1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Spiritually living prior to salvation and faith

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by Revmitchell, Jul 13, 2010.

  1. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    Messages:
    52,013
    Likes Received:
    3,649
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Gal 3:26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.



    Are you made alive (spiritually) before salvation?
     
  2. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    30,285
    Likes Received:
    507
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Think of "salvation" as a whole package, not just one small part of it. This package labeled "salvation" involves many facets - some eternal, some instantaneous, some contingent on others (an "order" to events), etc.

    Being "made alive" (born again, regenerated by the inward invisible work of the holy Spirit of God) is part of the "salvation" package. It is obviously a primary step, before others in "order", but to our temporal thinking may happen in harmony with other parts.

    IOW, we cannot repent if we are not alive. We cannot believe if we are not alive. We cannot seek God or call on God or even WANT to do any of these things (Rom 3:10-12) if we are not alive/regenerated/born again.

    So to your question, the answer is a firm "yes and no". ;) It is all part of the "package"

    Should we have some fun and list the "order" of events (as best from our perspective) of all facets of this "package" we call salvation? I'd be happy to throw in my 3 cents (inflation).
     
  3. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    Messages:
    52,013
    Likes Received:
    3,649
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Well then my honest question is do you see "being made alive" as different than being saved, regenerated, a son of God?
     
  4. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    I see it as part of the same thing. As Dr. Bob said - part of the same package.
     
  5. Winman

    Winman Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2009
    Messages:
    14,768
    Likes Received:
    2
    I disagree. The Bible says you have to have faith to receive life.

    John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
     
  6. Darrenss1

    Darrenss1 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    Messages:
    587
    Likes Received:
    0
    Problem I've always have with the teaching that God regenerates a sinner at His will and then after that they will eventually believe. IF so why doesn't God regenerate ALL sinners? Doesn't fit scripture in my opinion.

    Darren
     
  7. RAdam

    RAdam New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2009
    Messages:
    2,100
    Likes Received:
    0
    Because God doesn't purprose to save every single person in existence.
     
  8. Winman

    Winman Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2009
    Messages:
    14,768
    Likes Received:
    2
    If you believe that regeneration precedes faith, then you must believe that for some amount of time, no matter how small, that you are a born again, spiritually alive unbeliever! And being an unbeliever you cannot be justified, so you are also a born again, spiritually alive sinner with everlasting life!

    And it is not enough to have the ability to believe, you must also have something to believe in. That is knowledge and takes time. You must hear the gospel and understand it before you can believe it. There is no such thing as faith without an object of faith.

    So, if a person has to regenerated so that he has the ability to understand and believe the gospel, for that amount of time it takes that person to hear and understand the gospel they are a born again, spiritually alive unbeliever in all their sins.

    Many Calvinists teach that a person can be regenerated for years before they actually hear the gospel and trust Christ. This would mean you have a born again, having everlasting life, spiritually alive unbeliever and sinner walking around for years!!
     
    #8 Winman, Jul 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 14, 2010
  9. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    Messages:
    52,013
    Likes Received:
    3,649
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Where is there a clear distinction made in scripture between regeneration and salvation?
     
    #9 Revmitchell, Jul 14, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 14, 2010
  10. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2007
    Messages:
    2,752
    Likes Received:
    0
    Before accepting Christ we were not spiritually alive, but we were "dead in trespasses and sins." Eph. 2:1
     
Loading...