Subject: eph 1:4-5 what is predestination, chosen |
Bible Note: Hi Mark Thanks for your response. You ask me for a biblical reference from the OT to show that OT saints were regenerate and you don't want convoluted logical arguments. I don't think it's wrong to apply God-given logical thought to the data we have in scripture That's what the early church had to do when they came up with the doctrine of the trinity even though the word does not occur in the Bible. I deduce from the fact that the patriarchs, prophets and psalmists show every sign of loving God and not being hostile and rebellious (as Israel was in general) that their sinful hearts had been changed and that their hearts were circumcised. This, as far as I am concerned, is just another way of saying that they were regenerate (i.e. God had changed their hearts). David certainly prayed for this ("Create in me a pure heart O God - Psalm 51) as well as for forgiveness of sins. I reckon God granted both his requests. I don't think he could have written Psalm 23 unless God had worked at least as powerfully in his heart as he has in mine. If you think that a heart changed by God is not regeneration I would be interested to know in what ways you think regeneration differs from a heart changed from hatred of God to love for God and trust and delight in God. Every blessing Apollos |