Many Christian couples today are separating & divorcing & getting remarried just like their non-Christian friends. They may get counseling for their marriage, but they seem to forget what marriage is a picture of. They forget God's faithfulness & patience with them.
We as Christians need to call sin what it is, but show love - looking to our own lives to not be hypocrites. Righteous hatred of sin is tempered by the fact we need to hate the sin in our own lives.
Whether it's sexual sin / lust, covetousness, untruthfulness, unrighteous anger, racism, unwillingness to forgive - we need to stand strong in our battle against sin - without pride & remembering the love & mercy of God toward us. Saving faith will become evident to us when we & others see the fruit in our own lives.
Then Christians must stand strong as a light to the lost world & proclaim the Gospel with a clear conscience. I'm not saying we will be sinless, but if we don't battle our own sins then we are a bad testimony of Christ to others.
(2 John 1:8-9; Galatians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 13:5)
After thinking, researching and listening to things regarding two issues, I want to share some conclusions that I've come to. This is coming from a female writer who does not want to sinfully instruct men. This is not meant to be authoritative so much as an opinion piece after researching Scripture and other online resources.
Issue One: When does regeneration take place? Does it take place right before belief, or can it happen to a baby who doesn't know the Gospel?
Regeneration by definition seems to refer to the new birth of when someone is spiritually transformed from death to life.
There are verses that seem to put this together with the renewing of or being born of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-6; John 3:3-8) and that the preaching of the Word of God is involved as the seed used (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18; Romans 10:17).
I do not believe that a person could be regenerated years before they actually repent and believe the Gospel except if you are just referring to the future plan of God and His view of what will be as already accomplished. The idea of years between regeneration rather than immediately before belief would make no sense, since by definition regeneration is a new birth as well as it seems to imply a change of heart .
This leads me to my the other issue that started me off down this path. I was listening to the Cross Conference and heard Kevin DeYoung mention that there are some Calvinists who believe in inclusivism. Certainly that is not the majority of us, but I wanted to investigate the subject because of my grave concern after reading in the past someone suggesting that somebody's infant could already be regenerated. Now, I'm not saying that some people can't hear the Gospel and be saved at a young age, but without a profession of faith there is no reason to think that a baby has had a spiritual birth. Doubly so when they have not heard the Gospel from anyone.
Many years ago I heard someone who thought that perhaps someone could be saved only responding to what they knew of God (probably thinking of creation) without hearing the Gospel. Well, that is a dangerous fantasy, and the Bible makes it clear that faith comes by hearing (the Word of Christ - Romans 10:17). So, while it might make somebody feel good, we have to stick with what we know of Scripture and the truth and not feelings.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 NASB
Fairness would be that we would all face God's just wrath, because we rebel against and suppress the truth that we do know.
I do believe that every person that God has chosen will be regenerated and repent, so in one sense His salvation work is completed by His divine plan and summoning. This is accomplished though by the means He decrees which is through the proclamation of the Gospel, His regenerating and sanctifying work, His death and resurrection (satisfying of His just wrath against sin), mercy, grace, and the people that He sends out to be disciple makers in the world.
Inclusivism has also been taught by Catholics, Billy Graham, and many others who stray from Scripture to varying degrees...from unbelievers, heretics, and confused Christians. It is dangerous!
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 NASB
Last Sunday I listened to a message live online from Grace Community Church. Some of it reminded me of a good explanation I learned from someone else in recent times relating to God's choosing of believers and man's choice. We can only choose what is in accordance with our nature (like a person does not have the nature of a bird to be like a bird). Until God makes alive and gives someone a new nature they can only choose evil according to their sinful nature. You can listen to the message "The Divine Summons" by John MacArthur here. I recommend it!
Do you have a difficult time getting away from your computer and social media? I do. I went off of my computer for a couple of days one time and three days another time recently, but that didn't mean I didn't keep up on news through other means or have others showing me news or weather on their computer! Kevin DeYoung has an article titled "Don't Let the Screen Strangle Your Soul" that addresses this issue. If you might have a social media addiction, click here.
"How to Prepare for Hostility" by Kevin DeYoung is another article I read the other week that is worth sharing. How do you get ready for persecution and trials as a believer? I found this to be a helpful reminder of where focus should be.
The following video that a number of my friends have already seen is the story of a mother who had an abortion, and her feelings are expressed later through a letter.
How To Start at Your New Church - Kevin DeYoung This article is worth reading, although for some of us it's not so simple. When you live far away or are disabled or limited, it's not so easy to be able to get involved the same way.
The Big Deal About Profanity - Randy Alcorn / Craig Groeschel Do you watch movies or TV? This article is for you. I can definitely relate as being someone who didn't have a TV in the home for most of my growing up years. I can relate to what Randy Alcorn said especially. This is something that most Christians ignore it seems.
Bible Reliability: M-A-P-S to Guide You through Bible Reliability - Hank Hanegraaff Years ago I used to listen regularly to the Bible Answerman radio broadcast. While I didn't always agree with everything said, I learned a lot of things that have been useful to me as a Christian throughout the years. I recently have used some from this acronym that I learned back then.
Monumental: In Search of America's National Treasure documentary with Kirk Cameron will be live in theaters March 27th with some theaters showing after the 27th: http://www.monumentalmovie.com/
I'm excited to get to share this message that was given at the Master's College by Kevin DeYoung at a recent conference. It's about the will of God...practical and interesting I thought. Well, as an older single person part of it actually made me a little nonplused...hearing about people meeting their spouse at college. I believe a lot of us can identify with much of what is said though.
Below are some more links that I recommend. Please click on the underlined titles to go to the pages. I finally took notice that I could check a box that would let you open in another window. This should make it easier for you to check them all out while keeping my site open as well.
Getting the Gospel Right by John MacArthur - So many people don't even understand what the Biblical Gospel is, and then they try to explain how to share with others. The article linked above helps to define elements of what repentance and faith really are, etc.
Be Who You Are sermon by Kevin DeYoung - This was a good message about unity or identity in Christ that I listened to when staying home from church because of illness. While I was a bit bothered by his ad-libbing what God or the Spirit says (which other pastors I've heard have done as well), overall it was great. I heard Kevin DeYoung live online when he spoke at the Master's College recently, and I saw a blog post he did critiquing a viral video that so many people were sharing. So far I've been pretty impressed. He's part of the Gospel Coalition.
