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NASB | Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, |
Subject: Theological Terms: Regeneration |
Bible Note: Dear Terrib, No, the Scriptures do not teach that at all. Man's will is perfectly free (although corrupt). No one ever chooses to do what they do not deem will be best for themselves. No one's will is ever really forced. For example, a robber might demand all of your money. You refuse. Now, the robber can alter the circumstances that contribute to your choice, by holding a gun to your head. Given the new circumstances, you choose to hand over your money. Are you being forced? No, you still have a free will. You choose what you deem will best lead to the objectives of your immediate happiness: you give him your money that your life might be spared. Christ taught that the will is influenced to make choices by the heart (Matthew 12:33-37). In the fall of man, the ability of man to desire the things of God was lost (Romans 5:6; 8:7; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Titus 3:3-5; John 6:44). Sin has damaged his affections, and even confounded his ability to understand what is good and what is evil. (See Romans 1.) Consequently, what the Scripture is saying is that a lost man has a free will. However, because of the fall, he has a "moral inability" to choose to obey God. Therefore, God miraculous intervenes to restore this ability in those He has chosen to save (Colossians 1:13; John 8:36; Philippians 2:13; Romans 7:15, 18, 19, 21, 23). God would have been perfectly just to let all men die in their sins. Nothing obligates Him to redeem anyone. Furthermore, the believer now has the ability to choose that which is Godly (Ephesians 4:13). He is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galaltians 6:15). His effections have been renewed (2 Thes 3:5, 1 John 4:7). He desires the things of God, and will give all that he has in order to please Him (Matthew 10:37, 13:44, 46, Luke 14:26, etc.). In glorification, the final taint of sin of will be completely removed in every respect for the believer. He will then be perfrectly and immutably free to do only God's will. At that time, his full restoration will be complete. Salvation is entirely a work of God, start to finish (Ephesians 2:9). God is sovereign, not man. In Him, Doc "The will is not destroyed but rather repaired by grace." --John Calvin "God's predetermination of second causes is that effectual working of his, according to his eternal purpose, whereby though some agents, as the wills of men, are causes most free and indefinite, or unlimited lords of their own actions, in respect of their internal principle of operation (that is, their own nature), they are yet all, in respect of his decree, and by his powerful working, determined to this or that effect in particular; not that they are compelled to do this, or hindered from doing that, but are inclined and disposed to do this or that, according to their proper manner of working, that is, most freely." --John Owen |