God operates through the process of election all throuh the OT, but when we get to the NT, we want to act as if the game is changed. No one comes to Christ unless God grants him the ability to do so (John 6).
You should also watch the new vid, Mr. Puritan Goes on the O Show Pt. 2...but also, if faith is exercised before regeneration, then there are many passages that don't make sense. One that immediately comes to mind is Acts 13:48 which states those who were "...appointed to eternal life believed". It also serves to note that if we say that we exercise faith before regeneration, then we would have to remove Romans 9 completely from scripture.
Ephesians 2:1-10 is paralleled in Colossians 2:13. God made us alive, when we were dead in sins, by forgiving us. That is backed up by verses 11 and 12 which show that a fuller idea of salvation is in view than simply regeneration. With that in mind the Ephesian passage doesn't mean regeneration before faith but is emphasising the Spirit's work in salvation. Verse 8 is recapitulation "For", he says, "by grace you are saved - through (by way of) faith. Faith is the basis on which God works grace.
How can someone be regenerated without first placing their faith in Christ? When we truly place our faith in Christ, and trust in him alone for our salvation, we are born again. I agree that repentance from sin can only come after regeneration.
Scripture helps us to answer this matter. In Ephesians 2:1-10, we see that the natural fallen state of man is one of being dead in our sin. So the question is, How can someone dead (unregenerate) respond to the gospel? To initiate faith in Christ (or even repent of sin), something must happen to them first. This is answered in v. 8-10 as we see faith described as a gracious gift of God, thereby making us spiritually alive and capable of responding to the Gospel (cf. Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 6:65).
I believe you are misinterpreting Eph 2:8-9. The verse says we are saved "through faith", but "it is the gift" is referring to being "saved" by grace. This aligns with Rom 6:23: "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ". Here the gift is clearly eternal life, which is salvation.
So where do we get the faith? Rom 10:17: "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". Faith just means believing. An unregenerated person is capable of making a choice to place their faith in Christ to save them. It is a choice. John 3:16 "Whosoever believeth in him..."
The "repentance" that is necessary for salvation is simply "turning" to Christ from what we had our faith in before. Acts 20:21 "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. " Hebrews 6:1 "...not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, "
I agree that an unregenerate person is not capable of repenting "from sin", without first being regenerated. This is the big source of confusion. Repentance from sin comes after salvation. The repentance that is necessary for salvation is "toward Christ" from "dead works". Before we were trusting in our dead works, now we are trusting in Christ alone. So salvation repentance is not a separate step.
That is why no form of the word repentance occurs in the Gospel of John even once! If we truly trust Christ alone for salvation, we can't simultaneously be trusting something else, so we must "repent" toward Christ. Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved..."
So then these are the questions that you have to answer if you believe that scripture is the infallible, authoritative, word of God: How do you reconcile your belief of the order of salvation with Acts 13:48? How do you reconcile what you believe with Matthew 22:1-14? What about Romans 9 (more particularly, vv. 11-18)? Clearly we see that God does indeed elect his offspring before there was time (we see this even more clearly in Rev. 13:8)! God saves and seals them (cf. John 6:37, 44, 64).
Ex nihlo, nihlo fit ("out of nothing, nothing comes"). This is the state of man before he is regenerated. I'm not arguing that a person doesn't exercise faith in Jesus, but that it is because God initiates that faith that is born in those who believe. Most people run to John 3:16 and quote "whosoever believes", all the while forgetting to ask, who exactly are the whosoevers?! Those whom have been chosen to receive (Matt. 11:27). The outward call is goes to all, but only truly effects the elect.
God operates through the process of election all throuh the OT, but when we get to the NT, we want to act as if the game is changed. No one comes to Christ unless God grants him the ability to do so (John 6).
GracieLion 8 months ago
You should also watch the new vid, Mr. Puritan Goes on the O Show Pt. 2...but also, if faith is exercised before regeneration, then there are many passages that don't make sense. One that immediately comes to mind is Acts 13:48 which states those who were "...appointed to eternal life believed". It also serves to note that if we say that we exercise faith before regeneration, then we would have to remove Romans 9 completely from scripture.
GracieLion 8 months ago
Ephesians 2:1-10 is paralleled in Colossians 2:13. God made us alive, when we were dead in sins, by forgiving us. That is backed up by verses 11 and 12 which show that a fuller idea of salvation is in view than simply regeneration. With that in mind the Ephesian passage doesn't mean regeneration before faith but is emphasising the Spirit's work in salvation. Verse 8 is recapitulation "For", he says, "by grace you are saved - through (by way of) faith. Faith is the basis on which God works grace.
SlopeObadiah 8 months ago
Dan the liferegenerator that is
FrozenFlame2007 2 years ago
Ha Ha I thought this was about Dan the regeneraion man here on YT...lol. Anyway good post
FrozenFlame2007 2 years ago
How can someone be regenerated without first placing their faith in Christ? When we truly place our faith in Christ, and trust in him alone for our salvation, we are born again. I agree that repentance from sin can only come after regeneration.
Clint490 2 years ago
Scripture helps us to answer this matter. In Ephesians 2:1-10, we see that the natural fallen state of man is one of being dead in our sin. So the question is, How can someone dead (unregenerate) respond to the gospel? To initiate faith in Christ (or even repent of sin), something must happen to them first. This is answered in v. 8-10 as we see faith described as a gracious gift of God, thereby making us spiritually alive and capable of responding to the Gospel (cf. Ezekiel 36:25-27; John 6:65).
GracieLion 2 years ago
I believe you are misinterpreting Eph 2:8-9. The verse says we are saved "through faith", but "it is the gift" is referring to being "saved" by grace. This aligns with Rom 6:23: "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ". Here the gift is clearly eternal life, which is salvation.
Clint490 2 years ago
So where do we get the faith? Rom 10:17: "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". Faith just means believing. An unregenerated person is capable of making a choice to place their faith in Christ to save them. It is a choice. John 3:16 "Whosoever believeth in him..."
Clint490 2 years ago
The "repentance" that is necessary for salvation is simply "turning" to Christ from what we had our faith in before. Acts 20:21 "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. " Hebrews 6:1 "...not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, "
Clint490 2 years ago
I agree that an unregenerate person is not capable of repenting "from sin", without first being regenerated. This is the big source of confusion. Repentance from sin comes after salvation. The repentance that is necessary for salvation is "toward Christ" from "dead works". Before we were trusting in our dead works, now we are trusting in Christ alone. So salvation repentance is not a separate step.
Clint490 2 years ago
That is why no form of the word repentance occurs in the Gospel of John even once! If we truly trust Christ alone for salvation, we can't simultaneously be trusting something else, so we must "repent" toward Christ. Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved..."
Clint490 2 years ago
So then these are the questions that you have to answer if you believe that scripture is the infallible, authoritative, word of God: How do you reconcile your belief of the order of salvation with Acts 13:48? How do you reconcile what you believe with Matthew 22:1-14? What about Romans 9 (more particularly, vv. 11-18)? Clearly we see that God does indeed elect his offspring before there was time (we see this even more clearly in Rev. 13:8)! God saves and seals them (cf. John 6:37, 44, 64).
GracieLion 2 years ago
Ex nihlo, nihlo fit ("out of nothing, nothing comes"). This is the state of man before he is regenerated. I'm not arguing that a person doesn't exercise faith in Jesus, but that it is because God initiates that faith that is born in those who believe. Most people run to John 3:16 and quote "whosoever believes", all the while forgetting to ask, who exactly are the whosoevers?! Those whom have been chosen to receive (Matt. 11:27). The outward call is goes to all, but only truly effects the elect.
GracieLion 2 years ago
Great message brother! Keep telling the world about our great God and Savior Jesus Christ!
DarrellMyatt1963 2 years ago
Thanks. Glad you like it...and yes it is all original material. May you keep spreading the Good News as well. Grace and Peace...
GracieLion 2 years ago