Hi Robin,<br>You wrote: The Old Testament saints must have been regenerated as well, for saving faith is impossible for natural man.<br><br>First the issue of Faith. Abraham had saving faith. That we are sure of and agree on. You believe that it is impossible without regeneration, there for he was regenerated. To me, regeneration = born again = New Creature in Christ = The Church = Bride of Christ. (1Jo 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:)<br>So this is going into a whole other field of study being that of ecclesiology. The beginning of the church was the Day of Pentecost and no one was 'born again' -regenerated - before that day. Adam had saving faith, but he did not die spiritually in the morning and get reborn in the afternoon. OT saints had saving faith that looked forward to the cross and a salvation that was not yet accomplished. That’s a big issue.<br><br>Luther’s discovery that changed his life was Hab. 2:4 “the just shall live by his faith.” Paul made this a major point in three books. “the Just”: who are the just = Galatians. “shall live”: how shall they live = Romans. “by faith”: what is faith = Hebrews.<br><br>Some one here has said faith is works. That’s not true.<br><br>Rom 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? <br>Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. <br>Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. <br>Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. <br>Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.<br><br>The contrast is between faith and works to show that works can not save and the faith is not works.<br><br>Show me where it says he was born again. It says that he was justified, his faith was counted for righteousness and sin was not imputed to him. (verse 6) The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the God of the living and not of the dead, but he was not new creation. He just lives forever as Adam would have had he not sinned. He was called the friend of God, but we are called “SONS of God”. Big difference.<br><br>Btw, Arminian teachers teach salvation is possible for "whosever will," and also accomplished for the elect. The elect have a responsibility by the help and grace of God to make their calling and election sure. We don't do it on our own, but if we don't do our part, the part He holds us accountable for and we are responsible for, the abiding in Him part, we can not bear fruit and the Father comes and takes it away.<br><br>For your second point regarding the natural man receiving the things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:14 does not say the natural man can not respond to the gospel. They can not receive the things of the Spirit of God. What things of the Spirit of God? The wisdom of God. (verse 7) Paul is contrasting the salvation message he came to deliver and the deeper things of God that are reserved for the elect to receive.<br><br>I believe the natural man is perfectly capable of understanding the wages of sin is death but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. What is to not understand about that? The question is of faith, will he believe it? This, he also is capable of doing, as Abraham did. <br>
