Regeneration. What is it, what does it do? Who does it?

[fastfredy0]

Re:
How did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob qualify to be in the kingdom?

By faith.

The next question is: What was the content of their (Abel, Abraham, Noah) faith? (I personally don't know)

to a lesser degree, we don't know the precise content of saving faith today as demonstrated by varying opinions.

assuming people who die at birth go to heaven ... they can't be saved by faith as we know it

 

[fastfredy0]

John who wrote about Jesus saying some written in the book of life were blotted out.

Can names be blotted out of the book of life (Psalm 69:28)? | GotQuestions.org

Summary: "In none of these contexts does the Bible describe that the names of people written in the book of life can be blotted out."

 

[Carbon]

I think @makesends and I would say we are passive in all aspects of our lives.

In all aspects?

 

[Carbon]

Re:
How did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob qualify to be in the kingdom?

The next question is: What was the content of their (Abel, Abraham, Noah) faith? (I personally don't know)

The same as it is today.

to a lesser degree, we don't know the precise content of saving faith today as demonstrated by varying opinions.

What do the various opinions say? If you don't mind naming a couple/few?

assuming people who die at birth go to heaven ... they can't be saved by faith as we know it

That's God's business. But I am sure they are regenerated.

 

[Carbon]

Re:
How did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob qualify to be in the kingdom?

The next question is: What was the content of their (Abel, Abraham, Noah) faith? (I personally don't know)

to a lesser degree, we don't know the precise content of saving faith today as demonstrated by varying opinions.

assuming people who die at birth go to heaven ... they can't be saved by faith as we know it

Consider what Herman Witsius says,

By a true and real union, (but which is only passive on their part,) [the elect] are united to Christ when His Spirit first takes possession of them and infuses into them a principle of new life; the beginning of which life can be from nothing else but from union with the Spirit of Christ. . . . Further, since faith is an act flowing from the principle of spiritual life, it is plain, that in a sound sense it, may be said, an elect person is truly and really united to Christ before actual faith.

 

[fastfredy0]

Re: I think @makesends and I would say we are passive in all aspects of our lives.

In all aspects?

Yes ... theodicies being a 'touchy' aspect ...I'll plead Romans 9:19-20 and leave it at that


Re:
How did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob qualify to be in the kingdom?
The next question is: What was the content of their (Abel, Abraham, Noah) faith? (I personally don't know)

The same as it is today.

Given:
Romans 10:9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.

... so you are saying that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Abel) "confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord"? I wonder if they even knew of Christ. You have any proof texts?


Re: to a lesser degree, we don't know the precise content of saving faith today as demonstrated by varying opinions.

What do the various opinions say? If you don't mind naming a couple/few?

Gee, so many combinations ...
You can be saved with no knowledge of Christ ... they love to use Romans 1 for that
You must believe Christ is God to be saved (Aside: I agree with this) ... but what aspects of God must one believe
You can't believe in your own self-caused works to be saved (Gal. 5:2-6)
You must perform works to be saved (a lot of guys 2000 years ago apparently thought a man had to cut your 'winkie' )
You must believe in the death and resurrection of Christ - 1 Cor. 15:1-4
Believe you have sinned
Believe in the "name of Jesus"

By a true and real union, (but which is only passive on their part,) [the elect] are united to Christ when His Spirit first takes possession of them and infuses into them a principle of new life; the beginning of which life can be from nothing else but from union with the Spirit of Christ. . . . Further, since faith is an act flowing from the principle of spiritual life, it is plain, that in a sound sense it, may be said, an elect person is truly and really united to Christ before actual faith.

I like that. I agree. But it doesn't answer the question I think we are discussing. What is the content of saving faith?
Is the minimal content always the same in each individual? (It is obvious the content of faith in babies is minimal or non-existent and this assumes that they are even saved.)
Is the content of faith different for Abel, Noah or Abraham, who probably never heard of Christ, than it is for you and I?
Could the the content of faith different for you and I?
Can the content be itemized even, or is it a general trust that God will save a person or a combination of the two somehow?

 

[makesends]

I think @makesends and I would say we are passive in all aspects of our lives.

...and that, to no matter what degree we exert ourselves.

 

[JIM]

Stephen Charnock wrote:
The new birth is necessary in every part of the soul. . . . Because there was an universal depravation by the fall, regeneration must answer it in its extensiveness in every faculty. Otherwise, it is not the birth of the man, but of one part only.

Charnock's quote above is IMO a very profound truth.


It seems to me according to what Scripture teaches and what Charnock said the whole man must be regenerated before there is any benefit.

And since sin is man's substance, we are fallen and dead spiritually, the process of regeneration must be a miraculous physical change in man.



Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:5.

There is so much wrong with that statement by Charnock. What does he mean by "every part of the soul"? What are the parts of the soul? What has regeneration to do with any physical faculty? It would seem that John 3:6 says regeneration has nothing whatsoever to do with any physical faculty. He isn't listening to Jesus' answer to Nicodemus' question about being born again physically.