Sunday, October 26, 2003
The Question
You were so kind to answer a question for ___________, may I ask one also? In my travels on the web I have run across some good reformed sites and spend time reading different articles and such. Yesterday I read an article that was talking about the Kingdom of God and he used the scripture of Mark 4:11-12: "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them". He goes on then in this article to talk about the differences between regeneration and conversion and says there are many elect who are regenerated but not converted. His definition of conversion is quote "a entering into the spiritual kingdom of God" by the Means such as the gospel, the bible, preaching, teaching etc.
My questions are, as God regenerates the elect, does He not also cause us to be converted? Is this the same as sanctification? If conversion is a turning away from sin we do that also by the power of the Holy Spirit, don't we? Can a truly regenerated person then not be converted? I think I am confused by the different terminology. I did look up in my Heidelberg the definitions and they are all different.
The Answer
Theogically, the following terms are used:
Regeneration: the imparting of new life through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, resulting in a new nature, born of the Spirit and not of the flesh. Regeneration preceeds all other graces and is the result of God's secret predestination. This is described in the HC
Q58: What comfort do you receive from the article "life everlasting"?
A58: That, inasmuch as I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy,[1] I shall after this life possess complete blessedness, such as eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man,[2] therein to praise God forever.
Q59: But what does it help you now, that you believe all this?
A59: That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir of eternal life.
Regeneration is followed by conversion. This is the putting off of the old and the putting on of the new. This is never perfect in this life. Regeneration and Conversion has nothing to do with our righteousness befoer God. Our righteousness is also described in the HC:
Q60: How are you righteous before God?
A60: Only by true faith in Jesus Christ:[1] that is, although my conscience accuses me, that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have never kept any of them,[2] and am still prone always to all evil;[3] yet God, without any merit of mine,[4] of mere grace,[5] grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction,[6] righteousness and holiness of Christ,[7] as if I had never committed nor had any sins, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me;[8] if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.
Q61: Why do you say that you are righteous by faith only?
A61: Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, but because only the satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God;[1] and I can receive the same and make it my own in no other way than by faith only.[2]
The life that we have in Christ [regeneration] comes from our union with Christ, and does inevitably result in good fruits:
Q64: But does not this doctrine make men careless and profane?
A64: No, for it is impossible that those who are implanted into Christ by true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.
The necessity of conversion is to be understood is expressed in the HC
Q87: Can they, then, be saved who do not turn to God from their unthankful, impenitent life?
A87: By no means, for, as Scripture says, no unchaste person, idolater, adulterer, thief, covetous man, drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like shall inherit the kingdom of God.
But we must be careful about necessity. Good works are not necessary in the sense that we are saved because of them, for the necessity of works is not a necessity of cause and effect, as if our good works cause our justification. This is contrary to every thing in the Bible. No, the necessity is an organic necessity--in the sense that it is necessary that a tiger act like a tiger and a lamb act like a lamb. Those who are engrafted into Christ must bring forth the fruit of this new life, which are the fruit of the Spirit, as HC 64 confesses.
This conversion is the same as repentance, and is defined in the HC:
Q88: In how many things does true repentance or conversion consist?
A88: In two things: the dying of the old man,[1] and the making alive of the new.
Q89: What is the dying of the old man?
A89: Heartfelt sorrow for sin, causing us to hate and turn from it always more and more.[1]
Q90: What is the making alive of the new man?
A90: Heartfelt joy in God through Christ,[1] causing us to take delight in living according to the will of God in all good works.
But even though conversion is necessary in the above sense, yet it is never complete in this life. As the HC says again:
Q114: Can those who are converted to God keep these Commandments perfectly?
A114: No, but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of such obedience,[1] yet so that with earnest purpose they begin to live not only according to some, but according to all the Commandments of God.[2]
Q115: Why then does God so strictly enjoin the Ten Commandments upon us, since in this life no one can keep them?
A115: First, that as long as we live we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature,[1] and so the more earnestly seek forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ;[2] second, that without ceasing we diligently ask God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we be renewed more and more after the image of God, until we attain the goal of perfection after this life.
The trouble with the author you quoted is that he left the sitution really confused. He left the reader thinking that there is a difference between regeneration and conversion, which is true. To state that a person can be regnerate and not converted, however, is to confuse. Regeneration and conversion [repentance] are both aspects of the life of Christ which comes from our union with Christ. We separate them to think about them, but they are never separated in reality, just as breath and blood circulation are aspects of life, and are always present in life, but can be abstracted in our thought.
Is our repentance, or conversion, ever complete? Not until we get to heaven. But the righteousness of Christ is sufficient for those who believe. If we put confidence in any of our works to complete our righteousness before God, we understand nothing of the Gospel and cannot be saved. As the HC. says:
Q30: Do those also believe in the only Savior Jesus, who seek their salvation and welfare from "saints," themselves, or anywhere else?
A30: No; although they make their boast of Him, yet in their deeds they deny the only Savior Jesus;[1] for either Jesus is not a complete Savior, or they who by true faith receive this Savior, must have in Him all that is necessary to their salvation.
Hope this helps. God bless you all.
You were so kind to answer a question for ___________, may I ask one also? In my travels on the web I have run across some good reformed sites and spend time reading different articles and such. Yesterday I read an article that was talking about the Kingdom of God and he used the scripture of Mark 4:11-12: "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them". He goes on then in this article to talk about the differences between regeneration and conversion and says there are many elect who are regenerated but not converted. His definition of conversion is quote "a entering into the spiritual kingdom of God" by the Means such as the gospel, the bible, preaching, teaching etc.
My questions are, as God regenerates the elect, does He not also cause us to be converted? Is this the same as sanctification? If conversion is a turning away from sin we do that also by the power of the Holy Spirit, don't we? Can a truly regenerated person then not be converted? I think I am confused by the different terminology. I did look up in my Heidelberg the definitions and they are all different.
The Answer
Theogically, the following terms are used:
Regeneration: the imparting of new life through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, resulting in a new nature, born of the Spirit and not of the flesh. Regeneration preceeds all other graces and is the result of God's secret predestination. This is described in the HC
Q58: What comfort do you receive from the article "life everlasting"?
A58: That, inasmuch as I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy,[1] I shall after this life possess complete blessedness, such as eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man,[2] therein to praise God forever.
Q59: But what does it help you now, that you believe all this?
A59: That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir of eternal life.
Regeneration is followed by conversion. This is the putting off of the old and the putting on of the new. This is never perfect in this life. Regeneration and Conversion has nothing to do with our righteousness befoer God. Our righteousness is also described in the HC:
Q60: How are you righteous before God?
A60: Only by true faith in Jesus Christ:[1] that is, although my conscience accuses me, that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have never kept any of them,[2] and am still prone always to all evil;[3] yet God, without any merit of mine,[4] of mere grace,[5] grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction,[6] righteousness and holiness of Christ,[7] as if I had never committed nor had any sins, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me;[8] if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.
Q61: Why do you say that you are righteous by faith only?
A61: Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, but because only the satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God;[1] and I can receive the same and make it my own in no other way than by faith only.[2]
The life that we have in Christ [regeneration] comes from our union with Christ, and does inevitably result in good fruits:
Q64: But does not this doctrine make men careless and profane?
A64: No, for it is impossible that those who are implanted into Christ by true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.
The necessity of conversion is to be understood is expressed in the HC
Q87: Can they, then, be saved who do not turn to God from their unthankful, impenitent life?
A87: By no means, for, as Scripture says, no unchaste person, idolater, adulterer, thief, covetous man, drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like shall inherit the kingdom of God.
But we must be careful about necessity. Good works are not necessary in the sense that we are saved because of them, for the necessity of works is not a necessity of cause and effect, as if our good works cause our justification. This is contrary to every thing in the Bible. No, the necessity is an organic necessity--in the sense that it is necessary that a tiger act like a tiger and a lamb act like a lamb. Those who are engrafted into Christ must bring forth the fruit of this new life, which are the fruit of the Spirit, as HC 64 confesses.
This conversion is the same as repentance, and is defined in the HC:
Q88: In how many things does true repentance or conversion consist?
A88: In two things: the dying of the old man,[1] and the making alive of the new.
Q89: What is the dying of the old man?
A89: Heartfelt sorrow for sin, causing us to hate and turn from it always more and more.[1]
Q90: What is the making alive of the new man?
A90: Heartfelt joy in God through Christ,[1] causing us to take delight in living according to the will of God in all good works.
But even though conversion is necessary in the above sense, yet it is never complete in this life. As the HC says again:
Q114: Can those who are converted to God keep these Commandments perfectly?
A114: No, but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of such obedience,[1] yet so that with earnest purpose they begin to live not only according to some, but according to all the Commandments of God.[2]
Q115: Why then does God so strictly enjoin the Ten Commandments upon us, since in this life no one can keep them?
A115: First, that as long as we live we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature,[1] and so the more earnestly seek forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ;[2] second, that without ceasing we diligently ask God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we be renewed more and more after the image of God, until we attain the goal of perfection after this life.
The trouble with the author you quoted is that he left the sitution really confused. He left the reader thinking that there is a difference between regeneration and conversion, which is true. To state that a person can be regnerate and not converted, however, is to confuse. Regeneration and conversion [repentance] are both aspects of the life of Christ which comes from our union with Christ. We separate them to think about them, but they are never separated in reality, just as breath and blood circulation are aspects of life, and are always present in life, but can be abstracted in our thought.
Is our repentance, or conversion, ever complete? Not until we get to heaven. But the righteousness of Christ is sufficient for those who believe. If we put confidence in any of our works to complete our righteousness before God, we understand nothing of the Gospel and cannot be saved. As the HC. says:
Q30: Do those also believe in the only Savior Jesus, who seek their salvation and welfare from "saints," themselves, or anywhere else?
A30: No; although they make their boast of Him, yet in their deeds they deny the only Savior Jesus;[1] for either Jesus is not a complete Savior, or they who by true faith receive this Savior, must have in Him all that is necessary to their salvation.
Hope this helps. God bless you all.
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Why is this on a theological fig page? Because the law of identity simply is an expression of God Himself, who cannot deny Himself and therefore cannot lie. Of course, if something can be itself and not itself, then no lie is possible. Satan's kingdom loves that concept [?], for he was a liar from the beginning, according to Christ, who knows something about Truth.
True contradictions are not resolved in God, but in hell. Those who contradict the gospel will go there [1John 4:3]. But in an Hegelian world where black is white and good is bad and God is the devil, anything goes. Some in the church would even suggest that all religionsl worship the same God. The only way to believe that is to suspend thought. But it might make you feel good until you get to hell.
The errors of the church's theology always seeps into the philosophy of the world, for the world would like nothing better than to see Christianity destroyed from within. Won't happen, of course, because Christ rose from the dead. But read the article:
Paul Jacob: Some Journalists Don't Play By the Rules: "Actually they're not rules, they're laws: the laws of logic. These laws can get complicated. But they boil down to just one: the law of identity.
The law of identity says things are what they are. Framed negatively, it is the law of non-contradiction; the fact, in Aristotle's words, that 'the same attribute cannot at the same time belong and not belong to the same subject and in the same respect.' A boulder does not have the features of a donut. If you want to know what a donut is like, inspect a donut, not a boulder. (Assume a fresh donut.)"
True contradictions are not resolved in God, but in hell. Those who contradict the gospel will go there [1John 4:3]. But in an Hegelian world where black is white and good is bad and God is the devil, anything goes. Some in the church would even suggest that all religionsl worship the same God. The only way to believe that is to suspend thought. But it might make you feel good until you get to hell.
The errors of the church's theology always seeps into the philosophy of the world, for the world would like nothing better than to see Christianity destroyed from within. Won't happen, of course, because Christ rose from the dead. But read the article:
Paul Jacob: Some Journalists Don't Play By the Rules: "Actually they're not rules, they're laws: the laws of logic. These laws can get complicated. But they boil down to just one: the law of identity.
The law of identity says things are what they are. Framed negatively, it is the law of non-contradiction; the fact, in Aristotle's words, that 'the same attribute cannot at the same time belong and not belong to the same subject and in the same respect.' A boulder does not have the features of a donut. If you want to know what a donut is like, inspect a donut, not a boulder. (Assume a fresh donut.)"
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Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.
We live the Christian life the same way we began it: We live it by faith. We don't begin the Christian life by our works, as though we deserve to be Christians. Neither do we walk the Christian walk as though we must continue to earn the privilege of being the children of God.
We live the Christian life the same way we began it: We live it by faith. We don't begin the Christian life by our works, as though we deserve to be Christians. Neither do we walk the Christian walk as though we must continue to earn the privilege of being the children of God.
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