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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | THE CROSS | John 3:16 | JibbyJee | 89092 | ||
Greetings Tim! My friend, something tells me that's a loaded question. I know you've gone over the issue many times. So if you're trying to "win me back" to the Arminian camp--YOU'RE IN A LOSING BATTLE! LoL! It all goes back to the BEGINNING, Tim. And it just so happens that you and I differ sharply on what God did in the BEGINNING. From this disagreement, very little of our theology will be similiar. Nevertheless, I will entertain you. I believe the following examples clearly teach regeneration preceding faith: Joh 8:47 He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God. Read it carefully. Even dig out your Bible and read the whole chapter in context. Notice Jesus didn't say "If you want to be of God, then all you need to do is hear" (or believe!). No, he said you CANNOT hear because you ARE NOT of GOD. Being of God comes first, then you hear, not vice versa. Of course, we are now talking about the effectual calling of God. ONLY those predestined to be saved will be effectually called (Rom 8:28-30). Oh, and furthermore, we are all alike children of the devil, until, by His grace, God regenerates us to hear his message by giving us a heart of flesh (Eze 36:26). Thus, regeneration precedes faith. Faith isn't something we do. It's what we don't do. It's an emptying, a turning away from self toward God--the Author, the Perfector, the Giver, and the Object of our faith. Salvation is all of grace, individually by the will of God alone and for His purposes alone (John 1:13, Rom. 9:16, Eph 1:4, 2 Thess 2:13). In Christ, JIBBS |
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2 | THE CROSS | John 3:16 | Morant61 | 89107 | ||
Greetings Jibbs! In all honesty my friend, I am not trying to win anyone to a certain position. What I am trying to do is make sure that these debates actually focus on what Scripture says, not what we think it means. Thus, I was simply trying to make the point that the statement 'regeneration precedes faith' is a theological assumption, not a Biblical statement. So, let's look at what Scripture actually says about faith: Gal. 2:16 - "know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." Does this verse say taht we are justfied prior to or after faith? Gal. 3:26 - "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus," Does this verse say that we become sons of God prior to or after faith? Gal. 3:2 - "I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?" Does this verse say that we received the Spirit before or after believing? Rom. 3:26 - "he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus" Does this verse say that we are justified before or after faith? Rom. 3:22 - "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference," Does righteousness come before or after faith? John 20:31 - "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." Do we receive life before or after believing? Acts 16:31 - "They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.'" Are we saved and then believe, or do we believe and are then saved? Eph. 1:13 - "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit," Are we sealed prior to or after believing? All of these verses specifically mention either salvation or elements of salvation. And, all of these verses specifically say that these things come after faith. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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