Decisional Regeneration

Les --- you're doing a good job! :applause:

BUt watch out for this type snare: RB -- "But I think God the Father teaches every man who comes to Christ (because Jesus said so) and it doesn't seem surprising that there would be some form of godliness in them." See, by saying this, RB is saying that the "elect" have some "merit" that God would choose them but they can't say it is "merit." And they certainly can't say there is anything in man, even if God put it there, that let's MAN make a "regenerational decision" though prayers heard in heaven and good works known to God would prove the contrary!

Oh. and changing their minds? I been around long enough to know that the changing's got to be on your side which, when you do as I did, still gets you nowhere. These guys drop out of "common ground" threads as soon as they see they are cornered.

skypair

 

Then we must ask ourselves, Was the knowledge of God gain from nature a knowledge designed to save the attainer?

 

Modus operandi???

Not sure what you mean by absolute libertarian free will. Briefly stated, my understanding is that we are free to choose to obey God or not. While the Spirit may draw us, we still have the freedom to say "No, MY will be done."

I feel like I'm trying to nail Jello to the wall - okay, so are you saying that folks who are as yet unregenerate are Godly? What happened to the unregenerate can't make any move toward God? What am I missing?

 

God determines destiny regardless of our actions? There is no connection between our actions and our destiny? Have I got that right?

Les

 

No Sir, God is always there, its just according to scripture He is there for all.

Job 32:8But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

 

To what extent then did the fall of Adam affect man?

 

It brought the natural death upon all mankind and the natural and spiritual on himself. I do not believe infants have sin that causes them to be subject to the second death. The soul that sinneth shall die, if born dead, then it could not die.

 

1. Neither do I believe that infants are culpable for their sins.

2. In Adam all of us sinned. And when we reach that age of accountability, we become culpable.

 

You know, it says where there is no law, sin is not imputed and I have always believed but hard to explain, than when one reaches that age, he doesn't then go out in sin, but becomes accountable for all he has ever done.
Does that make sense to you?

 

1. I don't know if it is a recalling of his sins before he reached that age of accountability.

2. I believe at the age of accountability his sinful nature that is always there "kicks in."

 

It worked well for Jesus

 

Absolutely. Whether we use faith we are born with, or are given...it's still ours, meaning the calvinistic argument that we hinge our own salvation is a moot point either way. Whether I cut down a tree using my chainsaw, or my neighbors, I'm still the one cutting it down.

 

Well, whether one is a Calvinist or a free willie (or whatever :tongue3: ), believing that man causes himself to be born again is just wrong.

 

I'm saying Jesus answered questions with questions...something you state one does to avoid answering a question. That is false.

 

"Believe and you will be saved" sounds awfully like a "process" one must go through to be born again.