Ripe for Harvest

244 • R IPE FOR H ARVEST

F. The effects of evangelism: Regeneration and Adoption

1. Regeneration (sharing in the nature of God)

a. palingenesia – “new birth”, Titus 3.5; John 3.5-6

b. The power of the Word of God, James 1.18; 1 Pet. 1.23

c. The transforming power of the Holy Spirit, John 3.5-6; Eph. 5.26

2. Adoption (placement in the family of God and the body of Christ)

a. huiothesia – “a placing” (combination of the Gk. terms for son and to place)

b. The Spirit of adoption, Rom. 8.15-16

c. The believer as placed in the position of God’s own dear children, both within the Family and the Body, cf. Gal. 4.5; Eph. 1.5; Rom. 8.23; 9.4

II. Follow-Up: Incorporating and Nurturing in the Family of God

A. Definition: “Incorporation into the family of God for the purpose of edification and fruitfulness, to the glory of God”

1. Incorporation into the family of God – introduction and welcome into the family of God, Rom. 15.5-7

a. Making visible what has in fact become actual

b. Welcome as central factor of koinonia , 1 John 1.1-4

2. For the purpose of edification and fruitfulness

a. Edification – to build up another to the fullness of Christ, to maturity in Christ (Christlikeness), Eph. 4.9-15

Context Values/Vision

b. Fruitfulness – to be used of God to raise up as many disciples as possible as quickly as we can for the sake of fulfilling the Great Commission, John 15.16

Prepare Launch Assemble Nurture Transition Schedule/Charter