The Good Ground

[Carbon]

Are we made good ground before or after Regeneration?
Or, when do we become good ground, before or after Regeneration?

 

[CrowCross]

Are we made good ground before or after Regeneration?
Or, when do we become good ground, before or after Regeneration?

Is at regeneration an option?

 

[Carbon]

Is at regeneration an option?

Sure, why not?

 

[CrowCross]

Sure, why not?

I see no reason why not. That's why I suggested it.

When I hear testimonies from people I have come to understand Jesus saves in many different ways.

For some the soil is prepared....the individual is exposed to theology...prior to salvation.
Sometimes people believe the very first time they hear the gospel....this may be the "at regeneration" option.

 

[Arial]

Are we made good ground before or after Regeneration?
Or, when do we become good ground, before or after Regeneration?

The elect are always the good ground. It is the seed they are waiting for. And who plants the seed? The Sower---God. And what is the seed? The word.

 

[Carbon]

The elect are always the good ground.

So, they dont have to be made good? Are they just good?

 

[Carbon]

I see no reason why not. That's why I suggested it.

When I hear testimonies from people I have come to understand Jesus saves in many different ways.

For some the soil is prepared....the individual is exposed to theology...prior to salvation.

So the theology prepares them, makes them good? Like a prevenient grace?

Sometimes people believe the very first time they hear the gospel....this may be the "at regeneration" option.

 

[CrowCross]

So the theology prepares them, makes them good? Like a prevenient grace?

You post with some sort of questioning attitude.

Do you think everyone comes to Christ in the same way? I certainly don't.

 

[Carbon]

You post with some sort of questioning attitude.

How so?

Do you think everyone comes to Christ in the same way? I certainly don't.

Everyone does not come the same way, but they are regenerated the same way.

 

[CrowCross]

How so?

What does this mean? You used it.

Everyone does not come the same way, but they are regenerated the same way.

That I agree with 100%.

 

[Arial]

So, they dont have to be made good? Are they just good?

The soil is good. The person isn't good. As the elect, foreknown before creation, that is the soil that awaits the seed that bears the fruit. Until the seed is given, it is just soil. As you know, it is a parable using agricultural terms of seed and soil. Jesus is saying that only good soil receives the word and bears a crop. Even though all types of soil hear the seed (word).

 

[fastfredy0]

Are we made good ground before or after Regeneration?
Or, when do we become good ground, before or after Regeneration?

I define "good" as something that pleases God.
Before regeneration we are not good by definition as we are spiritually dead and cannot please God. The Bible declares rather plainly that God is angry at the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11).
The effect of regeneration is to make as good to a degree. Paul says something like "in the flesh there is no good". There are many verses saying the Spirit is the cause of us doing good, but our works independent of the Spirit are without merit. God is not angry with us as our iniquities are imputed to Christ. We are rewarded by God which is an indication of pleasing God and our being good, but all our goods works are actuated by the Holy Spirit (Phil. 2:13). Christ's righteousness is imputed to us which pleases God.
We are made perfectly good (pleasing to God) when we are glorified (made good). Being creatures we are subject to change, but God assures us that after glorification we will remain good (pleasing to God).

 

[makesends]

Are we made good ground before or after Regeneration?
Or, when do we become good ground, before or after Regeneration?

I should think that would depend on what is meant by good ground.

If you mean to reference the good ground (vs the others) of the Matthew 13 parable, I think it is simply Election and Predestination.

 

[John Bauer]

As the elect, foreknown before creation, that is the soil that awaits the seed that bears the fruit. … Jesus is saying that only good soil receives the word and bears a crop.

If the “good soil” is the elect and the good soil produces fruit, then what need is there for regeneration? The only thing necessary in this scenario is the elect (good soil) and hearing the Word (seed). There is also no obvious reason why the elect should fail to respond to the Word every time it was heard previously (whereas regeneration explains that).

 

[Arial]

If the “good soil” is the elect and the good soil produces fruit, then what need is there for regeneration? The only thing necessary in this scenario is the elect (good soil) and hearing the Word (seed). There is also no obvious reason why the elect should fail to respond to the Word every time it was heard previously (whereas regeneration explains that).

Exactly. It is the same with his sheep. They are never not his sheep, but they must have their ears opened to hear his voice and follow the Shepherd. The only way that will ever happen is if they are born again from above. And that is predestined to happen because they are the sheep the Father determined before creation that he would give to the Son, and the very ones Christ went to the cross for (John 10).

 

[JesusFan]

Are we made good ground before or after Regeneration?
Or, when do we become good ground, before or after Regeneration?

being fallen sinners, none of us were ever 'good ground"

 

[Carbon]

If the “good soil” is the elect and the good soil produces fruit, then what need is there for regeneration? The only thing necessary in this scenario is the elect (good soil) and hearing the Word (seed). There is also no obvious reason why the elect should fail to respond to the Word every time it was heard previously (whereas regeneration explains that).

Good point!

 

[Carbon]

Good point!

I think the op is a weird, tough question that can't be quickly answered.

 

[makesends]

If the “good soil” is the elect and the good soil produces fruit, then what need is there for regeneration? The only thing necessary in this scenario is the elect (good soil) and hearing the Word (seed). There is also no obvious reason why the elect should fail to respond to the Word every time it was heard previously (whereas regeneration explains that).

If the "good soil" is election, and the seed regeneration, it works. But if the "good soil" is the elect, then they are already regenerated, unlike those who fall away.

 

[atpollard]

If the “good soil” is the elect and the good soil produces fruit, then what need is there for regeneration? The only thing necessary in this scenario is the elect (good soil) and hearing the Word (seed). There is also no obvious reason why the elect should fail to respond to the Word every time it was heard previously (whereas regeneration explains that).

Do you garden?
(I ask that as a serious question because the empirical knowledge gained from turning a “field” into a “garden” offers empirical insights into the soils and the parable that the original audience would likely have been familiar with.)