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

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/nope.gif" alt="" /> Oy vey... now you are confusing regeneration and efficacious grace. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes2.gif" alt="" />

Regeneration does NOT... I repeat and stress DOES NOT "violate", "go against", "compel", etc., man's natural will. In regeneration the will is RE-CREATED. What this means is that the two elements (intellective and affections) which control the will are radically transformed, i.e., the entire disposition (nature) of the sinner is changed and thus the will is given the ability to do that which it was not previously ABLE to do. And with this new disposition/nature, the will obeys most naturally and freely, WITHOUT being forced against itself.

Irresistible Grace, however involves a "drawing" (irresistible force) in that the mind and affections are overwhelmed with a need to repent of sins and grab hold of Christ due to the new nature's ability to apprehend the calling of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel. The regenerate aren't "dragged" against their will, but rather according to their will. In fact, the "compulsion" to come to Christ is so strong that if necessary, the person would do so by force against anything that got in the way. THAT is the type of "force", "dragging", "compulsion" that a regenerate sinner experiences in conversion.... NOT... regeneration. Regeneration is both silent and imperceivable to the individual. The results of regeneration are what the person experiences but not regeneration itself.

In His grace,