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

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"] So then are we still born dead in our sin? Or are we not made alive in Christ until the Spirit works say twenty years down the road?</font><hr></blockquote><p><blockquote>Ephesians 2:1-8 (ASV) "And you [did he make alive,] when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:-- but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly [places], in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus: for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God;"</blockquote>A sinner is regenerated by the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit generally in conjunction with the hearing/reading of the Word of God (Gospel); cf. Rom 1:16; 10:17, et al.<br><br>In His Grace,

Thank you Pilgrim.

We've already been saying what this article says, but I decided to post this anyway.<br><br>http://www.justforcatholics.org/a94.htm

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]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.</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>OK, does that mean that all of a sudden (at the point of regeneration) someone will start living for God, and working good works? Or can it take time? Does a believer have to work good works, or is there time that elapses between salvation and service? I'm probably not making any sense whatsoever, so I'll try posting agian tomorrow after I've had some sleep...

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]OK, does that mean that all of a sudden (at the point of regeneration) someone will start living for God, and working good works? Or can it take time? Does a believer have to work good works, or is there time that elapses between salvation and service?</font><hr></blockquote><p>I'll gladly answer your question, if that is permissible, seeing that you posed your question to RonD. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin[/img]<br><br>We are talking about adults, here, right? and not unborn children? Assuming this is true, I would like to direct you to the manner in which the Lord Christ addressed the issue of regeneration to Nicodemus (Jh 3). He used the analogy of physical birth to describe spiritual birth. So, in the methodology of Christ, I will do likewise thinking it is a valid means of communicating truth. Looking at physical birth, would you say that a new-born child immediately shows signs of life? Or, is there a period of time that elapses before any visible signs of life are evident? I have often said that faith, which is given to a sinner at the time of regeneration is the most significant sign of spiritual life expressed and is analogous to the breath of physical birth. Thus, at the moment of regeneration, faith is imparted and it immediately "reaches out" and "takes hold" of the PERSON of the Lord Jesus Christ. Granted there is a complex series of events that happens at regeneration, e.g., spiritual perception of spiritual things, such as, conviction of sin, holiness of God, one's need of reconciliation, redemption, cleansing and union with God through Christ, via repentance and faith. So, technically speaking, I suppose we could say there is a time factor involved, albeit a very short one. [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/wink.gif" alt="wink" title="wink[/img] But, it is my contention, that at the moment of regeneration, the signs of life are experienced and visibly expressed (conversion). There can be no "time lapse" between regeneration, salvation and service. Since the recreated soul's desire is immediately toward God, the individual's disposition is changed from serving sin to serving God in "knowledge . . . righteousness and holiness of truth" (cf. Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). It is the very purpose of God's predestination and election in regeneration to make a sinner holy and a partaker of Christ's divine nature. (cf. Eph 1:4; Rom 8:29; 2Pet 1:14).<br><br>In His Grace,