R*o 发帖数: 3781 | 1 by Dave Hunt
Verse after verse, in the plainest possible language, puts believing before
regeneration. Repeatedly we are told that believing the word of truth, the g
ospel, is the means of regeneration. Paul tells his children in the faith, "
in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Corinthians 4:15)
, while Peter declares that we are "born again ... by the word of God" (1 Pe
ter 1:23).
Being born again by the Word of God can only refer to regeneration, but the
Word of God is effectual only to those who believe. Paul declares under the
inspiration of God, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
" (Romans 10:17) and he even calls it "the word of faith which we preach" (v
erse 7). Of those who are lost, we are told that "the word preached did not
profit them, not being mixed with faith" (Hebrews 4:2).
On the basis of abundant testimony from Scripture, we can only conclude that
faith in Christ through the gospel precedes regeneration. Therefore, the ne
w birth does not take place by an act of God apart from a person's understan
ding of and faith in the gospel but as a result thereof. The doctrine that o
ne must be born again (regenerated) before one can believe is simply not bib
lical.
Even Spurgeon, in spite of his claim to being a staunch Calvinist, could not
accept the teaching that regeneration came before faith in Christ through t
he gospel. Calvinists quote him when he supports them, but they ignore state
ments such as the following:
If I am to preach faith in Christ to a man who is regenerated, then the man,
being regenerated, is saved already, and it is an unnecessary and ridiculou
s thing for me to preach Christ to him, and bid him to believe in order to b
e saved when he is saved already, being regenerate. Am I only to preach fait
h to those who have it? Absurd, indeed! Is not this waiting till the man is
cured and then bringing him the medicine? This is preaching Christ to the ri
ghteous and not to sinners. 27 | p****g 发帖数: 171 | 2 re
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【在 R*o 的大作中提到】 : by Dave Hunt : Verse after verse, in the plainest possible language, puts believing before : regeneration. Repeatedly we are told that believing the word of truth, the g : ospel, is the means of regeneration. Paul tells his children in the faith, " : in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Corinthians 4:15) : , while Peter declares that we are "born again ... by the word of God" (1 Pe : ter 1:23). : Being born again by the Word of God can only refer to regeneration, but the : Word of God is effectual only to those who believe. Paul declares under the : inspiration of God, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
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