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: New Creature: Obviously the gift of salvation and the means of salvation are in the province of God alone; that's Bible teaching (Eph 2:8,9). But "what if" the Philippian jailer had told Paul and Silas to take a flying leap when they answered the jailer's question, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" with? by saying "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." -- what then? The question was asked, the answer was given, the condition was set forth clearly: Faith was the condition. Faith is not a "work" but it is a condition of salvation. The Ephesians 2:8,9 salvation "formula" is that man is saved [delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation] by free grace [God's unmerited favor], but it is through the instrument of (man's) faith [trust, submission to, absolute reliance] in Jesus Christ. If all were saved by God's grace whether they had faith in Christ or not, what does John 3:16 then mean? Man's active role in salvation is a condition of the heart and mind called faith, and it is the only role he has; his role does not extend to or embrace works in any shape, form or fashion. But to say that man has absolutely no role, no option to believe or not to believe, no option to embrace or reject God's free offer of grace, is making of man a passive puppet instead of a free moral agent. The Bible does not teach that man is a mere puppet and that God is a capricious puppeteer. The sovereignty of God and sovereign election do not contract the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ. The wonderful doctrines of grace do not negate man's role and absolute necessity to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord (Rev. 22:17; John 3:18,19,36; 5:40; 2 Thess. 2:10-12). .... Revelation 22:17: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." ..... The water of life is free, free to whoever will come for it. But we still must come! --Hank |