Subject: eph 1:4-5 what is predestination, chosen |
Bible Note: Hi Edwin, As I use the terms "regeneration" and "re-birth", I am speaking of exactly the same thing by both. This is that moment in time that my sin is put away from me, and God restores that which was lost, spiritual life. I am now in fellowship with my Heavenly Father. I am now innocent. I have been delivered from my body of sin. I have been delivered from the curse of the Law. It is this deliverance that we speak of when we say "salvation." While I may not yet see the final deliverance from this body of sin, and from the curse, this deliverance has been effected. I am saved. Regeneration, Biblically, is that specific act which God does in us that spiritually reverses the curse of sin, the fall of man. To any who believe Once Saved Always Saved, as I do, this act is never un-done. The moment of regeneration is the moment of salvation. So then if regeneration happens before we understand the gospel, then of necessity, we are saved apart from an understanding of the gospel. I do not believe that is true. That is not what the Bible teaches in my estimation. If regeneration happens before repentance, then we are saved before repentance, and God saves unrepentant sinners. I do not believe that is true, or what the Bible teaches, again, in my estimation. It seems that you may agree with much or all of this, I'm not certain. I want to be clear in what I believe. You wrote something rather intriguing: "firstly the Lord plants His seed (not the Holy Spirit)" Are you then saying that regeneration comes but without baptism in the Holy Spirit? Love in Christ, Mark |