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Featured Unregenerate believers?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by breakingcontact, Jun 4, 2015.

  1. breakingcontact

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    First let me say I know how we are justified.

    Then let me say...everyone in my family and my wife's family (siblings, parents) claim to be believers but not a one of them go to church.

    At best this seems unregenerate at worst it seems to be an apostasy.

    What do you think?

    Ive been spending so much time trying to get them to be part of a local church. Recently ive started to have a conviction that they need to hear the gospel first.
     
  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Those who truly love the Lord will be drawn to Him. Those who have no interest in serving Him have no fruit to show. They reveal their hearts.
     
  3. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    No such thing. But, the magnificent type within 'The Wilderness Generation' shows that there is such a thing as regenerate unbelievers. Probably, if the truth be known, we all spend much if not most of our time wandering in the wilderness and leaning unto our own understanding.
     
  4. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I do believe there is something that we can call "cultural Christianity". This is where someone says that they are a Christian because it's what their family was, they are not Jewish or Muslim and they have some christianees knowledge (they know some of the terms, the basic stories, Jesus is God, etc. etc.) but there is actually no belief or faith inside of them. We have MANY of them around here and they are often very hard to evangelize because they don't see their need for any more than what they have.
     
  5. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    It is a different kind of belief. Many will say "Lord, Lord." I believe scripture indicates these to have a type of belief but not a belief unto salvation. It is interesting as well that we are to "test ourselves." If it was merely a cognitive acceptance of Jesus then this wouldn't make much sense. So yes, I can understand the term unregenerate believers. But there are no unregenerate Christians.
     
  6. breakingcontact

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    This seems to be spot on.
     
  7. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    Are they mean people? Or do they abide by the golden rule? What's their hearts like? By their deeds, their outside actions, are they mean people or are they good hearted people?
     
  8. breakingcontact

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    So we werent raised in broken homes or abused or anything but they are very very hard people. Very judgmental and critical. Not kind or encouraging. Not "bad" people, not addicts or cruel but not kind and loving.
     
  9. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    That could describe some of the religionists on this board.
     
  10. OnlyaSinner

    OnlyaSinner Well-Known Member
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    Very true. One cannot be saved without first admitting that one is lost. This also points up one danger from "easy believe-ism", in which a person makes some kind of decision during an emotional moment but has not actually received Christ as personal Savior. Such a one might be said to have been "inoculated" against salvation, as they think they're already saved.
     
  11. breakingcontact

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    This is an excellent point.

    I don't come from money, not in the "our butler has a butler" sense but they went from abject poverty to a decent middle class existence.

    In a lot of ways I feel like they feel they "saved themselves".
     
  12. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    You cannot be saved without a decision and if you are not emotional about what Christ did then that leads to other questions.
     
  13. breakingcontact

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    Just those terms they wouldnt be comfortable using let again being born again and dying unto yourself.
     
  14. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    People who love God will show it. Not perfectly but they will show it.
     
  15. breakingcontact

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    They would say they do.

    When I read Romans 1 that seems to fit them better than when I read about the 1st century church.

    I have had this opinion in my head for so long that our families are Christian families they just need to get to church. I am really starting to see it another way.

    We cannot even talk about Christianity. They meet it with anger. We arent being arrogant or judgemental...im talking about a basic polite conversation.

    "Hey so have you guys thought about going to church...what do you think the bible says about how we are saved..."

    These types of prompts are met with being yelled at or lied to or "we will go when we are ready"

    *This isnt a poor me tale. It is about them. I desperately want them to know the peace and joy that my family knows now.
     
  16. BrotherJoseph

    BrotherJoseph Well-Known Member

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    Brother,

    It is not for us to go about judging if one is born again or not. God determines this and will execute His judgment accordingly, which we know will always be Holy and just.

    Brother Joe
     
  17. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    The best thing you can do is to pray for them and lead by example. There are those who's hearts are very hard towards the Gospel and without the touch from the Father drawing them, nothing we can say or do will change them. It's hard and sometimes those prayers go on for many decades and many who have prayed for family have never seen the fruits of their prayers but I know many who HAVE - sometimes even to the death bed. Have courage and know that God loves them more than you do. Keep your witness, don't knock them over the head with a Bible and pray, pray, pray.
     
  18. breakingcontact

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    Certainly. I am saying...that conversation cannot even be had. Believers are to encourage one another. Ask me if I am saved and how I know it and I will not rebuke you and refuse to discuss it.

    I approach it as gently and respectfully as possible.

    I understand we are not to pray to show others how pious we are or draw attention to ourselves but a Christian should stand out from the world in how they live.

    These folks dont go to church. Dont read the Bible. Dont gather together with other Christians.

    I am trying to understand how to encourage them. I don't know if I am dealing with fellow believers or worldly people and that's why im asking about unregenerate Christians.
     
  19. breakingcontact

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    Always good to pray and something I should do more.
     
  20. BrotherJoseph

    BrotherJoseph Well-Known Member

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    Brother,

    There will be people even who go to church and call Jesus Lord who are not regenerated. "22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:22-23)

    Church membership or attendance or lack thereof is therefore not a valid measuring stick to determine if one is born again and no scripture tells us to do such. If one truly has faith to believe and trust the gospel they are saved, if they don't they are not. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

    Faith we read in Ephesians is a "gift from God", therefore you cannot impart to them faith no matter what you do or say, only God can impart faith. You can preach the gospel to them, but they will only believe it if they are one of His children.
     
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