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speratus said:

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Man does not "cooperate", forced or otherwise in justification. However, man is involved in the justification, for justification is by faith. When the Holy Spirit regenerates a person at God's appointed time, faith is immediately created in that new spiritually alive soul, which then immediately, infallibly and naturally reaches out and embraces the Lord Christ.

Excellent! But, can you reconcile your statement with that of Covenant in Blood?
Sorry, but I haven't a clue what "Covenant in Blood" is. It must be a Lutheran thing. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/giggle.gif" alt="" />

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Through regeneration the Spirit compels us to believe, thereby effecting faith and repentance in us.

1. What is the role of compulsion?
I am using "compulsion" here to describe "Irresistable Grace", i.e., between the creating of the new nature, which of itself is naturally drawn to God and the influence of the Holy Spirit, the regenerate man is infallibly brought to the place where he repents of his sins and takes hold of Christ by faith. (cf. Rom 8:30; Jh 6:37, 44, 45, 64, 65; Acts 13:48; 18:27; Gal 1:15, 16; 2Tim 1:9; Heb 9:15; Jam 1:18; 2Pet 1:3; 1Jh 5:10)

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2. Is there or can there be a time difference between regeneration and justification by faith?
Although there are those who would hold that conversion may follow regeneration by an extended period of time, I hold that conversion follows immediately after regeneration. In regeneration, spiritual life is created in the soul (Eph 2:3, 5; Col 2:13) for the very purpose that the sinner may comprehend his need of Christ and seek after Him. Faith is that element of spiritual life as breath is to physical life. Thus it is infallibly true that when a child is born physically, the very first sign of life is that it breathes. Likewise, when a sinner is born from above (regeneration), the very first indication and expression of that spiritual life is a believing upon Christ; the "exhalation" of that faith which resides in the soul. For this was the very purpose of the giving of life, that the individual would be reconciled to God through the remission of sins which is only found in the Lord Christ.

In His Grace,


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simul iustus et peccator

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