Archive for the ‘Regeneration’ Category
Why Salvation By Grace “Alone” Is Not Accepted By Many Christians.
Ephesians 2:4-5 KJV
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you have been saved)
Salvation by Grace and the theology of election gp hand and hand. Paul and Peter taught them using the teachings of Jesus. John chapter six is an example of the what Jesus said and taught.
For the first 300 plus years of the early church were these teachings believed and taught. Then a theologian named Pelagius appeared on the scene and emphasized human choice in salvation and denied original sin and especially stressed the freedom of human will. Pelagius was accused of heresy in 415 and his doctrines were harshly criticized.(From Wikipedia) However, the seed of a specific Christian church was planted.
Whereas salvation by Grace, being born-again, happens not because one is born into a Christian family or by works of flesh nor by the will of man but by the will of God.
God’s foreknowledge of who will be saved is not based on who will choose to accept or reject Jesus of their own will. God through Paul in chapter 9 of Romans makes this perfectly clear..
Romans 9:11-16 KJV (in speaking about Jacob and Esau).
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) [12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. [13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. [14] What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. [15] For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. [16] So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Nothing more needs said than what Paul wrote in these verses,.
Moving on…
The reason many Christians reject the doctrine of Salvation by Grace “Alone” is because it eliminates completely man’s participation in his being saved by his will and through self-effort; co-operating with God.
You see, man’s pride needs to be involved. For in doing “his” part, he feels he will be worthy to receive from God forgiveness for his sins and be born-again by the Spirit of God.
In other words … man does his part and God will reward him by doing His part. The problem with this teaching is that this is a works salvation; very much like being under the Law in obedience to God doing a work that God demanded of man, as found in the Old Covenant. In order to receive a blessing or see a promise come to fruition man must do his part before God will do His part.
Anything a person thinks, says or does in order to receive salvation from God is a work of man’s will, but Grace says something else.
In Titus 3:5-7 KJ
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy God saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Note: justified by Grace is the act of being made righteous when one is born-again. Saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit is a description of what happens when one, who is dead in sin, is born-again. In order for man, who is dead in sin, is able to respond in believing faith he first must be made alive; bon-again. “saved by Grace”.
It is by God “Alone”, who by Grace “Alone”, saves, “Alone”, apart from any works of man, irregardless of his desire to cooperate in his salvation. For salvation is all of God.
This is why Paul can write:
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you have been saved).
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Kept By The Power Of God
1 Peter 1: 5… Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
I once belonged to a certain Christian religion that believed that one could be saved and born-again by an act of their will in choosing to accept Jesus as Savior. This teaching also taught that by an act of their will they could also loose their salvation. Almost everyone to whom I spoke admitted they worried on a daily basis about doing something that would result in loosing their salvation. They had no real assurance of keeping their salvation and of going to heaven when they died. How sad.
In studying scripture I could see that this was not backed up by what the New Testament, especially Jesus, taught. Soon I left and found a church that believed in and taught the opposite.
Instead of me giving my opinion I have decided to let scripture, and Jesus, speak about this and pray that the Holy Spirit will open your heart and give understanding to the reader.
The scripture verse, in context, upon which this essay stands is this.
1 Peter 1:1-5
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, [2] Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Their are a number of scriptures by Jesus that could be used to more than support verse 5 above. Here are only two examples that has been chosen for you to read.
John 6:35-40
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me shall never hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst. [36] But I told you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. [37] All whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and he who comes to Me I will never cast out. [38] For I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. [39] This is the will of the Father who has sent Me, that of all whom He has given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. [40] This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
John 10:25-30
Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you did not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name bear witness of Me. [26] But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. [27] My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. [28] I give them eternal life. They shall never perish, nor shall anyone snatch them from My hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them from My Father’s hand. [30] My Father and I are one.”
It should be noted that no one is saved (born-again), and staying saved, by an act (work) of one’s own will of the flesh, or mind. Salvation (regeneration) comes only by the will and Grace of God alone, because of the work and obedience of Jesus on behalf of “all” whom the Father has given to Jesus.
In short, salvation and the assurance of still being saved when one dies is given to they…
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
How reassuring and humbling that should be to all who are saved and kept saved by the power of of God.
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Why Regeneration Always Precedes Faith
Titus 3:5-6 KJV
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
It is said, “Regeneration always precedes faith.” The question, then, is why? Why must we need to be born again before we will have faith with which to believe in Jesus?
A good way to explain anything is to give or show a demonstration about what we are talking. The best example, here, would be the story of the death and raising of Lazarus.
Now Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha and they were all close friends of Jesus, and while Jesus was away Lazarus became sick and eventually died. Then Jesus took His disciples and went to where Lazarus was buried.
When Jesus arrived He took Mary and Martha, along with his disciples and all the mourners that were there to the tomb were Lazarus was buried.
Jesus had them roll away the stone, then yelled, “ Lazarus, come forth”. What happened next? What had to be done before Lazarus could respond? Think it through.
Ephesians 2:1 KJV
And you hath he quickened(made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Ephesians 2:5 KJV
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)
Colossians 2:13 KJV
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Yes, before Lazarus could respond he had to be given life. Just like you and I, when our name was called we, too, were dead, a spiritual death, albeit, but just as dead spiritually as Lazarus was physically, and we needed to be given life before we could respond to the call from Jesus to “Come forth”.
Not only are we saved (regeneration) by the Grace of God, we are also given the gift of faith by which we believe in Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
As we read in Romans 10: 8 – 10, faith is already in our heart before we confess that Jesus is Lord.
Romans 10:8 KJV
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Romans 10:9 KJV
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10 KJV
For with the “heart” man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
To answer the question of, “Why must we need to be born again (regeneration) before we will have faith with which to believe in Jesus?”, the answer is simple. Unless we are first given life, “spiritual life”(regeneration), we would never be given the gift of faith with which to believe in Jesus and to proclaim Him Lord.
That is why “Regeneration Always Precedes Faith”. We first need to be saved (regeneration), by the Grace of God – Alone. Then given the gift of faith with which we believe in Jesus. Only then do we respond to the call of Jesus to “Come forth.”
By Grace are we saved.
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