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| Is the 'ugly' duckling the norm or the exception? |
Question: Is there a Normal way and a Non-Normal way in Regeneration?
One hears this from the reformed folks all the time: that the normal way is, regeneration through the gospel preaching; and that the exceptional way is, regeneration without the gospel preaching.
Yet our Lord Jesus Christ Himself plainly declares,
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof,
but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:
so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
This 'norm-and-exception' idea is just another example
of inventing an error to cover the denial of a gospel truth.
Dear Brother,
Thank you for your call last night.
I am actually very pleased, and thankful unto the Lord to know that you have a judicious mind. That is a quality that is so lacking in lots of people today, even among the leaders in some "reformed' churches.
I went to fetch Jo-Hannah from her school just now. She had to stay back for sport practice today -3.30-5.30pm. On the way back, I recalled that you mentioned something about the 'norm' and the 'exception' in regeneration. Let me say something about this, and see what you think. (I have already said much in the 'Pruning' book).
This whole idea of the 'norm' and the 'exception' in the matter of regeneration is an obvious indication of basic confusion and fundamental error. See whether you understand what I say below.
Let me explain. The very words 'norm' and 'exception' NECESSARY IMPLY that there are more than one way a certain thing happens or is done.
I believe the Bible teaches, and teaches very plainly that there is ONLY ONE way of regeneration... that all the elect of God are regenerated in EXACTLY the same manner... i.e. by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon the spiritually dead and condemned sinners. John 3:8 "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: SO IS EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit."
Please note the plain statement of Scriptures: "... SO IS EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit." Each and every one of God's elect is born of the Holy Spirit in exactly the same way. "IS", a simple present tense, declares a truth that is always presently true.
The 1689 Confession plainly declares about the sovereign work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, as One "who worketh when, and where, and how He pleaseth;(11) so also [so also - so also - so also] are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word."
Please note the words, SO ALSO - SO ALSO - SO ALSO. 'SO ALSO' means similarly, in exactly the same manner. All elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word ARE SIMILARLY, SO ALSO regenerated in exactly the same way as all the others elect, as stated in the earlier part of the chapter. The words 'SO ALSO' have destroyed the whole nonsensical idea of the 'normal way' and the 'exceptional way.'
There is ONLY ONE WAY the Holy Spirit works in regenerating the elect – He works when, and where, and how He pleases... whether they are CAPABLE or INCAPABLE of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word. Those who are capable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word, He works sovereignly - He works when, and where, and how He pleases - to regenerate them. Those who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word, SO ALSO He works sovereignly - SO ALSO He works when, and where, and how He pleases - to regenerate them.
There ISN'T a normal way and an exceptional way by which the Holy Spirit regenerates the elect people of God. There is JUST ONE SAME WAY the Holy Spirit regenerates all the elect of God - the Holy Spirit acting sovereignly and directly upon the spiritually dead in trespasses and sins to bring them to eternal life.
These confused and erring 'standard reformed folks' insist that the Holy Spirit regenerates some elect WITH the instrumentality of the gospel preaching - i.e. the normal way, and that He regenerates the rest of the elect WITHOUT the instrumentality of the gospel preaching - the exceptional way. That idea is a consequence of their serious error about the purpose and function of the gospel ministry.
This whole nonsensical idea is plainly contrary to the plain statements of the 1689 LBCoF. I am glad that you graciously advised Elder BS to have a serious look at the 1689 LBCoF. (The 1689 CoF is often just a historical relics to adorn the name of the reformed baptist church!)
This whole nonsensical idea denies the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration. The 'standard reformed' folks CONDITION the sovereign activity of the Holy Spirit upon the co-operation of the preachers in His 'sovereign' (if that is still sovereign at all) in regenerating God's elect and Christ's redeemed. They have implicitly DENIED that the Holy Spirit works 'when, and where, and how He pleases' to regenerate the elect. Now, the Holy Spirit is IMPOTENT unless these 'standard reformed' preachers give their co-operations!!! O, horror of horror... pardon the BLASPHEMOUS implication. But the 'standard reformed' folks will not admit this, and turn from their errors. They resort to theological juggling to deny their impudence!!!
Think about this. How can there be more than ONE way in which the Holy Spirit regenerates EQUALLY spiritually dead and condemned sinners? Those who are CAPABLE of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word are as spiritually dead and condemned as those who are INCAPABLE of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word. There is ONLY ONE WAY to regenerate them both - the sovereign and direct work of the Holy Spirit in giving them life, eternal and spiritual life!
This whole nonsensical idea betrays a very serious error about the function and purpose of the gospel preaching. Gospel preaching HAS NOTHING TO DO with regeneration. Gospel preaching has to do with converting, and instructing, and comforting those whom the Holy Spirit of God has regenerated to be children of God.
ONLY those elect whom the Spirit has regenerated is able to be converted from spiritual ignorance and darkness. You can't convert a SPIRITUALLY DEAD sinner. Only a spiritually alive person can be brought to the truth, led away from the ignorance of his salvation by God's sovereign and free grace. Only a spiritually alive person can hear and receive the good news of the salvation ALREADY accomplished and applied.
The preaching of the gospel WAS NEVER MEANT to aid the Holy Spirit to regenerate and give eternal life. It is always the other way round – eternal life is given that God's children (i.e. regenerated elect) may know the one true living God and the Christ whom He has sent. Christ Himself declared this: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3.
1689 chapter 20 states VERY PLAINLY the function of the gospel ministry. Do people who claim that they hold to the 1689 ever read it???????
Can you imagine that someone say... unless I stand under the tree, the sovereign wind would never blow upon the tree. Many 'standard reformed' pastors and their disciples believe STUFF like that... and they still give lip-service in believing in a 'sovereign' wind.
I have rambled too much. I rest my case and I would be pleased to hear from our judicious brother.
your convertible brother,
sing
