From: NOTJIC@LSUVM.BITNET (Jesse Carnes)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Subject: Re: Predestination or Free Will
Date: 12 Nov 92 14:17:24 GMT
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
              11 Nov 1992 22:21:50 GMT from <nlt@GBORO.GLASSBORO.EDU>

Dear Nancy :

Regeneration is a Sovereign work of the Spirit of God, as is seen in John
chapter 3, where Jesus speaks to Nicodaemus.
Jesus NEVER told Nicodaemus a HOW in order to be born again, for that is why
Jesus refers to the Spirit of God as a Sovereign entity, analogous to the
wind in that you cannot see it, nor where it goes, neither can we determine
WHERE it shall go.

Specifically, Regeneration is that irresistiblework of God's Spirit where He
makes a person who is DEAD in sins and trespassesALIVE.
Now, this is no small deed, for it takes the same power to make us alive as it
did for the Spirit to raise Jesus bodily from the dead.
Further, faith proceeds FROM Regeneration ... else, the question is begged :

"Can a person who is spiritually DEADand who has no inclination for God
possess FAITH in Christ as a DEAD person?"  For we know from 1 Corintheans
that a spiritually dead person CANNOT RECEIVE the things of God ... they must
FIRST be made SPIRITUAL.
Also, FAITH is not inherent in people.  Ephesians chap. 2 says that it is a
gift of God.  If all people are, in theory, given this gift, then WHY do not
ALL possess FAITH in Christ?
Is God's gift weaker than our wills?  Has God failed?

Tom Brewer puts it correctly when he says that the Brew-ha-ha over all of this
sort of thing is nothing short than an unwillingness to bow to a Sovereign King
who CALLS ALL of the shots.  Nothing less ... nothing more, period.

Now, the repurcussions of saying that regeneration proceeds faith are
incredible.
It says that Regeneration is RESULTANT of FAITH in CHRIST.  However, as Paul
states, "No one seeks after God", "The mind of man is enmity with God", "The
mind of the sinful man does not submit to the Law of God neither is it ABLE."

Now, with all these passages in mind and a host of others, HOW on earth
can we say that faith proceeds Regeneration?
Further, what do we make of Paul's words when he states that "all men do NOT
have faith."  If all people have the ability of faith, theoretically, then
how can Paul say such things?  Also if all have faith, then how is it a gift
from God that some have and others do not?
What makes some have faith and others do not?
Are they just better people?  Are their colours better?  Better nationality?
What?


When a person submits before a Sovereign God, asking for Divine Mercy to the
effect of desiring to be clothed in the Righteousness earned by Jesus Christ,
and sees their sins in light of same Holy God, THAT person who is expressing
faith in Christ at that moment has ALREADY been a recipient of GOD's Sovereign
Grace, for man by nature will not,    W I L L   N O T    submit to God ... left
to his own devices.
Further, if God gave Faith to still DEAD men, would    A N Y of them respond
to Christ in the positive?   Think about it.
Can a dead person, sinfully speaking, who CANNOT submit to God, turn then to
Christ in Faith, without a prior "AWAKENINNG"-empowerment by God Himself?


Jesse Carnes
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU