Subject: LEFT BEHIND? |
Bible Note: Dear Justme, I believe that regeneration (the replacement of the old stony heart with a new heart of flesh) is totaly the work of the Holy Spirit. I believe that this renewing work of God takes place before we are capable of either repentance or faith. Why do I believe this? 1 Cor 2:14 "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." Were we not natural or carnal men prior to our birth from above? Were we not spiritualy DEAD in trespasses and sins? It had to be by God's grace alone that we are saved. Once we had recieved a heart of flesh and in conjuncture with our new nature we realized our hopeless condition and fled to Christ our Saviour. Repentance abd faith are also gifts from God. We have nothing of which to boast! Rom 8:29,30 "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." Now I know that many christians believe that the term "foreknew" means that God, knowing the future, knows who will choose Christ and who will not. But this interpretation is in direct opposition to 1 Cor 2:14 cited above. Is it not? John |