Bible Question:
I have been conducting an ongoing survey of willing participants in this forum. I would like to be able to wrap up my survey, but would appreciate your help. It would be helpful for me, if I could get as many responses as possible to the following question: In the event we Chrsitian's call "born again" which also has been called the new birth or regeneration, do you personally believe we are personally active or passive in bringing about our "new Birth?" All you have to do is answer; active or passive I do not desire to disagree with anyone, or argue about this with them. I just want to finish this survey and give you my findings. God Bless you all New Creature |
Bible Answer: I'm afraid the Lord doesn't portray salvation as being quite that simple as you depict for as Paul says 1 Cor 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 1 Cor 3:7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 1 Cor 3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 1 Cor 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 1 Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 1 Cor 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 1 Cor 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 1 Cor 3:14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 1 Cor 3:15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Cor 3:17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Correspondingly, we too as recipients of God's Gift of Salvation have our part to play. We must repent, confess and be baptized. Yes, definitely that is our active participation in this process but God's action is the most powerful and long lasting as He's the one who actually saves us and adds us to His Son's Body. Mankind would love to sum up this process in just a few words or maybe even one word but that's impossible as it wouldn't do justice to the amazing sacrifice and selfless love as exhibited by our Lord in going to the cross. I hope this is clear, at least as clear as presented by God's Word. Blessings to you. Country Girl |