27
02
2008
Posted by: carrie in Spring 2008
For whom did Christ die?:
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Can we say "no" to the Gospel?:
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What does "born again" mean?:
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Does regeneration precede faith?:
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March 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Group Discussion Questions:
Calling and Regeneration
1. Read Ps. 19:1-6 and Rom. 1:18-20. Give examples of how creation is the “voice of God” that goes out to all people.
The ancient civilizations had beliefs in gods who controlled the elements. The Old Testament speaks of the worship of various gods in Canaan, Egypt, etc. There is within man the sense that there is something greater that controls, either for the good of man or to bring calamity. The questions throughout history in all civilizations have included: Where did we come from? Why are we here? What happens when we die? Who made all this? I have a missionary friend with Wycliffe Bible Translators who works seeking new people groups in China and the Himalayas finding remote tribes. It is amazing that groups with no written language often have a concept of God but have no name for what they reference as god. One group he found had no benevolent god, but did pay homage to a demon who they believe afflicted them with misery. Creation causes man to search for why and who.
2. Read Rom. 2:14-15. Do you believe the fact that people have a conscience is another evidence of God’s general call? Explain.
In some way, all but the most depraved sense guilt for wrongs committed. This sense of sin differs from culture to culture, but each society has a code of ethics it follows. Man distorts this awareness because of our Adamic nature. Given enough time, we can always justify our sinful choices or at least find another we try to blame. The fall is relived each and every day. Just as Adam and Eve knew they were naked, so also do we know when we sin. Yes, I believe this demonstrates God’s call; interesting question.
3. The doctrine of God’s Effectual Call teaches that God comes to the elect and effectually calls them to salvation. Do you agree with the doctrine? Why or why not?
Matthew 23:37 shows a picture of Christ calling on man not responding. To say that this call was not effectual would mean that man’s response determines whether or not God’s call is effectual. John 1:12 states that those who “received Him” became the sons of God. The call was extended but the response of the individual determined whether the one called was made a child of God. And John suggests no difference in the call to the one who received and the one who rejected. (John 1:11-13). We are born again of God by His will but we are also personally responsible for our response. Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8-9 speak of a gift. Gifts must be received. A gift can be rejected.
4. God’s Effectual Call is often referred to as the doctrine of Irresistible Grace. How can the word “irresistible” be misleading and why is “effectual” a better word to use because of this?
I like the term Effectual Grace because it says that God’s grace accomplishes what He intends it to accomplish. I do not believe that Grace is extended only to those who receive salvation. At what point does man bear no responsibility for his choices? Is our every action predetermined by a great puppet master? That sounds sarcastic and is not meant to be. If God predetermines my salvation, how much more does he micro-manage? Does He cause the pastor to preach on just the right subject that causes me to grow? Does He cause me to exist in a home where my parents stay together? Did I choose not to do drugs that could have messed up my mind and kept me from being able to respond to His call? I’m not being argumentative; as trivial as some might see this, the questions for me are real. Could a person who is of the elect lose his life before he was regenerated (car accident, tornado, whatever)? Would they still be of the elect and go to Heaven even if they never responded in faith?
5. In the Bible, death always means separation. When one dies, his spirit/soul is separated from his body. When one is dead spiritually, what is he separated from? In what way?
For the one who has never received salvation, scripture says, that one is “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1-7). The one outside Christ is separated from the love of God, separate from the joy of forgiven sin, separate from fellowship with other believers. (Romans 8:35, 37-39). I remember a story told of Dwight L. Moody. A man whom he had shared how to be saved, continued in disbelief. Moody, in meeting him on the street, addressed him with, “Hello, dead man.” The man was taken aback by the greeting and confronted Moody, who quoted the passage from Eph. 2:1-2. The man, in anger, walked away. Several days later, he came to Dr. Moody, broken under the weight of sins separation, and prayed to receive Christ. I can’t validate the story, but from what I have read of Moody, it fits.
6. Read Eph. 2:1-6. How does this passage describe regeneration?
I should have read ahead to all the questions. I addressed this passage in question 5 (my error). Regeneration is a radical alteration of reality. “Old things are passed away, behold all thing; behold, new things have come” II Corinthians 5:17.
7. Do you believe that regeneration precedes faith? Why or why not?
No, I do not. From The Cross and Salvation, by Demarest (p.264) “Repentance, the forsaking of sin and the cultivating of a new hope, and faith, turning to Christ in belief and trust are related to one another as two sides of a coin. The two are interdependent responses, each incomplete without the other.” “…faith does not appear to be an effect or fruit of regeneration as many Calvinists maintain. Rather, clear biblical texts suggest that the act of faith logically precedes regeneration. John 1:12-13 indicates that receiving Christ in faith results in new birth and inclusion in the family of God. According to John 7:37-39, faith precedes the gift of the spirit in regenerating and sanctifying power.”
8. Describe your regeneration experience. How does this influence your view of regeneration and faith?
I was raise in a strong family of faith and attended church before physical birth. I was introduced to scriptural truth concerning salvation as a preschooler through active involvement in the Baptist Church my dad served as a staff member. During summer vacations at my grandmothers, I went through Presbyterian Catechism. As a 6 year old, in response to my questions, my dad led me down the “Romans Road to Salvation.” I didn’t care about theology at the time; I just wanted to receive Christ as my savior. The last 52 years have been for the most part, a growing relationship with the Savior. My view of regeneration and faith, as well as my understanding of grace, is more a result of opportunity to share with others what it means to know Christ in the forgiveness of sins. Over the years I’ve shared carefully with children whose tender hearts are drawn to a loving Savior. I saw a 77 year old man who had drifted during his life through several Protestant churches, Spiritualism (demonic séances, speaking with the dead) and finally, praying in his home to receive Christ. From drug addicts to men of high standing in our community, all have come to Christ the same way: in repentance of sin, confession of faith in Christ, and surrender to His authority in their lives. Some of the most difficult with whom to share have been intellectuals who could not receive what did not fit in their mental test-tube. Others who struggled where those who kept trying to clean up their lives so they would be acceptable to God. Ultimately, all had to acknowledge their sinfulness, their total incapability to merit God’s grace, their utter depravity, as did I as a 6 year old little boy.
9. How was your thinking challenged the most by the lesson? Explain.
I watch the DVDs of your lectures. AT 12:20 through 12:50, you state that there is strong scriptural support for unlimited atonement, even though for you it is not as logical as Particular Redemption. For much of this discussion going back to Humanity and Sin, I have felt that same way. I disagree with my Church Of Christ friends who believe in Baptismal Regeneration, but I respect them for being true to their interpretation of Scripture. I disagree with my Pentecostal Brothers who believe that we receive the Holy Spirit as a second work of Grace, but I love and respect them and gladly share “table fellowship”. One of our Elders once stated: “There are many questions we all have that will only be answered in Heaven, but when we stand before God in that day, they just won’t matter anymore.” Until then, I pray my spirit will be gentle as I relate to those with whom I disagree and as I gently rebuke those who are disagreeable. “In Essentials, unity. In Non-Essentials, liberty. In all things, Charity.”
March 6th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Session 6 Discussion Questions (Calling and Regeneration)
1. Read Ps. 19:1–6 and Rom 1:18–20. Give examples of how creation is the “voice of God” that goes out to all people.
Reply: The aesthetics of creation and its extreme complexity testify to a Creator/Designer who is of infinite power and appreciates beauty. This complexity and beauty is everywhere present on the face of the earth. This is especially true when considering the celestial bodies – the innumerable stars and planets visible from earth.
The awesome immensity of the universe coupled with the fact that God placed the pinnacle of His creation on tiny planet Earth speaks volumes concerning the significance of God versus the significance of man…
2. Read Rom. 2:14–15. Do you believe the fact that people have a conscience is another evidence of God’s general call? Explain.
Reply: Yes. Conscience is a part of God’s natural revelation. Apart from God’s written law mankind has God’s moral law written on his heart. Universal recognition of right and wrong logically necessitates recognition of a Universal Supreme Law Giver. Man’s question should be: “Who is the Author of this moral code?”
3. The doctrine of God’s Effectual Call teaches that God comes to the elect and effectually calls them to salvation. Do you agree with this doctrine? Why or why not.
Reply: Yes. Man’s estrangement from God – his spiritual deadness and blindness – requires a supernatural intervention on the part of God to bring the new life necessary for responding to the call of the Gospel. A dead man cannot initiate a decision or a choice. Just as the physical death of Lazarus required the miraculous intervention of Jesus, even so, the spiritual death of unbelievers makes necessary an analogous intervention by God on our behalf. The Effectual Call coupled with the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit is God’s initiative on our behalf to which we gratefully respond. The Holy Spirit goes where He wills, not where man wills… See passages below.
Ephesians 2:1 ESV
(1) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
Ephesians 2:5 ESV
(5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–
John 3:8 ESV
(8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
4. God’s Effectual Call is often referred to as the doctrine of Irresistible Grace. How can the word “irresistible” be misleading and why is “effectual” a better word to use because of this?
Reply: The word “irresistible” is misleading because it conveys the sense that the recipient of Irresistible Grace is somehow carried “kicking and screaming” into the Kingdom of Heaven against his will. This, of course, is not at all what the concept is meant to imply.
“Effectual Grace” is a better choice of words because they convey certainty of effectiveness. In other words, the recipient of Effective Grace is certain to respond in a positive and willing fashion to the message of the Gospel. The words “Irresistible Grace” were never intended to imply external coercion…
5. In the Bible, death always means separation. When one dies, his spirit/soul is separated from his body. When one is dead spiritually, what is he separated from? In what way?
Reply: A spiritually dead person is separated from God. He is separated by virtue of his status as alienated from the life of God. There is lack of communion, fellowship and communication. Though God has communicated with all men through His Word, the spiritually dead person does not recognize Scripture to be the inerrant, infallible and authoritative Word of God.
Ephesians 4:18 ESV
(18) They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
Colossians 1:21 ESV
(21) And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV
(14) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
6. Read Eph. 2:1-6. How does this passage describe regeneration?
Reply: It is a spiritual “quickening” or “awakening” accomplished solely by God’s Sovereign Grace. The Bible describes this event as being “made alive.” See Ephesians 2:5 below.
Ephesians 2:5 ESV
(5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–
7. Do you believe that regeneration precedes faith? Why or why not?
Reply: Yes. Since the natural man is severed from the life of God, and on his own initiative he will never seek God (indeed, his spiritual deadness and blindness precludes any consideration of him exercising faith on his own initiative), it is inconceivable to me that man could trust in God prior to the life-giving agency of the Holy Spirit initiated on his behalf by God. See passages below.
Romans 3:11-12 HCSB
(11) there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God.
(12) All have turned away, together they have become useless; there is no one who does good, there is not even one.
Ephesians 2:1-2 HCSB
(1) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins
(2) in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient.
2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV
(4) In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
8. Describe your regeneration experience. How does this influence your view of regeneration and faith?
Reply: It is regeneration coupled with the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit that enabled me to “get on the same wavelength” with God and His Word. Regeneration enables spiritual comprehension and understanding. This, in turn, gives rise to appropriation and internalization (part of faith) of the truth of God’s Word, and most specifically the truth of the Gospel.
Comprehension and recognition (accomplished by regeneration) of the truth of the Gospel must logically precede the exercise of faith and trust in the message of Good News. I can see no other way to view this portion of the Ordo Salutis.
9. How was your thinking challenged the most by the lesson? Explain.
Reply: Given the dismal picture of unregenerate man portrayed in Scripture, how can the Arminian attribute any capacity to the natural man to initiate choosing the good and choosing to believe the Gospel? This can only be so if the Arminian interprets the General Call of the Gospel as implying an inherent ability to respond. But the Bible everywhere indicates that man will always go his own way except where divine intervention determines otherwise…
____________________
Greg Eby
March 10th, 2008 at 11:46 am
1. Read Ps. 19:1–6 and Rom 1:18–20. Give examples of how creation is the “voice of God” that goes out to all people.
The Bible clearly spells out that creation is the general revelation in which God has revealed Himself to all of mankind. God has demonstrated His power and glory through Creation, and Creation itself demands that there be a Creator. The wonder and detail of Creation suggests a Creator, the idea that this all randomly came together is non-sensical and a complete improbability.
2. Read Rom. 2:14–15. Do you believe the fact that people have a conscience is another evidence of God’s general call? Explain.
In my first case study, I interviewed my friend John. John indicated that the moral argument for the existence of God was the most convincing argument for him that God exists. Indeed, the concept of right and wrong that seems to exists amongst nearly all of mankind suggests that we can not be something that evolved, but rather we are given this sense of morality by God.
3. The doctrine of God’s Effectual Call teaches that God comes to the elect and effectually calls them to salvation. Do you agree with this doctrine? Why or why not.
In many ways, the doctrine of calling and regeneration is closely linked with a person’s view on election. As I am Calvinistic in belief, I believe that God effectually calls a person to salvation. This is a difficult concept for me to embrace, but I believe it to be true. The difficulty I have with it, is the situation for the lost. I have friends and family who are not believers and I want them to believe, and knowing that it is not up to me, is a helpless feeling.
4. God’s Effectual Call is often referred to as the doctrine of Irresistible Grace. How can the word “irresistible” be misleading and why is “effectual” a better word to use because of this?
Irresistible can suggest that you can think twice or can not help but be converted. I really to not have that big of a problem with irresistible grace as a term. I guess it fits nicely in with the TULIP acronym. Nonetheless, effectual call helps to distinguish the difference between God revealing Himself to mankind and electing individuals for salvation.
5. In the Bible, death always means separation. When one dies, his spirit/soul is separated from his body. When one is dead spiritually, what is he separated from? In what way?
When a person dies spiritually, the become separated from God. The interesting thing with this question is when does spiritual death occur. Is it from the time we are conceived or from the age of accountability or some other point? If we are born sinners, than we need to examine when we become alive spiritually and understand that we were born dead. But that begs the question I mentioned above, if children are born spiritually dead, are they eternally separated from God if they die as young children? What about the menally handicapped? I really do not have an answer for those situations, but makes me uncomfortable to accept with this doctrine.
6. Read Eph. 2:1-6. How does this passage describe regeneration?
This passage points to how dead we were in our sins and how God, and God alone, renewed us and regenerated us to spiritual life. This passage demonstrates how God can make us spiritually alive when He gives us grace and mercy through His love for us and what Christ did on the cross for us.
7. Do you believe that regeneration precedes faith? Why or why not?
Another tough question to answer. My answer is that regeneration and faith go hand in hand. The idea that someone can ‘clean up their life’ first before accepting Christ does not seem to make sense to me. Once faith enters in, regeneration begins as well. It hard to comprehend and explain, but I believe they go together.
8. Describe your regeneration experience. How does this influence your view of regeneration and faith?
My regeneration experience has seen its ups and downs as I am sure it has for many other believers. Certainly, personal experience plays a huge role in our theology, perhaps more so than we recognize. From my experience, faith and regeneration go hand in hand. Both are gifts from God. It may be a case of the two different sides of the same coin.
9. How was your thinking challenged the most by the lesson? Explain.
On the surface, the idea of the effectual call of God parallels one’s view of election. This is certainly one of the great debates of Christianity and will certainly go on as well. I believe that God effectually calls people to Himself. How it all works with human responsibility is beyond my comprehension. However, I believe the Bible teaches this doctrine while also teaching that God has also made Himself known to all mankind through the general revelation and general call.
March 12th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
1. Read Ps. 19:1–6 and Rom 1:18–20. Give examples of how creation is the “voice of God” that goes out to all people.
- Heavens declare the glory of God
- Skies proclaim the work of His hands
- Day after day they (heavens and sky) pour forth speech
- Night after night they (heavens and sky) display knowledge
- No speech or language where their (heavens and sky) voice is not heard
- What may be known about God is plain…God made it plain to see
- Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities have been clearly seen
Galaxies, planets, stars, moon, eclipses, seasons, storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, waves, animals, flowers, rainbows and all of creation reveals God’s power, knowledge, love etc…etc…in all languages and to all people so that no one can say they did not hear God calling.
2. Read Rom. 2:14–15. Do you believe the fact that people have a conscience is another evidence of God’s general call? Explain.
Yes. Conscience is a part of the general call that goes out to all people. This knowledge of right and wrong is built into all people so that no one can say they did not know they needed to repent and ultimately believe the gospel.
3. The doctrine of God’s Effectual Call teaches that God comes to the elect and effectually calls them to salvation. Do you agree with this doctrine? Why or why not.
Yes. Scripture seems very clear on this. In John 6:44 we see that “no one” can come to Christ “unless” God the Father draws or calls them.
4. God’s Effectual Call is often referred to as the doctrine of Irresistible Grace. How can the word “irresistible” be misleading and why is “effectual” a better word to use because of this?
“Irresistible” implies an inability to delay or resist the initial call in anyway. The idea that God is the “hound of heaven” who tracks down those he calls, regardless of how much they resist, is probably more accurate. “Effectual” is a better word in this case because it focuses on the outcome of the call, regardless of how much resistance a person puts up.
5. In the Bible, death always means separation. When one dies, his spirit/soul is separated from his body. When one is dead spiritually, what is he separated from? In what way?
When one is dead spiritually, he is separated from a relationship with God and he does not have the ability to respond to God. God must regenerate us in order to reestablish the relationship that was broken with Adam’s fall in the garden.
6. Read Eph. 2:1-6. How does this passage describe regeneration?
In vv. 1-3 it describes how dead man is naturally: children of wrath following Satan’s ways and the ways of this world and the desires of the flesh and body. Then in vv. 4-6 it describes how God, out of his love for us, makes us alive in Christ. Thus, we are regenerated from dead to life in Christ.
7. Do you believe that regeneration precedes faith? Why or why not?
Yes, because I believe that our total depravity prevents us from having faith. We are naturally enemies of God, dead and separated from Him. Dead people can’t have faith.
8. Describe your regeneration experience. How does this influence your view of regeneration and faith?
My regeneration experience occurred in college. I was raised in a Christian (Catholic) home with the idea that obedience and good works would get me into heaven. God called me from within this church experience. The Holy Spirit spoke the Gospel through my soon-to-be wife and I heard the message that regenerated me with a new life of faith in Christ. Looking back I realize that there was no way for me to come to a saving faith in Christ before that regeneration because I actually thought the phrase “personal relationship with Christ” sounded self-righteous and I didn’t understand it.
9. How was you thinking challenged most by the lesson?
I was not particularly challenged in my thinking by this lesson because it basically reaffirmed what I have come to understand and believe over the past few years. However, the concept of being “dead” and completely separated from God before our regeneration is worth contemplating. The amazing, gracious gift of faith that God bestows on us is truly hard to fathom.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Session 6 – Discussion Questions
1. Read Ps. 19:1–6 and Rom 1:18–20. Give examples of how creation is the
“voice of God” that goes out to all people.
Response:The complexity of ALL of creation shouts out the existence of an all-mighty Creator. Everything from the creation of the universe, to planet earth, to man, and down to the complexity of the human body (all the different systems required for survival circulatory, nervous, etc…) demands the conclusion that all of this didn’t just happen by chance.
2. Read Rom. 2:14–15. Do you believe the fact that people have a conscience is
another evidence of God’s general call? Explain.
Response: Yes. Romans 2:14-15 supports the “Moral Argument” that God has placed a knowledge of right and wrong on the heart’s of men. This is all part of God’s revelation to man.
3. The doctrine of God’s Effectual Call teaches that God comes to the elect and
effectually calls them to salvation. Do you agree with this doctrine? Why or
why not.
Response: Yes. Man’s sinfulness and spiritual death prevents him from initiating a choice to come to repentance. This process is the work of the Holy Spirit.
4. God’s Effectual Call is often referred to as the doctrine of Irresistible Grace.
How can the word “irresistible” be misleading and why is “effectual” a better
word to use because of this?
Response: The word “Irresistible” can imply that grace is forced on someone and therefore not something that they are necessarily in agreement with. On the other hand, “Effectual Grace” describes a process where the effect of God’s love and grace is an individual will come to repentance.
5. In the Bible, death always means separation. When one dies, his spirit/soul is
separated from his body. When one is dead spiritually, what is he separated
from? In what way?
Response: He is separated from God, his Creator. The brokenness caused by sin seperates man from God who, by His nature, cannot associate w/ sin. Thus, in order to return to a righteous standing before God requires an act of God, not man.
6. Read Eph. 2:1-6. How does this passage describe regeneration?
Response: Man is described as “dead in your transgressions” (v.1) and regeneration comes through God’s mercy which is a result of His love for mankind, see Eph. 2:4-5 below:
“ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
7. Do you believe that regeneration precedes faith? Why or why not?
Response: Yes. My belief is that faith is a process (work of the Holy Spirit) that starts long before an individual comes to accept Christ as his/her Lord and Savior.
8. Describe your regeneration experience. How does this influence your view of
regeneration and faith?
Response: My experience was unlike what I’ve heard others describe in that I can’t recall one specific moment in time where God turned my life around. I describe my regeneration as a process which culminated with the realization that God had been and still is working in my life.
9. How was your thinking challenged the most by the lesson? Explain.
Response: This lesson has definitely challenged and expanded my understanding of regeneration.