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hisalone said:
Pilgrim, in answer to the questions, I'm sorry, I don't know how to insert the quotes, so I must just number them, I'm stupid about some things so bear with me.
Okay, let's resolve the issue of including quoted material from other's posts:

1. Click on the "Quote" button when viewing the other person's post/reply. EVERYTHING will be included between the "quote" tags. You can then edit out those portions you do not wish to include.

2. In every post/reply window, just below the text box you will see the "Advanced UBBT Code" box. Simply click on the down arrow for the last item in the right column, "Quote/Code" and fill in the text you so desire.

3. You can read how to include quotes here: Can I Use HTML in My Posts?. You might benefit from reading through the entire FAQ section. (see the FAQ link on the Menubar at the top of every page).

4. Another place where you can learn about the MANY features of this Board is in the New Features Forum.

5. Lastly, the basic UBB Code tags to add quotes is as follows and which is shown in the FAQ link above:

Type in the "opening" quote tag insert your text and then type the "closing" tag:
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[quote]type or copy/paste the desired text[/quote]

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hisalone said:
1. Regeneration - simply put, it is the beginning of spiritual life. It is brought about by the knowledge of God.
Jn. 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent,

I pointed out that they had the ability to know God by His being present among them, and rightly said, the sacrifices pointed toward the redeemer, which was their future hope.
Taken at face value, your description of regeneration is similar to that of the Pelagians, semi-Pelagians and Arminians. An unregenerate sinner is INCAPABLE of knowing God; indeed he has no desire to know God as He is and how He has revealed Himself in Scripture. (cf. Jh 3:3, 5; 1Cor 2:14; Rom 8:7, 8; Eph 4:17-19)

Regeneration is a "resurrection' of the soul, to be 'made alive' from being dead (Eph 2:1-5), akin to the bodily raising of Lazarus from the dead. Man's STATE is one of total spiritual death; that corruption of nature which is inherited from Adam's transgression (aka: Original Sin - 1 of 2 elements of it). (Rom 5:12-21; 1Cor 15:21, 22) Thus regeneration is absolutely necessary for there to be ANY disposition toward and ability to know God. Regeneration is a radical CHANGE OF NATURE which is accomplished by the monergistic (alone), silent/non-experienced and sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. (Jh 3:6-8)

The result of regeneration is conversion via the inner and effectual calling of the Holy Spirit whereby one's eyes are opened, mind enabled to comprehend the things of God and the bondage to sin broken and which infallibly leads to repentance and the believing upon Christ unto justification.

I would hope that the following articles would aid you in a further and right understanding of this fundamental biblical doctrine:

- The New Genesis: The Holy Spirit and Regeneration, by R.C. Sproul
- The Nature, Causes and Means of Regeneration, by John Owen
- Regeneration, or the New Birth, by Arthur W. Pink

In short, in regard to the woman who wiped Jesus feet with her hair, she did so out of love. Thus, she of necessity was previously regenerated. All those in the O.T. who had heart-felt interest in God and in receiving forgiveness of sins were of necessity regenerated by the Holy Spirit. For the O.T. is even more replete with the horrible condition of man in his natural state (unregenerated), e.g. Gen 6:5; 8:21; Job 14:4; 15:14-16; Ps 51:5; Eccl 7:20; Isa 64:6; Jer 17:7; 13:23; et al)

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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