We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again (John 3:3, 6-7; 1 Cor. 1:14, Rev. 8:7-9; 21:27);
RE: John 3:3,6,7: "You must be born again." You have stated previously that salvation and regeneration take place simultaneously. There are some that believe that salvation and regeneration for all intents and purposes are the same thing. IOW, when the gospel is presented to an individual, and that individual "trusts" Christ as their Savior, then what happens? They are both born again and saved. The result is the same. But faith preceded both.
1 Corinthians 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
--Irrelevant. I was baptized two years after I was saved. It has nothing to do with salvation.
Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
--Irrelevant. This speaks of God's judgment, not salvation; nothing to do with faith.
Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
--The condition for being written in the Lamb's book of life, is "being born again," and God knew all along in his great omniscience, who would choose to be saved and who wouldn't.
that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind (2 Cor. 5:17; Ez. 36:26; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29; 5:5; 1 Jn. 4:7);
I would immediately ask these questions:
Would not that "holy disposition" come as a result of regeneration/salvation.
Would not that "holy disposition" more accurately be called "sanctification" which indeed happens some time after regeneration.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
--This verse is directed to the believer. No doubt he is a new creature, but the context isn't even speaking of that. It is speaking how there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, black and white, tall and short, etc., etc., We are all one in Christ. The "old things" are the things in the past that identified us: occupation, physical appearance, race, etc. We are not identified that way any longer. We are identified as followers of Christ for we are one in Christ.
The context:
2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
--We no longer know one another after the flesh--their occupation, race, what they did or accomplished in life. We know them now because we are all one in Christ: new creatures.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
--Many people use this verse. I don't like to use it. Again, it is taken out of context:
Ezekiel 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
--The passage has to do with the restoration of Israel in the end times.
Deuteronomy 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
--Again what is the context:
Deuteronomy 30:5 And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.
--Same context as Ezekiel 36--the restoration of Israel.
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
--Paul has been literally addressing the Jews in this chapter. It has nothing to do with the Gentiles. He is speaking of the validity of Jewish circumcision. Like Ahab, his circumcision didn't mean much because of the wicked life he lived.
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
--Absolutely agree. The Holy Spirit has been given to those of us who have believed.
Look at the context here as well.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
--We are justified by faith, not God's faith, but our own.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
--Love is a basic attribute of the Christian. Every Christian ought to exhibit the divine love of God. But what has this to do with salvation, and the Lord imparting to the unregenerate "faith."
that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth (Jn. 3:8; 1:13; Jam. 1:16-18; 1 Cor. 1:30; Phil. 2:13),
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
--There is nothing mysterious here, and this verse does not teach that. The work of the Holy Spirit is very apparent. Here is what MacArthur says.
The wind blows where it wishes. Jesus' point was that just as the wind cannot be controlled or understood by human beings but its effects can be witnessed, so also it is with the Holy Spirit. He cannot be controlled or understood, but the proof of His work is apparent. Where the Spirit works, there is undeniable and unmistakable evidence.
IOW, it is evident when the Holy Spirit has come and gone. We can very clearly see the results of His work. We don't control His work, but we do see the results. There is a change in the believer.
I agree that it is by His power in connection with divine truth. This is what I have been saying all along.
The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to bring a person to salvation.
so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel (1 Pet. 1:22-25; 1 Jn. 5:1; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11);
No argument. Regeneration and salvation results in obedience.
and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life (Eph. 5:9; Rom. 8:9; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 3:8-10; 7:20; 1 Jn. 5:4, 18).
I agree with that as well.
And, "Now do you believe it?"
[/QUOTE]
Always. I just don't always agree with some interpretations of it.
