Systematic Theology, Chapter 34

Regeneration, an act of God where he imparts a new spiritual life in us.  (also called being born again).

Just like we did not choose to be physically born, so do we not take an active role in regeneration.   Both the New Testament and Old Testament speak of this....

Ezekial says, "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you."
John 1 says, "we were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of God , but born of God."

Regeneration occurs first, and then effective calling.

Effective calling is God speaking powerfully to us, and regeneration is God working powerfully in us, to make us alive.

Heard of the word, irresistible grace? This is similar, and shows the power of God to reach into our lives and change us from the inside out.

We were spiritually dead, and also "dead in our sins," and later we are a new creation, alive in Christ.

Whether you are raised in a Christian family or go from ragged sinner to saved, there is a point of salvation on both situations, wher eGod awakens spiritual life within.

THAT change will become evident over time in patterns of behavior and desires that are pleasing to God.

What kind of results?

• heartfelt trust in Christ for salvation, 
• assurance of forgiveness of sins
• desire to read the Bible and pray
• delight in worship
• desire for Christian fellowship
• desire to be obedient to God's word in Scripture
• desire to tell others about Christ. 

John 6, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." 

Acts 16, "The Lord opened her (Lydia's) heart to give heed to what was said by Paul." 

1 John 3, "no one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning because he has been born again of God." 

Grudem says, "when we are asked to characterize a regenerated persons life, the adjective that comes to mind should not be "sinner," but rather something like, "obedient to Christ or obedient to Scripture."  

As regenerated, there is also protection from Satan, as 1 John 5 says, "the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him." 

Systematic Theology, Chapter 33

The Gospel call and effective calling.

Romans speaks of how God first predestines, then calls, then justifies, then glorifies.  Is there a definite order in how salvation should go about?

God calls us in a way that is not a mere human calling, but a sort of "summons" from the King of the universe.  It is an act of God that guarantees a response, as God does the work in justifying us.

Effective calling, an act of God, through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which HE summons people to himself in such a way that they respond in saving faith.

A general gospel call is the crying out to all people to repent and believe in the gospel, offered to all people, even to those who do not accept it.

The elements of the gospel call:
1. Explanation of salvation.  (All have sinned, penalty is death, Christ died to pay that penalty)
2. Invitation to respond personally in repentance and faith. (Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest).   We cannot cling any more to our sin, but willingly renounce it in genuine repentance.
3. Promise of forgiveness and eternal life.

Are there points that we have missed normally in sharing the gospel? Do we know the key verses needed to share clearly?

Next week, regeneration.

Systematic Theology, Chapter 32

Election and Reprobation.

Election occured when God decided to choose us to be saved before the foundation of the world.

They are not elected because of any foreseen merit, but only because of his sovereign and good pleasure.

Is predestination in the Bible?
Acts 13:48, "And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
Romans 8:28-30, "Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son...."
God chose Jacob over Esau, according to Paul, not because of anything they had done, but that God's purpose of election might continue.

Eph 1:4-6, "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world,"

And the list goes on....

Election should be a:
1. comfort.  An assurance. Past, present, and future, God has acted for our good.
2. A reason to praise God. We cannot take pride, but simply thank God for saving us.
3. An encouragement to evangelism. We may go forth confidently, knowing that God has chosen some people to be saved from every folk and people.

Misunderstandings of election.
1. Is it fatalistic? (i.e., we have no choice in the matter) In a true fatalistic system, our humanity is destroyed as our choices mean nothing, and there is no motivation for moral accountability. The Bible speaks many times about "come to me," or "they refuse to come," thus putting a personal willful choice into the mix.
   God doesn't just know a person is "elect" because he can see in the future, but rather that he knew from the beginning of the world.
   Scripture shows that we are not elect because of any redeeming factor in us, but rather purely for Christ and what he did.  We are chosen by grace, so that we can see that there is no merit in us or as God's basis for choosing us. Salvation is all about grace and not about human ability!

If God makes us in a certain way and then tells us that our voluntary choices are real and genuine choices, then we must agree that they are.  God is the ultimate definer of truth.

When people "who never had a chance to believe" rejected God, then he blames them in their willful choice to reject him.   "You refuse to come to me that you may have life."

Election is unfair?  True fairness would be for God not to save anyone.   This question reaches deep into our understanding of ourselves as creatures and of our relationship to God as our creator.   We have no right to tell God what he should be doing in our finite person.

God says in his word that he wills to save everyone.
1 Tim 2:4, God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Ezekiel 33:11, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked will turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, o house of Israel?

next week, The Gospel call and effective calling.

Systematic Theology, chapter 31.

Common grace, those undeserved blessings given to all people.

"How can God continue to give blessings to sinners who deserve only death?"

Yes, God gives innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation to all people.

In the Physical realm, God's provision through nature, plants, etc.  Matthew 5 says, "He makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

In the intellectual realm, God allows knowledge, truth, and even an awareness of God's existence for all mankind.

In the moral realm, common grace restrains people from being as evil as they could be. Their conscience provides some moral restraint.

In the creative realm, we can see artistic and musical skill poured out on both believers and unbelievers.

In the societal realm, family structure, human government, and other organizations are a way of holding order, and expressions largely of the common grace of God.

In the religious realm, God may out of his common grace answer the prayers of unbelievers, and asks us to love and pray for those who persecute us.

Common grace and special grace (to salvation) influence each other.  By common grace, our churches could be built, our Bibles printed, etc.  And by special grace, believers can influence and bless their communities.

YET, Common grace does NOT save people, i.e. it does not change the heart or bring repentance and faith.

Why should non believers get God's grace?
1.  To let them live and have time towards salvation, and also that their children might be saved.
2. Demonstrating God's goodness and mercy.   When God is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish, his kindness is revealed in the universe, to his glory.
3. Demonstrating God's justice. God gives many opportunities to come to him, and thus no one will be able to object that God was unjust.
4. Demonstrating God's glory. We reflect the wisdom of our creator, in our skills, moral virtue, etc.  These are tainted by sinful motives, but the original creator reflection shines through.

"As i live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn back from his way and live. "   Ezekiel 33:11.

"God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  1 Timothy 2:4.

What is our response?
When we see our non believing friends do good, we should see God's hand in it and be thankful for common grace.  At the same time, we should realize that no amount of God's common grace is equivalent to saving grace.
Not just the immediate nature and creation of God, but all that has come from the abilities given by common grace allow us to thank God.  He created the flowers, yes, but he also gave the talent to the carpenter who made our house, etc.  And we don't deserve any of it!