Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

'Norm' and 'Exception' in Regeneration?

Is this the normal or the exceptional way of walking?

(A mail to a brother who inquired...)

'Norm' and 'Exception' - what are they? Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 19:44:07 +0800 To: Brother Judicious Subject: 'norm' and 'exception'

Dear Brother...

Thank you for your call last night.

I am actually very pleased, and thankful unto the Lord to hear you say 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 just now. She had to stay back for sports 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 IMPLIES that there is more than one way a certain thing happens or works.

I believe the Bible teaches, and teaches very plainly that there is ONE ONLY ONE way of regeneration... that all the elect of God are regenerated in EXACTLY the same manner, on the same basis, to the same degree... i.e. by the direct and sovereign 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 EVERYONE 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 Confession plainly declares about the sovereign work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, as "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. 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. 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 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.

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 implicit DENIED that the Holy Spirit works 'when, and where, and how He pleases' to regenerate them. Now, the Holy Spirit is IMPOTENT unless these 'standard reformed' preachers give their co-operations!!! O, the horror of horror... pardon the BLASPHEMOUS implication. But the 'standard reformed' folks will not admit this and turn from their errors.

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.

This whole nonsensical idea betrays a very serious error about the function and purpose of gospel preaching. Gospel preaching HAS NOTHING TO DO with regeneration. Gospel preaching has everything to do with converting and instructing and comforting those whom the Holy Spirit of God has born 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 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 to the Holy Spirit to regenerate and give eternal life. It is always the other way round - eternal life is given that they 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 1689CoF ever read it???????

Can you imagine a farmer says... unless I stand under the tree, the wind would never blow upon the tree. Many 'standard reformed' pastors and their disciples believe STUFF like that... and they believe in a 'sovereign' wind at the same time! The simple farmers have more sense than many seminary trained preachers!

I have rambled too much. I rest my case and I would be pleased to hear from our judicious brother.

your learning brother,

sing

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