Decisional Regeneration

[spiritwarrior37]

What does everyone think of Decisional Regeneration?

Seems to be a big debate over this in Christian circles.

[BBAS 64]

What does everyone think of Decisional Regeneration?

Seems to be a big debate over this in Christian circles.

Good day, SpiritWarrior



I will bite , what is Decisional Regeneration :scratch:

In Him,

Bill

[daveleau]

A definition can be found here: http://www.the-highway.com/Decisional_Regeneration.html

Rom 8:28-30 speaks of God's eternal foreknowledge that precedes and feeds His predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. The key here is His foreknowledge. He knows beforehand whether we will believe (choose Him), and predestines us to salvation. 1 Pet supports this. The hard term is not predestination, but foreknowledge. Does God create beings He knows will not live for Him? Of course, and is soveriegn in doing so. Can someone revoke their choice? No, because God knew beforehand what their heart beleived. True believers cannot regenerate their decision (1 Jn 2:19).

This is not a new debate. This strikes at the heart of Calvinistic theology, eternal security, and predestination and free will. It has been a debate since well before Calvin.

If one has to do something consistently to remain saved, then we live under law, not grace, and Jesus' sacrifice is useless. Jesus died for our sins- all of them - past, present, and future. Once we are adopted, due to God's grace through profession of faith and confession with the mouth that Jesus is Lord, then that is irrevocable. Otherwise, it cheapens the sacrifice of Christ.

[BereanTodd]

I'm assuming that by "decisional regeneration" the person who coined the term is referring to an arminian view that regeneration follows faith, thus hinges on the choice of man.

I am a calvinist so I would disagree with that. I believe that regeneration must preceede faith. However, I am not comfortable with coming up with such labels which are basically ad homs. Define someone in their own terms, don't try and come up with ad hom characterizations of their teachings which often miss the point.

[BBAS 64]

I'm assuming that by "decisional regeneration" the person who coined the term is referring to an arminian view that regeneration follows faith, thus hinges on the choice of man.

I am a calvinist so I would disagree with that. I believe that regeneration must preceede faith. However, I am not comfortable with coming up with such labels which are basically ad homs. Define someone in their own terms, don't try and come up with ad hom characterizations of their teachings which often miss the point.

Good Day, Todd

Thanks for that, I have never heard the term...

Spurgeon Notes:

When a man is converted to God, it is done in a moment. Regeneration is an instantaneous work. Conversion to God, the fruit of regeneration, occupies all our life, but regeneration itself is effected in an instant. A man hates God-- the Holy Spirit makes him love God. A man is opposed to Christ, he hates his gospel, does not understand it and will not receive it-- the Holy Spirit comes, puts light into his darkened understanding, takes the chain from his bondaged will, gives liberty to his conscience, gives life to his dead soul, so that the voice of conscience is heard, and the man becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus.And all this is done, mark you, by the instantaneous supernatural influence of God the Holy Spirit working as he wills among the sons of men. From C.H. Spurgeon's, "THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT"


In Him,

Bill

[BBAS 64]

A definition can be found here: http://www.the-highway.com/Decisional_Regeneration.html

Rom 8:28-30 speaks of God's eternal foreknowledge that precedes and feeds His predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. The key here is His foreknowledge. He knows beforehand whether we will believe (choose Him), and predestines us to salvation. 1 Pet supports this. The hard term is not predestination, but foreknowledge. Does God create beings He knows will not live for Him? Of course, and is soveriegn in doing so. Can someone revoke their choice? No, because God knew beforehand what their heart beleived. True believers cannot regenerate their decision (1 Jn 2:19).

This is not a new debate. This strikes at the heart of Calvinistic theology, eternal security, and predestination and free will. It has been a debate since well before Calvin.

If one has to do something consistently to remain saved, then we live under law, not grace, and Jesus' sacrifice is useless. Jesus died for our sins- all of them - past, present, and future. Once we are adopted, due to God's grace through profession of faith and confession with the mouth that Jesus is Lord, then that is irrevocable. Otherwise, it cheapens the sacrifice of Christ.


Good Day, Dave

Thanks for the link:

What is "Decisional Regeneration"?
The history of the Christian Church has seen many errors concerning the new birth. These teachings depart from Scripture by attributing to man the ability to regenerate himself. When these false concepts of man and the new birth are adopted, churches soon become corrupted with false practices. The Roman Catholic church, the Anglican church, the Lutheran church and many other churches have all been corrupted at different times and to different degrees with the teaching of Baptismal Regeneration. Because of this erroneous teaching on regeneration, these churches have embraced false practices.
In the nineteenth century few controversies were so heated as the one over Baptismal Regeneration. It is interesting to note that C. H. Spurgeon (1836-1892), the most prolific preacher of that century, had printed in 1864 more copies of his sermon denouncing Baptismal Regeneration than of any other sermon. Baptismal Regeneration teaches that the new birth is conveyed by the waters of baptism. The sacrament is performed by man and is in his control.
But the twentieth century Church has, in "Decisional Regeneration," a more subtle falsehood to combat. "Decisional Regeneration" differs from Baptismal Regeneration only in the fact that it attaches the certainty of the new birth to a different act. This doctrine, just as Baptismal Regeneration, sees the new birth as the result of a mechanical process that can be performed by man. What is here called "Decisional Regeneration" has in its deceptive way permeated much of the Christian Church.

:sick:

In Him,

Bill

[Gear853]

this topic isn't new. the bible say both.. i can't remember the verse. we, human, will never understand God. we should just leave it at that lol.

[spiritwarrior37]

I know its not new but it has resurfaced. Decisional Regeneration is basically stating that it is mans decision alone. Such as when there is a large evangelistic service and people are asked to decide to give their heart to God, some sign cards and are reaffirmed by counselors that they are now saved. Then if they go back and check most are not living for God.Their heart was not convicted by the Holy Spirit, they just decided to give it a try basically. This was started by Finney in the 1820's in his evangelism.

[JPPT1974]

Even though we may not understand
God from time to time and that is ok
As long as we believe in Him through Christ
Is the most important thing!