FTR, Bro Larry, if this is what you gleaned from my previous, I want to apologize to you. I sure did an awful job of explaining myself, if this is what you got from that post. Now, I hope to clarify what I stated in the earlier post.
“The gospel must be preached to one before one can choose to believe it and thereby go to heaven”.
I never stated this, Bro. Larry. I do believe in "gospel regeneration", but Paul in Romans 1:16 states that the Gospel is "the power of God to salvation, to him who believes". Sure, I believe we as preachers have to go forth and preach the gospel message, but God has to "move" before anyone can understand what the preacher is preaching. So, God can, and does, work outside of us preachers, and will save those who believe in Him.
1.One's eternal destiny is dependent not only upon their own will but also the will of others [Jn 1:13].
It states that God is not willing that ANY would perish, but people are perishing all the time, Bro. Larry. God called me for YEARS, but because I wanted to live my life my way, He would not save me until I gave in to Him. He stands at the door and knocks, but He won't break the door down and come in. Anyone must be willing to be saved, and until they want to be saved, God will not "overtake" them and thrust salvation down their throat.
2. Christ is not the only mediator between God and man [1 Tim 2:5] because the 'soul winner' is the mediator between Christ and man.
Not true, Bro. Larry. Jesus is the only mediator between us and God. No matter how powerful the message is that is being preached, it takes God to enlighten man, before they can truly understand what is being preached. So the "soul winner's"(I hate that term, BTW) message must be enlighten by God, before it will profit anyone.
3.The [life-giving] Spirit cannot go where He wills [Jn 3:8], He can only go where the 'soul winner' conveys Him.
The Spirit goes no further than the blood of Christ, Bro. Larry. When we are born again/born from above, the blood cleanses our soul, and makes our garment white as snow. We get the drink of living water(John ch. 4) that is in us a well of living water, springing up into everlasting life. After the blood cleanses us, the Spirit comes in, takes up His abode, and leads, guides, and directs us in the way of righteousness....and also as a witness to others that we now belong to God. So, IOW, the Spirit's boundary line IS the blood of Christ, and no further.
The Primitive Baptists (and others) are wise in making a clear distinction between the Effectual Call and the Gospel Call, i.e. Regeneration and Conversion.
Bro. Larry, I have news for you. Conversion and regeneration are one and the same. One can not be regenerated and not be converted, and one can not be converted and not be regenerated.
paliggenesia Greek word used for "regeneration": G3824
Thayer's definition:
1)
new birth, reproduction, renewal, recreation, regeneration
a) hence renovation, regeneration,
the production of a new life consecrated to God, a radical change of mind for the better. The word often used to denote the
restoration of a thing to its pristine state, its renovation, as a renewal or restoration of life after death
b) the renovation of the earth after the deluge
c) the renewal of the world to take place after its destruction by fire, as the Stoics taught
d) the signal and glorious change of all things (in heaven and earth) for the better, that restoration of the primal and perfect condition of things which existed before the fall of our first parents, which the Jews looked for in connection with the advent of the Messiah, and which Christians expected in connection with the visible return of Jesus from heaven.
e) other uses
1) of Cicero's restoration to rank and fortune on his recall from exile
2) of the restoration of the Jewish nation after exile
3) of the recovery of knowledge by recollection
epistrephō Greek word used for "converted": G1994
Thayer's definition:
1) transitively
a) to turn to
1)
to the worship of the true God
b) to cause to return,
to bring back
1)
to the love and obedience of God
2) to the love for the children
3) to love wisdom and righteousness
2) intransitively
a) to turn to one's self
b) to turn one's self about, turn back
c) to return, turn back, come back
Another word used for converted: G4762
strephō
Thayer's definition:
1)
to turn, turn around
2) to turn one's self (i.e. to turn the back to one
a) of one who no longer cares for another)
b) metaph. to turn one's self from one's course of conduct, i.e.
to change one's mind
Well, I guess I may have been a little off about them being one and the same, Bro. Larry:smilewinkgrin:!! But one does lead to the other. They go hand in hand in leading one to God. If you need anything else clarified, please let me know. Have a good week, Bro. Larry!!
i am I AM's!!
Willis
Its all good brother, all good.