• Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Is knowing Jesus as the Son of God a requirement to have eternal life or not?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Amy.G

New Member
Because salvation is a process.

For example- There is conviction- this may take a while, then there is faith then repentance, then salvation is complete.

There are several steps towards salvation. One is not lost one instant with no thoughts of God whatsoever and a split second later in the Kingdom.

There is a process that brings him along to Christ. For some it may take 5 minutes for others it may take five years.

Regeneration is the 1st step in the process.

That's why John said- "Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ HAS BEEN born of God."

He did not believe until he had been born of God.

That's why Jesus said, "Except you be born again you CANNOT SEE the Kingdom..."

You can't see it, comprehend it.

Why?

Because the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither can he...

He cannot receive the Gospel, that is of the Spirit of God and he cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God while natural.

So he must be regenerated from above. Now he can see it. Now he can receive it. Now he can believe it. Now he can be saved.

You are saying that a born again person is not saved (yet). Correct?
 

Luke2427

Active Member
You are saying that a born again person is not saved (yet). Correct?

His salvation is not complete yet but he is as good as saved because it WILL be complete.

Just like the new birth for a baby is just the first step to new life so is the new spiritual birth. That new baby is born- but now it must breathe if it will live.

A sinner is born again but he must now believe if he will live. He will believe and he will continue to live but the new birth is what brings that to pass.

This is what Calvinists have taught for centuries all the way back to Augustine and I think- Paul. And really Jesus in John 3.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

webdog

Active Member
Site Supporter
BINGO- and you contended that v 14 speaks of saved folks dealing with their nature.
Still do. It's not about regenerate v. unregenerate.
I said no- He is talking ABOUT lost people.
That is vague and can mean a number of things.
You said no he wasn't and said I was unfit for the pastorate, blah, blah, blah...
Lie.
I said several times along the way that he was speaking TO Christians ABOUT lost people, didn't I?
You said it...doesn't make it true, though.
BTW, It is not what I "MEANT" to say- it is what I CLEARLY said.
Obviously it wasn't so clear as 3 people thought the same thing.
It could not have looked that way, could it?
Um...yeah, it did. See the above answer.
No, it did not look like that especially when I said several times he was talking TO saved people.

It could not have looked that way, could it?
How many times are you going to ask...yes, it did.
What would have saved several pages of typing is if you ahd not argued wrongly that the "natural man" in verse 14 is a saved man. That's the only thing that could have saved these several pages of typing.
Like I said for maybe the 10th time...Paul is NOT addressing regenerate v. unregenerate man but living by the flesh v. living by the Spirit! You NEED it to be about pre faith regeneration because you only have a handful of "proof text" verses, none of which say anything about the matter.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Amy.G

New Member
His salvation is not complete yet but he is as good as saved because it WILL be complete.

Just like the new birth for a baby is just the first step to new life so is the new spiritual birth. That new baby is born- but now it must breathe if it will live.

A sinner is born again but he must now believe if he will live. He will believe and he will continue to live but the new birth is what brings that to pass.

This is what Calvinists have taught for centuries all the way back to Augustine and I think- Paul. And really Jesus in John 3.
What happens if he dies before he believes? Does he go to hell since his salvation was not complete? Some say a man can be regenerate (born again) for years before he believes.
 
Because salvation is a process.

For example- There is conviction- this may take a while, then there is faith then repentance, then salvation is complete.

There are several steps towards salvation. One is not lost one instant with no thoughts of God whatsoever and a split second later in the Kingdom.

There is a process that brings him along to Christ. For some it may take 5 minutes for others it may take five years.

Regeneration is the 1st step in the process.


He did not believe until he had been born of God.

That's why Jesus said, "Except you be born again you CANNOT SEE the Kingdom..."

You can't see it, comprehend it.

Why?


He cannot receive the Gospel, that is of the Spirit of God and he cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God while natural.

So he must be regenerated from above. Now he can see it. Now he can receive it. Now he can believe it. Now he can be saved.


Bro Luke,

The quotes I bolded are somethings I want to address.

That's why John said- "Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ HAS BEEN born of God."


The quote that you used that was written by John is correct. They have been born of God. Once this takes place, salvation is in one's soul. They have been born again/born from above. I understand the point you are trying to make about salvation being a process, but it's not. Salvation is being born again/born from above because look at the prefix salv-. I take that as the word "salve" as in a healing salve, that heals burns. So salvation is a healing from future burning. It's not in the process, but is the end result of the process. Repentence is the process that leads us to salvation. When God saved my dead soul He gave me eternal life right then and there.

Because the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither can he...

I will amen this statement all day long!!:thumbs: Y'all get the "dead soul" thing all wrong, IMHO. Let's take a look at this rationally. What is the only thing that keeps our physical body alive? Our soul/spirit/inner man, correct? Once that leaves, our physical body dies, correct? Once death takes place, you can take that physical body and smack it, kick it, roll it over the hill, even burn it up, and it won't know what's going on because it is dead, correct? Then how can we live in our physical body if our soul is in the exact same dead state???? So, even though its "dead", it is not the same "death" as our physical body, when it "dies". It is seperated from God because of sin, and not the same "dead" as when our physical body dies. If the soul in our body dies the same way as the physical body does, then we are completely dead. Our soul is seperated from God, but is functional, meaning that it(soul), causes us to breathe, keep our heart beating, our lungs inflating and deflating, etc. So, in conclusion, even though our soul is "dead", it is still functional, or we'd die physically when our soul died.

i am I am's!!

Willis
 
What happens if he dies before he believes? Does he go to hell since his salvation was not complete? Some say a man can be regenerate (born again) for years before he believes.

Amy,

This is what happens to EVERYONE who dies before they believe!!

2.gif
 

zrs6v4

Member
Y'all get the "dead soul" thing all wrong, IMHO. Let's take a look at this rationally. What is the only thing that keeps our physical body alive? Our soul/spirit/inner man, correct? Once that leaves, our physical body dies, correct? Once death takes place, you can take that physical body and smack it, kick it, roll it over the hill, even burn it up, and it won't know what's going on because it is dead, correct? Then how can we live in our physical body if our soul is in the exact same dead state???? So, even though its "dead", it is not the same "death" as our physical body, when it "dies". It is seperated from God because of sin, and not the same "dead" as when our physical body dies. If the soul in our body dies the same way as the physical body does, then we are completely dead. Our soul is seperated from God, but is functional, meaning that it(soul), causes us to breathe, keep our heart beating, our lungs inflating and deflating, etc. So, in conclusion, even though our soul is "dead", it is still functional, or we'd die physically when our soul died.

i am I am's!!

Willis

I havent been following this much or know what the claims are, but here is what dead soul means. I could be labeled from a Calvinistic perspective BTW:

Spiritually dead soul in a living body:

1. It is functional and alive
2. It isn't dead in the sense of physical dead bodies
3. The soul is eternal and does not cease to exist or die
4. It is dead to spiritually good things (God and His work for example)
5. It is dead to spiritual things due to sin and the nature of sin
6. It is dead to obedience to God
7. It is dead to God's ways
8. It is dead in its senses such as eyes and ears
9. It is unable to please God due to the sin barrier

The word dead is used in Scripture to explain the possibility of a person in sin doing things pleasing to God or even coming to God in and of himself. The language is used to show what its like not what it is. A spiritually dead person is in total submission of evil in the world and either walking, jogging, or running full speed into hardening their hearts.

Example: Giving the gospel to a spiritually dead person and expecting them to respond rightly is "LIKE" giving it to a dead corpse. Therefore it is equally impossible for them. A non-cals best argument would be to say the Holy Spirit enlightens them for a period, through the gospel, enabling them to see truth and respond. The issue is that just giving a dead person eyes and ears would not only be contrary to the Spirit's work, but would also give a spiritually dead person a good will or mind to use apart from the Spirit's work.

That's my $0.02 :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:

zrs6v4

Member
What happens if he dies before he believes? Does he go to hell since his salvation was not complete? Some say a man can be regenerate (born again) for years before he believes.

Amy, I don't necessarily agree with all that is going on in this discussion. I'm sure nobody is trying to understand the others perspective as usual :), but I will say that in the view of regeneration (which is where I have been wanting to spend time when I get time) it is willed and purposed by God to bring a sinner to Christ. God is in control. Since God is also in control of our death, why would he regenerate someone He knows will die? The answer is that would be purposeless and if the reformed view of regeneration is correct, then God would not bring them to death in the middle of His work in them to salvation and ruin His own work.
 
I havent been following this much or know what the claims are, but here is what dead soul means. I could be labeled from a Calvinistic perspective BTW:

Spiritually dead soul in a living body:

1. It is functional and alive
2. It isn't dead in the sense of physical dead bodies
3. The soul is eternal and does not cease to exist or die
4. It is dead to spiritually good things (God and His work for example)
5. It is dead to spiritual things due to sin and the nature of sin
6. It is dead to obedience to God
7. It is dead to God's ways
8. It is dead in its senses such as eyes and ears
9. It is unable to please God due to the sin barrier

The word dead is used in Scripture to explain the possibility of a person in sin doing things pleasing to God or even coming to God in and of himself. The language is used to show what its like not what it is. A spiritually dead person is in total submission of evil in the world and either walking, jogging, or running full speed into hardening their hearts.

Example: Giving the gospel to a spiritually dead person and expecting them to respond rightly is "LIKE" giving it to a dead corpse. Therefore it is equally impossible for them. A non-cals best argument would be to say the Holy Spirit enlightens them for a period, through the gospel, enabling them to see truth and respond. The issue is that just giving a dead person eyes and ears would not only be contrary to the Spirit's work, but would also give a spiritually dead person a good will or mind to use apart from the Spirit's work.

That's my $0.02 :)

First of all, thanks for the civility you have shown to me, not that I have had many bad responses, but thanks, just the same.:thumbs:

I just don't agree with the "dead soul" not being able to respond. Here is why:


John Ch. 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Here is the word used for dead in Greek: nekros Strong's 3498

1) properly

a) one that has breathed his last, lifeless

b) deceased, departed, one whose soul is in heaven or hell

c) destitute of life, without life, inanimate

2) metaph.

a) spiritually dead

1) destitute of a life that recognises and is devoted to God, because given up to trespasses and sins

2) inactive as respects doing right

b) destitute of force or power, inactive, inoperative


Greek word for hear: akouō Strong's 191

1) to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf

2) to hear

b) to attend to, consider what is or has been said

c) to understand, perceive the sense of what is said

3) to hear something

a) to perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence

b) to get by hearing learn

c) a thing comes to one's ears, to find out, learn

d) to give ear to a teaching or a teacher

e) to comprehend, to understand

When you put those two greek words together, you can get the real picture. They that are "dead", are dead in sins and trespasses unto God, but they are still able to respond to God's call. It says "they that hear shall live!!" Now, all of this is to come from God first before anything can happen. All good and perfect gifts comes from the Father of Lights, in whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. It takes God to set up the Godly sorrow in one's life before they can be saved. After this occurs, it's up to the individual to respond to it.

i am I am's!!

Willis
 

psalms109:31

Active Member
Veil

2 Corinthians 3:
15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[Or reflect] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

We all are natural man dieing day by day. Our bodies are perishing and not being regenerated.

I want to tell you a story.

I have loved God most of my known life. The Father drew me by one simple phrase. That God love the world, the rest of that verse I didn't understand, but I loved God because He loved me and that was all I needed to know. It wasn't until I was 11 that the Father introduced me to His Son and I understood the rest of the verse and I gave my life to Jesus. The church I went to at that time didn't baptize. I wanted to be baptized and I told them that Jesus was baptized and I wanted to follow Him, but they said that Jesus did it to fill a prophesy. I knew it was wrong not to baptize, but I didn't argue it any further.

When I did start going to a Baptist Church and saved and baptized with my wife through the Baptist belief. I really thought baptism is what I was missing in my life. It took me being baptized to realize the change I needed came from the God not from me and what I did.

We are not called to understand at first, but to trust in Jesus and He washes us cleanses us renew and regenerate our soul. He teaches us.

Colossians 2:
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Luke2427

Active Member
What happens if he dies before he believes? Does he go to hell since his salvation was not complete? Some say a man can be regenerate (born again) for years before he believes.

Those who are born again are born again because God has purposed to save them- it is impossible that the purposes of God could be thwarted.

To be honest, however, I don't know that I agree that folks are often born again for years before they come to Christ.

I think there can be a period of spiritual incubation before the new birth where there is spiritual life growing but not yet a new birth- and that may indeed take years for whatever purposes God so chooses.

But it seems to me that Scripture teaches that once a person is born from above so that he can receive the things of the Spirit of God (namely the Gospel) that he does shortly thereafter- often times immediately.
 

Luke2427

Active Member
Still do. It's not about regenerate v. unregenerate.
That is vague and can mean a number of things.
Lie.
You said it...doesn't make it true, though.

Yea, now you stubbornly stand alone. Ann has convinced Amy.

Obviously it wasn't so clear as 3 people thought the same thing.

Two of which were following you.

How many times are you going to ask...yes, it did.
Like I said for maybe the 10th time...Paul is NOT addressing regenerate v. unregenerate man but living by the flesh v. living by the Spirit! You NEED it to be about pre faith regeneration because you only have a handful of "proof text" verses, none of which say anything about the matter.

No, you're wrong as every other Christian scholar in the history of the Christian church has said and as Amy now understands and as your Arminian scholar you kept appealing to said.
 

webdog

Active Member
Site Supporter
Yea, now you stubbornly stand alone. Ann has convinced Amy.
Two of which were following you.
You don't follow along too well. I was speaking of 3 people thinking you were referring to Paul addressing a lost church.
No, you're wrong as every other Christian scholar in the history of the Christian church has said and as Amy now understands and as your Arminian scholar you kept appealing to said.
Hyperbole.

...and when are you going to learn how to use the quote function properly?
 

Luke2427

Active Member
Bro Luke,

The quotes I bolded are somethings I want to address.




The quote that you used that was written by John is correct. They have been born of God. Once this takes place, salvation is in one's soul. They have been born again/born from above. I understand the point you are trying to make about salvation being a process, but it's not. Salvation is being born again/born from above because look at the prefix salv-. I take that as the word "salve" as in a healing salve, that heals burns. So salvation is a healing from future burning. It's not in the process, but is the end result of the process. Repentence is the process that leads us to salvation. When God saved my dead soul He gave me eternal life right then and there.

Thanks for chiming in, Bro. Willis!

Salvation is deliverance.

The New Testament Greek Lexicon

Strong's Number: 4991 encodedOriginalWord
Original Word Word Origin
σωτηρία feminine of a derivative of (4990) as (properly, abstract) noun
Transliterated Word Phonetic Spelling
sōtēria so-tay-ree'-ah
Parts of Speech TDNT
Noun Feminine 7:965,1132
Definition


1. deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation
1. deliverance from the molestation of enemies
2. in an ethical sense, that which concludes to the souls safety or salvation
1. of Messianic salvation
2. salvation as the present possession of all true Christians
3. future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.

Fourfold salvation: saved from the penalty, power, presence and most importantly the pleasure of sin. A.W. Pink

It is not active until it is complete and the Bible teaches that it is a process in, among many other passages, I Peter 1:2.

Until there is obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Christ salvation is not complete.

Before that there is election, sanctification of the Spirit- those happen UNTO obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Christ.

I will amen this statement all day long!!:thumbs: Y'all get the "dead soul" thing all wrong, IMHO. Let's take a look at this rationally. What is the only thing that keeps our physical body alive? Our soul/spirit/inner man, correct? Once that leaves, our physical body dies, correct? Once death takes place, you can take that physical body and smack it, kick it, roll it over the hill, even burn it up, and it won't know what's going on because it is dead, correct? Then how can we live in our physical body if our soul is in the exact same dead state???? So, even though its "dead", it is not the same "death" as our physical body, when it "dies". It is seperated from God because of sin, and not the same "dead" as when our physical body dies. If the soul in our body dies the same way as the physical body does, then we are completely dead. Our soul is seperated from God, but is functional, meaning that it(soul), causes us to breathe, keep our heart beating, our lungs inflating and deflating, etc. So, in conclusion, even though our soul is "dead", it is still functional, or we'd die physically when our soul died.

i am I am's!!

Willis


I don't know of any Calvinist who believes that the unregenerate has a dead soul. He has a dead spirit.

Question: "What is the difference between the soul and spirit of man?"

Answer: The soul and the spirit are the two primary immaterial aspects that Scripture ascribes to humanity. It can be confusing to attempt to discern the precise differences between the two. The word “spirit” refers only to the immaterial facet of humanity. Human beings have a spirit, but are we not spirits. However, in Scripture, only believers are said to be spiritually alive (1 Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26), while unbelievers are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13). In Paul's writing, the spiritual was pivotal to the life of the believer (1 Corinthians 2:14; 3:1; Ephesians 1:3; 5:19; Colossians 1:9; 3:16). The spirit is the element in humanity which gives us the ability to have an intimate relationship with God. Whenever the word “spirit” is used, it refers to the immaterial part of humanity that “connects” with God, who Himself is spirit (John 4:24).

The word “soul” can refer to both the immaterial and material aspects of humanity. Unlike human beings having a spirit, human beings are souls. In its most basic sense, the word “soul” means “life.” However, beyond this essential meaning, the Bible speaks of the soul in many contexts. One of these is humanity’s eagerness to sin (Luke 12:26). Humanity is naturally evil, and our souls are tainted as a result. The life principle of the soul is removed at the time of physical death (Genesis 35:18; Jeremiah 15:2). The soul, as with the spirit, is the center of many spiritual and emotional experiences (Job 30:25; Psalm 43:5; Jeremiah 13:17). Whenever the word “soul” is used, it can refer to the whole person, whether alive or in the afterlife.
 

Luke2427

Active Member
You don't follow along too well. I was speaking of 3 people thinking you were referring to Paul addressing a lost church.
Hyperbole.

...and when are you going to learn how to use the quote function properly?

"Hyperbole" is an easy word to type when you cannot respond, isn't it?
 

psalms109:31

Active Member
Soul

Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.


We are seperated from the Spirit and life, Spirit is life, it can't die.
 

webdog

Active Member
Site Supporter
"Hyperbole" is an easy word to type when you cannot respond, isn't it?
What is there to respond to, Luke? I posted another person who agrees with me completely. Even Clarke's summary of the chapter supports my understanding of natural man IN CONTEXT. Like I"ve said repeatedly it's about a worldly mindset vs. a spiritual one. Of course the unregenerate are going to be worldly and think like that...BUT...a regenerate person can do the same, and the church at Corinth WAS. THAT is the main purpose for Paul's letter. It is not about regenerate vs. unregenerate like you are trying to make it.

They way you bicker and antagonize is not one of Paul's requirements for the pastorate, brother! Do you know what "above reproach" means...and how would your congregation feel reading your posts on the baptistboard? Do they? Have you been a pastor long?
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Winman

Active Member
Amy, I don't necessarily agree with all that is going on in this discussion. I'm sure nobody is trying to understand the others perspective as usual :), but I will say that in the view of regeneration (which is where I have been wanting to spend time when I get time) it is willed and purposed by God to bring a sinner to Christ. God is in control. Since God is also in control of our death, why would he regenerate someone He knows will die? The answer is that would be purposeless and if the reformed view of regeneration is correct, then God would not bring them to death in the middle of His work in them to salvation and ruin His own work.

You do realize what you are saying here don't you? If God will not allow a child who he has regenerated to die before coming to faith, then all children who die before they are old enough to express faith in Christ are lost and go to hell.

So, are you willing to tell every parent who has lost a baby or young child that their child is burning in hell? Because that is exactly what is happening if what you just wrote is true.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top