"But it is impossible for us to conceive of the mind being enlightened, of the conscience being relieved, of the will being regulated, and of the affections being purified by the word of truth, any further than it is believed. It may therefore be concluded, that regeneration is not, in order of time, prior to faith in Christ, and justification by him." ("Glad Tidings to Perishing Sinners," page 122)
"...there is no such thing as priority, or posteriority, respecting them, either as to the order of time, or the order of nature. THEY ARE INSEPARABLE, NOR CAN ONE EXIST WITHOUT THE OTHER.
Thus it is, I conceive, with regard to regeneration, faith in Christ, and justification before God. For, to consider any man as born of God, but not as a child of God; as a child of God, but not as believing in Jesus Christ; as believing in Jesus Christ, but not as justified; or as justified, but not as an heir of immortal felicity; is, either to the last degree absurd, or manifestly contrary to the apostolic doctrine."
http://writingsofbobross.tripod.com/0004.htm
Did not Spurgeon say that Booth represented his views? Is Booth's views not sound Baptistic Calvinism?
5 comments:
Spurgeon says in his sermon on Regeneration:
"Neither is a man regenerated, we say, in the next place, by his own exertions. A man may reform himself very much, and that is well and good; let all do that. A man may cast away many vices, forsake many lusts in which he indulged, and conquer evil habits; but no man in the world can make himself to be born in God; though he should struggle never so much, he could never accomplish what is beyond his power. And, mark you, if he could make himself to be born again still he would not enter heaven, because there is another point in the condition which he would have violated—"unless a man be born of the Spirit, he can not see the kingdom of God." So that the best exertions of the flesh do not reach this high point, the being born again of the Spirit of God.
And now we must say, that regeneration consists in this. God the Holy Spirit, in a supernatural manner—mark, by the word supernatural I mean just what it strictly means; supernatural, more than natural—works upon the hearts of men, and they by the operations of the divine Spirit become regenerate men; but without the Spirit they never can be regenerated. And unless God the Holy Spirit, who "worketh in us to will and to do," should operate upon the will and the conscience, regeneration is an absolute impossibility, and therefore so is salvation. "What!" says one, "do you mean to say that God absolutely interposes in the salvation of every man to make him regenerate?" I do indeed; in the salvation of every person there is an actual putting forth of the divine power, whereby the dead sinner is quickened, the unwilling sinner is made willing, the desperately hard sinner has his conscience made tender; and he who rejected God and despised Christ, is brought to cast himself down at the feet of Jesus. "
http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0130.htm
I can hardly see how our own choice can possibly make us regenerate when the Bible obviously says that the Spirit Himself regenerates us. Spurgeon gets it right.
Dear Charlie Ray:
You are fighting a "straw man." No Calvinist, like Booth, Spurgeon, or Edwards, men who believed no one was regenerated who had not come to Christ in faith, believed that it was not the Spirit who regenerated. Do you believe that when he uses means he is no longer the divine agent?
And, when have I ever denied that God must create our faith, that he must initiate our regeneration, and that without his efficacious grace, none would heed the gospel call? Again, you are fighting "straw men."
Why don't you cite a verse that says men are born again apart from faith?
Did you notice how your and Spurgeon disagree? Do you know what the word "consist" means? Spurgeon said that the new birth "consists" in coming to faith in Christ.
You need to read people more carefully.
God bless
Stephen
Charlie:
One other thing. Do you agree with Booth or not? Spurgeon said Booth expressed his views better than anyone!
God bless
Stephen
I agree with Booth and Spurgeon. I disagree with you because you have not properly understood either Booth or Spurgeon. Both follow the Scriptures and the Baptist confessions when they say that the Spirit first opens the eyes of the understanding and then we believe. ALL Reformed preachers and teachers, including Booth and Spurgeon teach this. Hodge says that at the moment of regeneration in the very next instant conversion and faith are produced... and repentance, I would add.
Faith is the instrument for being justified but it is still preceded by the "gift" of faith. Faith is both a gift and an action.
Dear Charlie:
Good Lord! How can you misunderstand plain language! Here is what Booth said:
"It may therefore be concluded, that regeneration is not, in order of time, prior to faith in Christ, and justification by him."
How can you say you agree with him?
God bless
Stephen
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