The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Who does the believing and repenting?

delvanis,

What needs to be done FIRST is to deal with the condition of man as he is since the Fall (post-lapsarian). This I set forth for you in three previous replies to which you have not made an effort to interact with: First Reply, Second Reply, and Third Reply. To briefly iterate what is contained in those three replies, I wrote that man since the fall is spiritually dead, i.e., man's nature is totally predisposed/inclined to hate God and to hate the good/righteousness and love sin. Many Scripture references were provided. Secondly, I wrote that every creature on earth, including man, is governed by its nature. Thus the will of the creature always does that which seems best to it in any given circumstance. The will is not an autonomous element which does its own "thing", but rather it is subject to the intellect and emotions. Thirdly, since all men since the Fall are born with an inherited depraved/corrupt nature which is totally opposed to God, no man CAN come to Christ (repent and/or believe) because he WILL NOT come to Christ; his nature being at enmity with God rejects Him and all that He requires of man. (Rom 3:10-18; 5:12-18; Eph 4:17-19; Jh 6:44; Gen 6:5; 8:21; et al). It would therefore be most beneficial if you would respond to these things before going on into other areas of doctrine, e.g., predestination, election, foreknowledge, etc. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The ONLY way that ANY man will repent and believe on Christ unto salvation is if he is given a new nature (regeneration/born again/born from above/made alive) by God. This regeneration creates a new nature, one which is predisposed/inclined toward God, i.e., a love for God, a hatred of sin, a desire to live in holiness, a passion for Christ and a recognition of the sufficiency of His atoning sacrifice. Thus, this new nature moves the will irresitibly.... NATURALLY.... so that the one chooses that which before he was unable/unwilling to do.

Since you mentioned A.W. Pink in regard to "Foreknowledge", perhaps you would benefit from reading what he wrote on that subject here: Foreknowledge by Pink.

Further, you might also read what Pink wrote concerning the subject of regeneration here: Regeneration or the New Birth.

There are two other articles which you would do well to read as well:

1) Decisional Regeneration, by James E. Adams

2) Do you REALLY Believe that Salvation is by Grace Alone?, by yours truly.

In His grace,