Some basics of faith

[pinoybaptist]

SOME BASICS OF FAITH
A very brief Summary
By Bernard Gowens

I am sharing this from another list to which I am subscribed. It is going to be posted in parts. Here is the first part:

The subject of faith has varied uses in different contexts of
Scripture. Faith given in regeneration (e.g., Eph. 2:8) is an intrinsic faith -- a faith that is inborn in one at the time of the new birth. It is by this intrinsic faith that one is made to know God.
Before the new birth, one does not have faith in any Scriptural sense (2 Thes. 3:2). Imparted(and/or implanted) intrinsic faith is that which is given by God to everyone who is regenerated and at the very time of his/her regeneration (Rom.12:3).

This intrinsic faith is a responsive faith, one that reciprocally responds to God at the very point of receiving the effectual call in the new birth. This faith is received by God's child involuntarily, i.e., without the works and efforts of the creature.

Regeneration is the effectual call of God (2 Tim. 1:9) to the covenant object of God's love, a calling out of a death state in sin to a life in Christ Jesus.

The God-given intrinsic faith in the new-born creature is that innate faith that responds by answering Godto His holy call in regeneration. This is to say that in a life-speakingVoice, God calls His love-object in the new birth, and in His act of regeneration, God instantaneously and immediately imparts faith innately, and that implanted faith then given in the soul answers God's effectual call below the level of the elect's consciousness.

This 'answer' is performed by the renewed soul's responding faith, delivering the message back to God that "Divine life and knowledge of Thee is immediately received". In a word,this faith responds involuntarily on the part of the creature by the Spirit of God's Son in our hearts crying Abba, Father (Gal. 4:6).

 

[pinoybaptist]

Some Basics of Faith (Part 2)

Here is part two of the same article by Elder Bernard Gowens

This etherealfaith is the instantaneous and perpetual testimony in the soul that theDivine Call of God is in fact effectual. The "washed" and "renewed" person(Tit. 3:5), established by grace via regeneration in an object of God'slove, thus responds to God through innate faith (i.e., below the level ofintellectual cognizance). Such can indeed transpire, because the elect hasbeen made willing in the day of God's power (Psa. 110:3).

(Regeneration is certainly a day of God's power. By this act, one is delivered vitally from the power of sin and the guilt of it.)

It is thus that this 'responding'faith functions below the level of a regenerate's consciousness. This intrinsic faith is given in the instantaneous and immediate act of the Spirit's imparting eternal life to the object of God's love.
Every elect of God, the infant and the adult alike, when born again, is in possession of this particular faith. Thus, salvation comes vitally to the object of God's love in regeneration by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). The soul is immediately taught to know God through this spiritually intrinsic faith.
This intrinsic faith is inborn-faith, innately existing at the very point of the new birth. This salvation -- this grace through faith -- is eternally unconditional and involuntary on the part of the recipient elect, unlike that of Gospel (evangelical) faith.

 

[pinoybaptist]

The Basics of Faith - Part Three

And this is the third part of the same article by Elder Bernard Gowens. I believe there will be four postings more but I will stop at this one for now.

It has been stated by certain scientific researchers and by men of
those particular kinds of empirical specialties that a normally new born
infant knows its mother at birth for it has been conceived in her womb for
many months. Therefore, they say, it is intrinsically familiar with her
smell, certain of her mood swings, and her voice. This particular knowledge about an infant's mother is thus innate in the normal newly born infant.

But the infant must be born (separated from the womb) before it can actually see her, for it to progressively and cognitionally learn her name, and to consciously and incrementally learn about her, and to sentiently learn fromher teachings.

On the other hand, this new born babe does not have this
intrinsic (innate) knowledge of its biological father. After birth, the
infant must learn his father's smell, his mood swings, his voice, etc.

The newly born elect of God immediately (i.e., at the very point of
regeneration) intimately knows and loves God from the heart the very
lightening moment it is born, like that of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9). This
intimate knowledge is through God's gift of intrinsic faith (Eph. 2:8).
This faith becomes innate with the one at the very point when he/she is bornfrom above, of God. This new birth is immediate, meaning that it occurswithout any human instrumentality or of any external means outside of God whatsoever.

The new birth is an eternal deliverance that occurs without any
help of man in any way, and even occurs without the preaching of the Gospel being used as an instrument. Regeneration is the vital application ofChrist's righteousness (as contrasted to legal imputation, which imputationoccurred forensically by way of Christ's death and righteousness on thecross).

The application of eternal salvation (i.e. of Christ's
righteousness) is eternal life vitally applied to a person of the elect.
Intrinsic faith is freely given in regeneration below that level of a
person's consciousness. Therefore, this aspect of faith is subconscious --
innate within the soul's new creation. It is below the level of, and
antecedent to, one's intellectual cognizance.

 

[OldRegular]

I agree in general with the Elder regarding faith that is inborn in one at the moment of regeneration. However, I disagree with his statement: It is thus that this 'responding' faith functions below the level of a regenerate's consciousness.

I also disagree with the further statement of the Elder, particularly the last sentence: This 'answer' is performed by the renewed soul's responding faith, delivering the message back to God that "Divine life and knowledge of Thee is immediately received". In a word,this faith responds involuntarily on the part of the creature by the Spirit of God's Son in our hearts crying Abba, Father.[Galatians 4:6]

I have heard doctrine similar to that above preached. It is my opinion that this doctrine borders on Gnosticism.

I have argued endlessly on this Forum that with Regeneration the will that was opposed to GOD was changed to a will that desired GOD and one is given the faith whereby the Gospel Call becomes the Effectual Call. [I do recognize that some equate Regeneration with the Effectual Call.] I have posted elsewhere on this Forum my belief regarding the response of one who has experienced Regeneration.

Conversion is the result of conscious act of a regenerate person in which he responds to the ‘Gospel Call’ and turns to God in faith and repentance. Conversion is in reality an acknowledgment that one has experienced regeneration.

 

[pinoybaptist]

That's fine, ORB.
I posted the article, and will post the rest, for discussion, not for agreement.
In my opinion, though, I think he has rightly divided the word.
But that's me, just an old near-senile ape.:smilewinkgrin: