Tuesday, October 03, 2017

Regeneration & Conversion (Brief PhD Edit)

I would view conversion as an aspect of regeneration, which is the beginning of the Christian experience.[1] Regeneration was to encompass the entire divine plan of recreation from the initial change in persons to the ultimate culmination of a new heaven and new earth.[2]

BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 2: God and Creation, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.

BAVINCK, HERMAN (1918)(2006) Reformed Dogmatics Volume 3: Sin and Salvation in Christ, John Bolt (gen.ed.), Translated by John Vriend, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.

FRANCE, R.T. (2001) Matthew, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans.

October 3, 2017

God chooses whom he wills and regenerates and converts without force or coercion. The elect embrace salvation and regeneration, by grace through faith, with limited free will (Ephesians 1-2, Titus 3). God begins a work for those in Jesus Christ which will be completed (Philippians 1). Regeneration leads to recreation/restoration and God also similarly transforms the human realm into an everlasting one. 


[1] Franke notes that the Scripture explains that the Holy Spirit continued to guide the earliest Christians. Franke (2005: 132). The Spirit continues to work in regenerated/converted believers that embrace the gospel.
[2] Bavinck (1918)(2006: 53).