How Calvin helped create Unitarianism

[webdog]

Let me break it down simpler. Do you know the bullet and the hole analogy? Which comes first the bullet or the hole? When I speak of logical versus chronological we are speaking about cause versus effects rather than time sequence. Regeneration stands in a cause relationship to faith like the bullet stands in cause relationship to the hole, the cause (bullet) versus effect (hole). It is a simeltaneous action but logically the bullet precedes the hole.

The bullet analogy is apples and oranges to faith and regeneration. You have the cause relationship backwards. There is no new birth without faith. One never passes from spiritual death to spiritual life apart from union with Christ, who IS The Life. You have it backwards.

 

[Dr. Walter]

The bullet analogy is apples and oranges to faith and regeneration. You have the cause relationship backwards. There is no new birth without faith. One never passes from spiritual death to spiritual life apart from union with Christ, who IS The Life. You have it backwards.

Paul says that one is CREATED in Christ and that is the workmanship of God not man. Neither can man participate in a CREATIVE action. You do not get in Christ by faith but by creation and the context of this creation is the new birth or quickening - Eph. 2:1,5,10.

True, faith is inclusive of this creative act by God because it is a byproduct not the cause. If it were the cause Ephesians 2:1-5 would be about faith not about quickening just as John 3:1-9 would be about faith not about quickening but as you can clearly see neither is the case. Ephesians 2:1-5 is about quickening FIRST just as John 3:1-9 is about quickening FIRST as it is the logical cause and thus FIRST in the chronological order of discussion in both passages.

You simply do not understand that justification is the consequence of faith and justification is called the "justification of life"! Justification of what life? The law condemns to death all sinners but faith in Jesus Christ brings another verdict - "justification to life" or eternal life as a LEGAL standing. That LEGAL standing is not regeneration as that LEGAL standing is IN HEAVEN whereas regeneration occurs IN you!