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Noted in the archives on regeneration and repentance
PhD, University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter, 2010 with edits from July 11, 2019
Biblically, as persons were (are) regenerated they would hear the call of salvation, repent and believe in Christ. Bavinck (1918)(2006: 53).
I would view conversion as an aspect of regeneration, which is the beginning of the Christian experience. 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. Bavinck (1918)(2006: 53).
God causes this regeneration as primary cause and it is embraced by those in Christ as a secondary cause. The divine, primary cause alone actually saves a person. Secondary cause here means a human being embraces the work of the primary cause as opposed to by force or coercion. This compatibilistic approach therefore features soft and not hard determinism.
This is in no way, human works righteousness and no saved human being, creates his/her own salvation. As secondary cause, there is belief, by grace through faith, alone.
As secondary cause, for example, I seek God by writing these articles. I embrace my salvation, Christian worldview, theology and the bible; but all the salvific work was accomplished by God and Jesus Christ. I am not forced or coerced to embrace what I am morally accountable for.
God certainly can force or coerce human thoughts, acts and actions, but I reason this would prohibit significant human moral accountability.
Philippians 2: 12-13
New American Standard Version (NASB)
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Repentance is an aspect of biblical salvation as turning from sin, and accepting the atoning and resurrection work of Christ applied to a person. The salvific work is done by God, not by human acts of faith.
Technically speaking we are regenerated through the Holy Spirit (John 3) and saved by the atoning and resurrection work of Christ being applied to us, by the will of God the Father. Repentance is via a regenerated human nature and will.
On a practical theological basis we can realize that due to universal sinful natures and sinful choices, human beings will not 'catch' every sin to repent of, and as well sometimes because of spiritual blindness, persons will not always specifically repent of sinful choices via sinful nature.
The atoning and resurrection work of Christ covers a regenerated person that therefore demonstrates general repentance within trusting, faith-based, belief.
If compatibilism (my Reformed theological position, and my philosophical position) did actually equate with hard determinism, as some incompatibilists claim in error (and some hard determinists, perhaps claim in error), and not soft determinism, why would God as primary cause will for a human secondary cause in Jesus Christ to embrace, for example, repentance?
A regenerated person in Christ, does not just wake up one morning accepting the atoning and resurrection, gospel work for self, justification and sanctification and having no understanding why that is the case. Repentance is a continual process in a believer's life, as in confessing sin in 1 John.
July 11, 2019
This statement recently came to mind…
Repentance without regeneration is not salvation.
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.
Fatalism Revisited July 11 2012: Definitions for hard determinism, soft determinism/compatibilism and incompatibilism
Regeneration related sections, please see Titus 3, John 3 as examples.
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