May 7, 2008

No Command to be Born Again?

Hyper Calvinists are frequently heard to say:

1) No one, in the gospel, is ever commanded to be born again.

2) No one, in the gospel, is commanded to be spiritually resurrected (quickened or regenerated).

3) No one, in the gospel, is commanded to have spiritual eyes and ears.

4) No one, in the gospel, is commanded to do anything in their spiritual births.


The following scriptures teach that these statements are false. Those who make them evidence Hyper Calvinistic errors and misunderstanding regarding total depravity, common grace, and of the experience of the new birth.

"Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 18: 31 KJV)

"Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings." (Jeremiah 4: 4 KJV)

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3: 19 KJV)

"For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!" (Ezekiel 18: 32 KJV)

"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (Ephesians 5: 14 KJV)

"Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." (Isaiah 55: 3 KJV)

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (Acts 2: 40 KJV)

"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45: 22 KJV)

The imperatives above, in regard to being saved, born again, regenerated, converted, called, etc., show that the Hyperist is in error when he says the Bible does not command (or call or invite) sinners to come and experience what these words denote.

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