The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Gods Character??

Joe,

1) No, I am not saying that regeneration brings one back to some alleged "original state", although the regenerate man does share a similar condition as Adam, e.g., having the ability to choose good and to be able to sin. Of course, there are differences, e.g., a regenerated man cannot sin unto death since Christ has provided all the right "choices" vicariously and substitutionally. Of you haven't done so before, I would recommend Thomas Boston's, Human Nature in its Fourfold State, which does a stellar job of showing the condition of man from the Fall through to the eschaton.

2) Your contradiction, albeit denied, and your insistence on not liking the word "violated" is in the fact that you at least appear to be consistent in saying that God can "force" man do act contrary to his will, which in truth would be a violation of his will. And I have been insisting that God does not and even cannot force a man to do that which is contrary to his will. The will, being the servant of one's intellect and affections cannot act on its own. And thus all choices a man makes are what he thinks is best and/or desires most. This is the very essence of one's being, aka: the "heart" or "soul". As you did now mention rightly, regeneration is the only way a man can desire God and choose to embrace Christ with a living faith. Once regeneration takes place, the "heart" most naturally seeks Christ and to do good. There is no "forcing of a man's will to do that which is contrary to it". As the unregenerate most naturally hate God and loves sin, so the regenerate man loves God and seeks after righteousness. There is no "forcing" involved nor needed.

So again, God does NOT "force" a man's will but rather He recreates the will, which is a poor way of saying that God resurrects the dead "heart" or "soul" in a spiritual sense. And that is what is at issue here. It is not some corporeal thing that is "made alive" but rather a "spiritual" thing; a new disposition or nature is given thus effectively changing how the will acts. Therefore it is a matter of moral ability.

I hope that helps to clear things up. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shrug.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,