The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum This is not biblical…. ?

Last, first.

This is far too often misunderstood and thus used incorrectly as giving parents an assurance that if they are good parents and teach their children, then they surely will be saved, or at least live a moral life. The text is actually a warning to parents. The original literally says, "Train up a child in the manner of his own way, and he will not depart from it."

Okay, back to first. You are looking for something in Scripture that shows the working of the Holy Spirit in bringing a child (covenant) or otherwise? That's easy... How about Saul of Tarsus? There is a true covenant child who hated God and especially even the thought that Jesus of Nazareth was God incarnate. Thus he took great pains to hunt down Christians and had them executed or thrown into prison. He knew the Scriptures well, having been a disciple of Gamaliel. Yet because he was unregenerate, his mind could not comprehend the truth and his heart was darkened. He was DEAD in trespasses and sins and under the just judgment of God. But God from eternity had chosen Paul to be His divine ambassador to the truth of Jesus Christ. Yet, it wasn't until God struck Him down on the road to Damascus (regeneration) that being blinded his eyes were open to the truth and he was genuinely converted. It wasn't until after Christ personally taught him for 3 years that he was commissioned to be an Apostle and begin the work for which the Spirit led him to do. (Gal 1:10ff) No regeneration, no faith. Regeneration is an instantaneous working of the Spirit recreating a dead soul, and thus being "made alive" faith no less instantaneously is expressed, being the life-breath of the new nature created. There is no 'delay' between regeneration, repentance and faith.