Briefly: I've accepted Jesus as my personal saviour/Evangelical v Reformed
Preface
This shorter posting, on my part, is not commenting on the philosophical, theological and biblical validity, or not, of the American Revolution.
Bruce Gore from You Tube
13. Boston Stands its Ground (2/21/2022)
Cited
An attempt to Commodor Knowles to enforcement 'impressment' meets its match as the Bostonians unite to force the British to back down.
At approximately the 45: 40 mark, forward:
(Paraphrased) The founding Fathers of the American Revolution did not sound like evangelical Christians.
(Yes, discussing and holding to the theology of divine providence in the context mentioned by Bruce Gore, is more so Reformed theology than evangelical theology or deistic theology/philosophy)
The 45: 48 mark, approximately, forward:
(Paraphrased) I've accepted Jesus as my personal saviour (savior, US English). Bruce Gore is correct to critique this theology negatively. The issue is not that God and God the Son, Jesus Christ as saviour, is acceptable to a human being. The question, rightly so, as Gore explains, is did God and Jesus Christ accept you?
Providence
From my PhD and website work
Philip Edgcumbe Hughes explains that through God’s providence the world is dependent, for if God did not maintain it, it would cease to exist. Hughes (1990: 45).
In Law of Nature, Edwards explains that providence is the means by which God governs the world as the supreme judge of the universe. Edwards (1731-1733)(2006: 553).
From my PhD and website work
Regeneration
John Murray (1937-1966)(1977) explains that the Holy Spirit ‘summons men into union and fellowship with his Son so that, united to him in whom all spiritual blessings are treasured, they come to possess Christ and all that belongs to him in his capacity as Saviour and Redeemer.’ Murray (1937-1966)(1977: 167).
Regeneration (Murray (1937-1966)(1977: 171) takes place which is a powerful change in the human being via the Holy Spirit (Murray (1937-1966)(1977: 171). This transforms one corrupt and in sin in opposition to God Murray (1937-1966)(1977: 168-169), to one pleasing to God and trusting in God.
It is a new ‘vital principle, a new habit, the law of God, and a divine nature’ are framed in a human heart. Murray (1937-1966)(1977: 172).
There is ‘no compulsion of the will in regeneration.’ states Shedd. Shedd (1874-1890)(1980: 136-137 Volume 2).
Calvin reasons that a person is not forced or coerced to believe in the gospel. Calvin (1543)(1996: 68). I would view conversion as taking place simultaneously with regeneration in a person, although again I state that God alone via the Holy Spirit causes the regeneration process. Murray (1937-1966)(1977: 172). This means as God chooses to regenerate a person he simultaneously persuades one to freely believe.
February 26, 2022
Believers in Jesus Christ and the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, are chosen by God (John 15: 16, Ephesians 1, Romans 8-9, as examples). These people are regenerated and born again (John 3, Titus 3, 1 Peter 1: 23 as examples), not by human works, but by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, as examples). Human beings that become Christians, embrace salvation, which has justification, sanctification in regeneration. But salvific work and human application rests entirely on God the Father, God the Son and God Holy Spirit, through the gospel work.
Reformed theology typically places more emphasis on God's providence and divine regeneration than human free will in the salvation process, compared to typically, modern, evangelical theology.
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King James Bible (KJV) 1 Peter 1: 23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
ἀναγεννήσας having begotten again
Strong's 313
Strong's Concordance anagennaó: to beget again
Original Word: ἀναγεννάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: anagennaó
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ag-en-nah'-o)
Definition: to beget again
Usage: I beget again, beget into a new life.
The website lists this as aorist, participle, active, and nominative, masculine, singular.
Bauer documents ἀναγεννάω (page 51), defined as beget again, be born again, figurative of spiritual rebirth of Christians. (51). This is the context of 1 Peter 1: 3, born again. (51).
Biblically and theologically, the new birth, to beget again, being born again equates to regeneration.
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