in Jesus likeness, bearing a Godly nature. II. The Inner Man Paul speaks as if following the regeneration, two tendencies coexist in us, as two different men. One is the inner man, the spiritual one, regenerated, (Ephesians3:16) and the other one is the outside man, the flesh, consisting of worldly life patterns and impulses of the flesh (Romans 7.22-25, 2 Corinthians 4.16). The two tendencies are incompatible (Galathians 5.17). While the inner man has to grow, the flesh has to be crucified. We can imagine the inner man as a plant which comes up inside us out of a divine seed and which needs to be protected from being smothered by thorns and weed of the flesh. a) This illustration is very useful for the understanding of the rapport between our conscious efforts to change our behavior, for the purpose of our conformation more and more with Gods standards, and our inner change. Although we have to give all diligence, add to your faith virtue, (2 Peter 1:5-7 ) and to resist to bloodshed, striving against sin (Hebrews 12.4), we 3

must be aware that these do not have anything to do with the inner man, but with the outside man. With this attitude, we crucify our flesh, in other words we weed our garden not to smother the seed. By persevering in changing our behavior we do not become more spiritual, but we only create the appropriate conditions for the divine nature in ourselves to develop. So, we must understand that by the correction of our behavior we cannot speed up the spiritual evolution, but by lack of correction we can smother and even suffocate the inner man. On the other hand, it is God who makes the inner man grow. In the same way in which we cannot speed up the growth of a flower or a child, we also cannot speed up the spiritual growth. This growth is ensured by God himself. Mark 4:26-27 And He said, The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. Now, we can understand more profoundly the fact that we are His workmanship, Ephesians 2:10. We are not the result of our own work, our efforts to refrain ourselves or change our behavior, but we are the result of the inner growth of a godly seed. In exchange, by carelessness in nourishing the plant we can delay its development. The nourishment of the new man is being made by Gods Word, Logos and Rhema, praise and worship, prayer, confession, testimony, close fellowship with God and the list may continue. (see the message Spiritual Development) Lack of all these leads to spiritual inanition and further triggers growth delays. b) When it is well nourished, the inner man grows and Jesus is formed in us (Galatians 4.19). When the former reaches a certain stature, he has the capacity to take over the control of our life. The plant becomes a powerful tree, which can no longer be invaded by weed. At this stage, the statement in 1 John 3:9, whoever has been born of God does not sin, becomes functional. Our inner man, being born of Him, has the divine nature and cannot sin. When this inner man takes over the control of our life, indeed we cannot sin anymore. What do we understand by the fact that this inner man takes over? In Acts 3 we are told about the healing in Jesus Name of a lame man standing at the gate called Beautiful. Following this event, the prists council forbade Peter and John to talk about Jesus. In reply, Peter and John answered: Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Acts 4 :19-20 Therefore, something very powerful was in them. There was an inner constraint to do Gods will. We can see the same pattern in Jeremiahs life, who underwent great suffering from priests and the people because he was prophesizing the Babylon exile: Because the word of the LORD was made to me a reproach and a derision daily. 9 Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name. But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not. Jeremiah 20:8-9 We have also the verses:
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Acts 20:22 For the love of Christ constraineth us; 2Chorinthians 5:14

All those who reach this stature, will express effortlessly God`s nature. We must take notice that this control take over upon ourselves is not made by spiritual possession, as the evil spirits do when they take over the control upon the possessed ones, but we constantly have the possibility to choose (1Corinthians14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ). God does not violate our free will. Another appropriate illustration would be from the technical field: the artificial making of silicium crystals. Silicium is a mineral of the same group as Carbon. Carbon, better known, has two forms of manifestation in a solid state: an amorphous one and a crystalline one, the diamond. Although they have the same chemical composition, everyone knows that their value is dramatically different. Silicium also exists in two forms: amorphous and crystalline. Silicium crystals are produced industrially as they form the basis of integrated circuits and microprocessors. It is interesting the way these are produced out of amorphous silicium. First, it is necessary a purification of silicium at high temperatures, the slag being removed. Then the pure silicium melt is introduced in a recipient, which looks like a glass full of silicium melt. In the upper part, a small germ of crystalline silicium is fixed in a mandrel. The crystal is slowly lowered until it reaches the melt, then it is slowly lifted up. It is amazing what is happening. While being lifted, the crystal is slowly rotating and the melt is also lifting up becoming crystalline silicium. It is as if that germ imprints its crystalline structure into the whole melt. It is the same with the divine germ sown in us, which engraves its structure and its nature onto our personality, our being, drawn by God through high temperatures for purification. Our transformation is a true metamorphosis. This word is literally used by Paul in Romans12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed (metamorfeo) by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. [I mention the fact that I am refering to metamorphosis as to the biological process which a larva undergoes to transform itself into a butterfly, process which involves a profound organic restructuring, a profound reorganization, as the new being has a totally different aspect, metabolism, nature in comparison with the old being (see for example, the monarch butterfly)] Our transformation into a new being, a heavenly one is truly a metamorphosis and even much more than this. We become a different being, with a different nature. We could say we become aliens. Paul says that we are heavenly; we are no longer earthly beings, we are sojourners and pilgrims on earth, our citizenship being in heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:47-48; 1 Peter 2:11, Philippians 3:20) III The implications of this approach

a) The born again man has a divine nature. The seed contains the spirit of adoption and is the place in which Jesus and the Father come to live within ourselves. The flesh is not adequate for them to inhabit. Thats why in the OT the Spirit used to come upon and not in (Judges 14:6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, see also Judges 11:29, 1 Samuel 10:10, 2 Chronicles 15:1, Ezekiel 37:1, Luke 2:25 etc)

Omul nscut din nou are o natur divin. Samna conine duhul nfierii si este locul in care Isus si Tatl vin s locuiasc in noi . Carnea nu este adecvat pentru locuirea lor. De aceea in VT duhul venea peste, mai degrab dect n (Judecatori 14:6 Duhul Domnului a venit peste Samson, v i: Judecatori 11:29, 1Samuel 10:10, 2Cronici 15:1, Ezechiel 37:1, Luca 2.25 etc) Unlike the OT where the Spirit used to come upon, in the NT the Spirit comes in us (Acts 9:17) and onto us (Acts 1:8). While in the OT the Spirit used to come occasionally, in the NT the Spirit dwells in us. So, we, the born again, are born of God and receive His nature in us. This is something so wonderful that only through revelation can we apprehend what truly means to have the same nature, the same DNA with Jesus. Thus we become aware that we do not have to change, our nature cannot be changed, improved, it must be crucified, discarded. Our role is that to ensure the conditions for the seed to grow, to be nourished with Gods Word, with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit. We have to nourish the new nature, to protect it so as to mature and take over the control upon the old nature. We should behave as if we are pregnant. A pregnant woman cannot eat anything, she looks after herself, she takes care of the seed she is bearing. Our focus should be upon pregnancy development and not upon ourselves. We should relate to this seed as to our Alter Ego: no longer think in terms of ME ME ME (I must do more, I must refrain, I must struggle to grow etc), but in terms of Him in me (my new Ego is Him sown in me) (Galatians 2.20) b) This divine seed, which He lays in us the moment we are born of Him, is undestructible and consequently invincible. having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. 1 Peter 1:23 Our eternal destiny starts the moment we are born again, not the moment of our resurrection. This fact triggers major consequences, as we can see the fruit of this seed during our earthly life and access its power. We receive in our inner man something invincible on the condition to activate that something by faith. Our body can become tired, our soul can have feelings of discouragement, our reason can declare we have sometimes failed; there are battles we have lost, mistakes we have made, but despite all these there is something invincible, undestructible in us. And if we have this perspective, by faith we can always rise and finally we will win the battle. We have the capacity to be victorios due to this seed in us. God wouldnt ask us to be victorios if we couldnt be like that. For this He laid in us a gene of victory. We have no excuse for being some defeated Christians, even if we sometimes go through trials or even through the valley of the shadow of death, through the wilderness or failure. We must be aware that problems are real, sometimes necessary, sometimes inevitable, but at the same time temporary in our lives. We bear in ourselves a seed of invincibleness, which transcends our human condition. That is why: Together with Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree may not blossom,/ Nor fruit be on the vines; /Though the labor of the olive may fail, /And the fields yield no food; /Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, /And there be no herd in the stalls- 18 Yet I will rejoice in the

LORD,/ I will joy in the God of my salvation. Daniels friends said: Daniel 3:17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up. 1 Samuel 30:6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. That is why we are told: Ephesians 6:10 be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ[b] who strengthens me. 2 Timothy 1:8 in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.

Focusing upon the divine nature brings optimism, focusing upon the human nature brings discouragement. c) This seed inherits heaven, nothing else. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 . 1 Corinteni 15:37-50And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh[c] of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam became a living being.[d] The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord[e] from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear[f] the image of the heavenly Man.50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Many good-hearted and kind people will go to hell because they did not receive the heavenly seed of being born again. 7

d) Through the mystery of divine seed we can better understand certain verses: a. Jesus never leaves us
This is a faithful saying: / For if we died with Him,/ We shall also live with Him./ 12 If

we endure, / We shall also reign with Him./ If we deny Him,/He also will deny us./13 If we are faithless, /He remains faithful; /He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 This is an important revelation: He is the Lord Jesus, but by divine seed He is also in us, thus he cannot deny himself, even when we are wrong. He will not deny us, as He cannot deny himself. This truth brings an important contribution to clarifying the question concerning the possibility of losing salvation. According to this verse, He will never give up on us. But we can break the covenant by denying Him. For this reason, nothing can separate us from Gods love. Romans 8:39 b. God is our portion of inheritance What David says God is my portion of inheritance (Psalm 16:5, Psalm 73:26 etc) is not a metaphor, but a prophetic truth, as by divine seed, He is literally in us, God himself is our inheritance. c. Jesus lives in us I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; Galatians 2:20; To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which[d] is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 . By His seed He really lives in us, its not a metaphor. d. By His seed, His Kingdom is inside of us, its not a metaphor
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luc 17:21

e. The teaching of anointment But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will[e] abide in Him.1 John 2:27 The anointment abides in us due to the divine seed, which contains in itself this anointment. Logos lives in us as seed, this is how the laws are written into our heart (Heb 10.16). There is a manifestation of God in us as nature, by inner anointment, which teaches us. (1 John 2:20-27) To be noticed, at the same time, that by Rhema we receive words, messages, missions from the Holy Spirit as an external aspect, as manifestation of the Father Himself. f. Love is not produced by education, but it is poured, it is given, by divine seed because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5 8

g. The divine seed grant us the capacity to hear the voice of the Father. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27 IV. To avoid a confusion

Finally, I wish to foresee a confusion which might appear following the reading of this message, and that is the perception that each of us, having the same nature with Jesus can do everything He could do, and even more.(John 14:12) In what concerns us to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christs gift. (Ephesians 4:7), so that Paul says For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) Our spiritual gifts are imparted by God by grace, as He pleases, together with a certain measure of faith. On the other hand, in what concerns Jesus , For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. (John 3:34) That is why, in my opinion, the promise in John 14:12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father, is not addressed to all believers, although God can choose his servants to whom He entrusts a special anointment, but is mainly addressed to the Church as corporate body, as a Bride. The bride has the mandate to do the same works that the Groom has done, in full dependence on the Father, to express his divine nature and spiritual stature.

NOTE: All Scripture verses used in this document are taken from the New King James Version , Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved, from the Bible available at www.biblegateway.com