1689Dave
Well-Known Member
Decisional Regeneration? What about Billy Graham? Charles Finney? And today’s popular “alter call” approach to the Gospel?
Jesus said, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36 (KJV 1900)
First, Jesus said whoever believes has eternal life. So at what point does salvation happen? If God saved them, it would have been in eternity for it to be eternal life. They would have experienced this salvation when they first believed according to Jesus. This would be before they responded to the altar call. They would have obviously believed or they would not have followed the altar call.
The problem happens when the preacher leads them to believe in "Decisional Regeneration" as the savior. This is much like the Catholic’s "baptismal regeneration". It's the same principle. So the damage amounts to shifting them away from faith in Christ which they already had before going forward. To have faith in their decision to follow Christ after going forward. So while many were no doubt saved when they believed enough to "go forward", the false “decision-based” gospel directed their faith back into themselves. Thinking they met the conditions of a gospel now turned into law and works. They are still saved, but horribly confused.
Jesus said, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36 (KJV 1900)
First, Jesus said whoever believes has eternal life. So at what point does salvation happen? If God saved them, it would have been in eternity for it to be eternal life. They would have experienced this salvation when they first believed according to Jesus. This would be before they responded to the altar call. They would have obviously believed or they would not have followed the altar call.
The problem happens when the preacher leads them to believe in "Decisional Regeneration" as the savior. This is much like the Catholic’s "baptismal regeneration". It's the same principle. So the damage amounts to shifting them away from faith in Christ which they already had before going forward. To have faith in their decision to follow Christ after going forward. So while many were no doubt saved when they believed enough to "go forward", the false “decision-based” gospel directed their faith back into themselves. Thinking they met the conditions of a gospel now turned into law and works. They are still saved, but horribly confused.