Subject: LEFT BEHIND? |
Bible Note: Dear Tim, you said "These all indicate that repentance takes place prior to regeneration" I don't agree (what a surprise!). I believe that for at least 2 reasons they must accompany regeneration rather than preceed it. 1. 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 understandthem, because they are spiritually appraised" 2. Repentence prior to regeneration would mean that we are saved by something in addition to faith. As I have stated before, regeneration is the sole work of God and that repentence and faith are the saving graces which accompany it. I do not think that the reformed view is in conflict with 2 cor 7:10 because in the progression of the order of salvation, It does not see all the elements as necesarily happening sequentially over time. 1. Calling (The general call of the gospel.) 2. Regeneration (the creative act of God making the elect new beings. 3. Conversion (the exercise of that new heart in reponding to the gospel in repentance and faith) 4. Justification (the judicial act of God upon repentance and faith by which he declares and constitutes His elect "just" or righteous) 5. Adoption (the act by which God admits them intothe rights and privileges of the sons of God) 6. Sanctification (the work of God's Spirit by which the elect are enabled to perservere in faith unto ever greater conformity to the will of God) 7. Glorification (by which, ar the resurrection of the body, the believer is atlast constituted perfect in Christ in body and soul, forever. (G.I. Williamson, The WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH FOR STUDY CLASSES) John |