The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Point of Salvation?

When regarding the doctrines of grace, if someone cannot give a clear and defined "moment of their salvation" is there any just reason to question it? I know many evangelists and other who are not calvinistic and take this as a sign of lack of salvation. But was not salvation accomplished 2,000 years ago and not by the sinner's prayer? I suppose it depends on how much credit you give to man. What are some of your views on this? Can one of the elect look back and see the work of God throughout their life? Must there be one moment of repentance where the Holy Spirit is recieved? But is it not the Holy Spirit which enables a man to reply to God?

Here are some good articles that might help:<br><br>http://www.the-highway.com/Choice.html<br><br>http://www.the-highway.com/hspirit_Vaughan.html<br><br>http://www.the-highway.com/Decisional_Regeneration.html

Thank you brother.

That's sis [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin[/img]<br>

lol.. sorry sis. I suppose I haven't been here long enough to make gender assumptions.

Let me help you with ths sticking-out-the-tongue smiley...[img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/tongue.gif" alt="tongue" title="tongue[/img]

Methinks we stray too far from point of topic. I'd stick my virtual tongue out were I able.

Ok, I wholeheartedly agree. Sorry about that.

With few exceptions (e.g. elect infants dying in infancy who are regenerate and united to Christ) there is always a point of turning from trusting in one's own dead works to relying upon Christ as our sin bearer and personal righteousness. <br><br>You asked several good questions, I believe. There may be no reason to question one's profession of faith if an exact moment of conversion is not discernable. As for your questions concerning the sinner's prayer and the work of the cross two thousand years ago, both are part of salvation. We are redeemed by the work of the cross, but we appropriate that work (and are justified) by grace through faith alone (which is what you might be referring to as the sinner's prayer). Finally, you asked whether there is a moment when one repents and receives the Spirit. I would suggest that if one truly repents, he does so solely by the Spirit. Regeneration precedes faith (and repentance). <br><br>Blessings,<br><br>Ron<br>

Amen to regeneration preceding faith and repentance.<br><br>I remember the days in my Christian walk that I consider milestones, but I do not know specific dates for them all. (Although a little research could solve some of them.) It seems to me the event is the most important thing, not the date itself. The only thing I've known someone to use the date for is to do something special that day to "celebrate their spiritual birthday."

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]Amen to regeneration preceding faith and repentance.</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>Indeed!<br><br>This past Sunday, we had a speaker at InterVarsity. I don't remember much of what he said, to be honest (it was rather confusing and seemed to lack direction), but at one point he did question the audience: "How many of you believe that repentance comes before regeneration?" (Lots of hands went up.) "And how many of you believe that regeneration comes before repentance?" (I was one of two or three hands!) "If we are truly dead in our sins, then how can we repent without the Holy Spirit first working in us?"

So the speaker at InterVarsity believed that regeneration precedes faith/repentance? WOW! I thought InterVarsity was Arminian and charismatic friendly. I guess it depends on each individual chapter?

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]So the speaker at InterVarsity believed that regeneration precedes faith/repentance? WOW! I thought InterVarsity was Arminian and charismatic friendly. I guess it depends on each individual chapter?</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>I was just as surprised as you are. The speaker was a Baptist minister, the father of one of the students. I don't think he's "Reformed," but he does believe that point. InterVarsity is still very Arminian- and Charismatic-friendly, of course, as evidenced by the show of hands. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile[/img]

Saint,<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]When regarding the doctrines of grace, if someone cannot give a clear and defined "moment of their salvation" is there any just reason to question it?</font><hr></blockquote><p>Not everyone has a Damascus Road experience like Saul. I know people who confess they were saved on such and such a date and at such and such a time. Well that's the way many people from an Arminian persuation see it happening. When they "decide" to let Jesus come into their heart. However as has been pointed out in this thread regeneration preceeds confession of faith. So that kind of derails this kind of man-centered thinking.<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]I know many evangelists and other who are not calvinistic and take this as a sign of lack of salvation. But was not salvation accomplished 2,000 years ago and not by the sinner's prayer? I suppose it depends on how much credit you give to man. What are some of your views on this?</font><hr></blockquote><p>You're right salvation has been accomplished when Christ declared it finished and rose again from the grave demonstrating that the power of sin had been broken. To all those who are in Him the realization of the Spirit's work brings our testimony of saving faith by grace alone. <blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]Can one of the elect look back and see the work of God throughout their life? Must there be one moment of repentance where the Holy Spirit is recieved? But is it not the Holy Spirit which enables a man to reply to God? </font><hr></blockquote><p>The elect of God should be able to look back in their life and see the work of God throughout their life. I think we have moments of repentance when the Spirit convicts of certain things but we should be living a life of repentance and live in fellowship with our God through the quickening of the Holy Spirit. And we should be able to say with the Psalmist Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name.<br><br>Wes