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#55498
Mon Apr 22, 2019 2:47 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,516 Likes: 13
Needs to get a Life
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OP
Needs to get a Life
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,516 Likes: 13 |
Here is a question that I have heard a few times, but want to understand it fully before I answer it. The proclamation of the Gospel is the means God used to save the elect. Can it also be said that the proclamation of the Gospel is the means the Holy Spirit uses to regenerate, then justify the elect? In other words does the proclamation of the Gospel happen prior to both regeneration and justification?
Tom
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,450 Likes: 57
Head Honcho
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Head Honcho
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,450 Likes: 57 |
Here is a question that I have heard a few times, but want to understand it fully before I answer it. The proclamation of the Gospel is the means God used to save the elect. Can it also be said that the proclamation of the Gospel is the means the Holy Spirit uses to regenerate, then justify the elect? In other words does the proclamation of the Gospel happen prior to both regeneration and justification? The proclamation of the Gospel precedes regeneration.... Regeneration precedes and is antecedently necessary in order for the elect to hear and comprehend the Gospel... Justification is the infallible result of one being regenerated, repenting of their sin/sinfulness, and believing upon Christ with a true living faith.
simul iustus et peccator
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,516 Likes: 13
Needs to get a Life
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OP
Needs to get a Life
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,516 Likes: 13 |
Thank you, that is how I understood it as well. However, I am always leery about misrepresenting things of this nature.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,516 Likes: 13
Needs to get a Life
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OP
Needs to get a Life
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 4,516 Likes: 13 |
How would I best respond to the following response? Yes and for some people I have heard testimonies of were converted through visions and had never heard the gospel before that point. Hard to imagine in America but in other countries Christianity does not exist like here God can and does make people born again who are not being witnessed to or seeking him . Or even able to hear I realize testimonies are subjective and in this particular case, it sounds like the person could possibly be Charismatic. I am not sure I want to exploit that part however, unless it becomes necessary. I would rather try to stick directly with why the proclamation of the Word is necessary; if possible.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,450 Likes: 57
Head Honcho
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Head Honcho
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,450 Likes: 57 |
1. What is this person's "witness test" to determine someone has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit without the Word? Hundreds of thousands throughout the world claim to be Christians but who are still dead in sin and don't have a clue what the fruit of the Spirit is after regeneration, etc. 2. It makes no difference what someone's experience has allegedly been. God is the ONLY source of true truth and that truth has been recorded for us by divine inspiration through men moved by the Holy Spirit which God ordained for that very task. How does one repent of their sins and believe upon Christ of whom they have absolutely no knowledge? 3. Even in the infallible Word, God has acted upon and used various individuals to accomplish His will yet were never regenerated, e.g., Cyrus and even a donkey. But those examples are NOT to be understood as 'normative' nor 'prescriptive'. Christians are responsible to do what God has commanded by law, precept and/or principle. And it is abundantly clear that faith comes by hearing/reading the Word of God for it is the power of God unto salvation. The NT is rife with examples and propositional statements that those whom God has called to faith in the Lord Christ did so through the Gospel. There is no other way to be found in Scripture. So, who do you want to believe???... some individual who claims to have had a vision or some 'gut feeling' about God and consequently must be regarded as regenerate... Or, what God has revealed about salvation in His inspired, infallible and inerrant Word?
simul iustus et peccator
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