'King James Bible is an Inspired Translation!' said a brother

A dear brother who is very convinced that the KJB is the inspired translation asked this rhetorical question :
"I do have a humble question to ask, Pastor Lau. What version of Bible are you using other than KJT as approved version, since IT is not inspired? Romans 24:31 is the verse I was talking about. (Rom=Romans)

I replied thus:

Hi Willie,

Your humble question deserves a plain answer.
Your question is thus: What version of Bible are you using other than KJT as approved version, since IT is not inspired?

Before I answer, let me help you to understand your own question first.
- Your question assumes there are different versions of the Bible. There is only ONE Bible, but are many TRANSLATIONS of the ONE Bible. KJB is one of the many translations in English.
- Your question assumes the KJ translation as the approved translation. My question is, approved by who? King James? Prince Willie? Who? God? How was that approval made known to the church of Jesus Christ?
- And before the KJ translation of the Bible, was there an approved translation, if yes, which one, and approved by whom?

I ask very simple question too, and I expect plain answers too.

I will give plain answers to your questions:
- I use the KJ translation of the Bible because in my humble understanding it is the only translation that preserves, and is faithful to the glorious and central truth of the "faith of Christ" in redemption. And that is enough for me, Lau Sing Foo.
- I use the KJ translation of the Bible NOT because I can prove that it is the BEST translation. To say that it is the best translation would presuppose that I'm must have the linguistic and translational expertise and theological acumen to determine that it is the best. Of course there are smart alecks who know a whole great deal more. 
- I use the KJ translation of the Bible NOT because it is the INSPIRED translation. The translators of the KJB claim no such thing... they were not SO FOOOOOOLISH nor impudent to do so! But there are smart alecks who think otherwise!

I use KJ translation of the Bible because of my simple faith that it is the preserved word of God's inspired Scriptures in the English language.

I leave other children of God to use other translations they are comfortable with UNTIL the Lord leads them to know better, and see the errors of the translations they are using!  I told M O.. all these things, but he is an INCORRIGIBLE man! He loves picking a fight and running down other believers he met who do not yet use KJ translation!

When the Lord showed me the truth, I willingly and gladly began using the KJ translation, without being harassed and pestered by people like you and M O!!!

In my KJ translation, Paul's epistle to the Romans ends with chapter 16. I will try to find an INSPIRED translation with Romans 24:31. If you have a copy of the INSPIRED translation, please quote the whole of Romans 24 so that I can take a look at the new revelation. I googled Romans 24:31 many times, but found nothing. May be my 10-years old MacMini can't cope with the latest things on the web. My apology!

A little humility will do you much good... it will make your hard-work in your bible study a little bit more fruitful.

Thank you again, and I hope your humble question receives a satisfactory answer.

sing
===

Watch out! Are you on parallel track?

Perfectly parallel track! Absolutely necessary for safety!
Will you get on a train that attempts to run on the non-parallel track?
Will you risk your life doing so? 

"Therefore as by the offence of one 

judgment came upon all men to condemnation; 

EVEN SO 

by the righteousness of one

 the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." 

Rom 5:18

Even so... even so... even so... 
Do you notice those two small words? What do they inform you?

Let's consider a few questions.

Q1. When was Adam's sin IMPUTED to you legally?
A: Adam's sin was imputed to me legally when he transgressed and fell in the garden of Eden. [I wasn't even born yet!]

Q2. When was Adam's sin APPLIED to you personally?
A: Adam's sin was applied to me personally when I was conceived in my mother's womb or a test-tube!

Q3. When did you begin to experience the condemnation of sin imputed and applied to you personally?
A: I began to experience the condemnation of sin when I commit transgress the law of God, and do works of unrighteousness.

Even so, now the exact parallel questions...

//Q1. When was Christ's righteousness IMPUTED to you legally?
A: Christ's righteousness was imputed to me legally when Christ rose from the dead. The righteousness was IMPUTED freely. [I wasn't even born yet, but my name was already written in the book of life.]

//Q2. When was Christ's righteousness APPLIED to you personally?
A: Christ's righteousness was applied to me personally when God effectually called me out of my native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation. The righteousness was applied freely by God's grace. [Please note: application of righteousness PRECEDES regeneration to life; that is justification by God's free grace precedes regeneration by the Holy Spirit.]

//Q3. When did you begin to experience the blessedness of the righteousness of Christ imputed, and applied to you personally?
A: I begin to experience the blessedness of Christ's righteousness imputed, and applied to me when I believe the word of truth, the gospel of my salvation by God's free grace.

You DIDN'T believe in Adam's transgression for your condemnation before God. It was IMPUTED, and APPLIED to you by Divine justice, WITHOUT you doing a thing!

You DIDN'T believe in Christ's work of righteousness for your justification before God. It was IMPUTED, and APPLIED to you by God's free grace, WITHOUT you doing a thing!

Now, you understand the force and significance of the two little words "even so"?

You won't risk your life travelling on train attempting to run on the non-parallel track, will you?

Are you on the gospel train that travels on exact and precise parallel tract???

 ===============

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Is it freely by His grace alone, or is it not?

Is that orchid flower real, half real, or all plastic? Are the yam leaves plastic?

 See some other related pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/photo.php?fbid=10200461176907443&set=a.10200461172667337.1073742082.1097484914&type=1&theater

"Salvation by grace" and
"Salvation by grace alone"
are popular religious shibboleths!

Most Christians worth the name can readily rattle off the words, "salvation is by grace alone." And that's wonderful. The Scriptures affirm that fundamental truth. However, the sad thing is, very few Christians actually believe their confession, i.e. that their salvation is by grace alone!

Let's consider that popular statement "salvation is by grace alone" for a moment.

Salvation is a multifaceted term, embracing many aspects of God's activities in that salvation:

- God purposed that salvation, for His people.
- God accomplished that salvation, for His people.
- God applies/bestows that salvation, to His people.
- God consummates that salvation, for His people.

 Does God execute all those activities by grace alone? Or does God require the cooperation of His people to execute those activities for them?  The phrase "by grace alone" speaks about the manner God executes those activities to save His people... i.e. He executed those activities freely and sovereignly without His people fulfilling any condition or aiding Him in any way whatsoever. If that was not the manner God executed those activities, is it still "by grace alone"?

- Salvation requires freeing you from your just condemnation of death, that's justification by His grace alone.
- Salvation requires removing you from your native state of deadness in trespasses and sins, that's regeneration by His grace alone.
- Salvation requires delivering you from your alienation from God, that's adoption by His grace alone.
(The above three divine activities are simultaneously executed at the effectual calling of each elect out of his native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation)
- Salvation necessitates bringing up the dead from the grave to eternal glory, this resurrection by His grace alone; and transforming those still living in their bodies of death unto glory, this by His grace alone too. 

Well, unless of course, you insist that you cooperated or assisted in any part of those activities of God!

Did God execute all these divine acts by His grace alone, or did He not? Or did He require your cooperation for the execution of any of those activities to save you? There can be no mixture - it is a zero-sum game. It is either one or the other by your own confession... "alone" speaks of EXCLUSIVITY!

Ro 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

The Scriptures declare that salvation is by grace alone... that is:
- your justification is by grace alone,
- your regeneration is by grace alone,
- your adoption is by grace alone, and
- your resurrection and/or transformation unto eternal glory is by grace alone.

 Your justification before God: freely by His grace
- Ro 3:24 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..."
- Tit 3:7 "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

It is plain enough that the justification of a condemned man before God is by the free grace of God alone, based on the righteousness of Christ alone.

The devil deceives God's children to believe that condemned sinners are justified by God through their faith alone in Christ! Their favourite mantra is - justification by faith alone, i.e. their act of believing in Chris gets them justified by God. Such sola fide is a lie from the pit of hell!

That hellish lie denies and usurps divine grace, and substitutes it with man's work of believing. No amount of disclaiming will remove the charge!

You regeneration by God: freely by His grace

- John 3: 3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
- Eph 2:1,5 "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins...even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved."
- Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost..."

 These declare that your regeneration by God is freely by the grace of God. The spiritually dead can't possibly assist God in their own regeneration.

The devil deceives God's children to believe the big lies that their regeneration requires the work of preaching the gospel by preachers, and believing the gospel by the hearers! They believe that God needs the help of preachers to regenerate sinners dead in trespasses and sins. They also believe that the sinners dead in trespasses and sins need to help God by their believing in order for them to be regenerated! And they still foam, "salvation is by grace alone."

Christ repeatedly said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot..." But they say, "... he can...!" Let Christ be true but every man a liar.

Preaching the gospel is very important for the purpose it was ordained, i.e. so that God's children may know the truth of their salvation by God's free grace! It is not for the fictional purpose imagined by many... instrumental for the regeneration of the dead. Believing the gospel truth is very important, but not for the purpose of being born again, but for the purpose of knowing the truth that liberates them, and to be delivered from lies and falsehood, and superstitions.

Your adoption by God: freely by His grace
John 1: 12-13 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Eph 1:5 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will..."
1John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God..."

The devil deceives God's children to believe that it is when they believe that they are adopted by God as children. And they point to John 1:12 as proof! That verse says that receiving Christ (and only those who are already born of God, therefore already God's children) enables them to have the power and authority to see themselves as God's children.

Your glorification by God: freely by His grace
Phil 3:20-21 "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
1Cor 15:42-44 "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."

When we lie as dust and dry bones in the grave, what can we do to assist our resurrection? What can we do to assist God to transform us in this natural mortal corruptible body to that of the spiritual, immortal and incorruptible body fit for eternal glory? Do you really mean it when you say, "salvation is of the LORD, salvation is by His grace alone"?

Please do make sure that "salvation is indeed by grace alone" is not just a pious shibboleth or religious jargon. It does not serve the cause of Christ or His truth!

Unless you do really believe in salvation by grace, stop using it less you end up bearing false witness against Christ and His gospel.

Why do we pray for the salvation of others?

A family that prays together stays together no matter what!

The Question: Why do we pray for the salvation of certain people?

A dear Brother inquired:
Another few questions that came from Xyz:
Q1. Why pray to God for salvation of certain people especially family members knowing very well God in His good pleasure has predetermined His elect?

Q2. Would earnest prayer including prayer and fasting move the heart of God to commute the death sentence to that of life eternally? Are we capable to move God's heart and change His mind?

Q3. If not, why should we pray for the salvation of many? We know only one thing: we are not deserving to be saved at all. His choosing some for Himself is the testimony of His grace. Oh! How we should be humble in the sight of His greatness.

In Him...
--------------

Dear Brother,
Thanks for asking, and exercising my mind to search the Scriptures. Read patiently. Feel free to ask further if I am not clear or in error. Rightly dividing the word of truth will deliver us from inconsistency and contradiction.

Your questions deal with the issue of divine sovereignty and human responsibilities. The standard explanation of the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is very inadequate and misses the whole point because it fails to make the crucial distinction between eternal salvation that is monergistic, and temporal salvation which is synergistic. The human responsibility spoken of RELATES solely and specifically to God's children only, and NOT to natural man in general. It is only God's children who are directed with those spiritual responsibilities. It is biblical and logical that God requires SPIRITUAL responsibilities of His children only, and not those natural men dead in trespasses and sin.

Of course MORAL responsibilities is a duty of all moral creatures made in the image of God. Man as God's creatures are bound to God in the covenant of creation.

Any way, read on. A bit long... so that you may be grounded in the truth.

You asked:

Q1. Why pray to God for salvation of certain people especially family members know very well God in His good pleasure has predetermined His elect?

1. Let me first state some basic biblical facts, before dealing with the question directly. It is no harm rehearsing or repeating the wonderful truth of salvation.

a. We know very well these things:
- God in His good pleasure has chosen a certain people for Himself, and has predestinated His elect to eternal salvation before the foundation of the world, Romans 8:29-30, Eph 1:3-6.
- No prayers can alter that. No activities of man can alter anything.

- All their names have been written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, Rev 13:8. No prayers, and absolutely nothing else can alter that fixed number, and persons.

- 1689.3.4 summarizes the matter this way: "These angels and men thus predestined and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.” (2Ti 2:19; Jn 13:18.)

Please note: the number is fixed by divine decree before the foundation of the world.

No prayers and ABSOLUTELY nothing can add or reduce the number of names already written in the Book of Life from before the foundation of the world. Prayers cannot alter what God has already settled in eternity. No missionary endeavor or lack thereof will ever increase or decrease the number elect entering eternal glory in heaven. Why?

- It is plainly stated what God has decreed that He Himself will do ALL THESE without fail for each of His elect: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

God has decreed to do ALL these divine and sovereign acts for each and every one of His elect... and He did ALL these acts absolutely without any external/human influence or aids or cooperation. ALL these acts for each and ALL elect shall come to pass in God's own appointed and approved time. No amount of prayers can change or alter any thing in all these eternal and sovereign acts stated here. O what comfort... sovereign grace and wisdom determine the certainty of the eternal salvation of each of all His elect.

- 1689.10.1 puts it this way: ". Those whom God hath predestined unto life, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,(1) by His Word [Christ, the Life-giving Logos, sing] and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ [the sole basis and ground of the grace and eternal salvation bestowed]."

Please note: the time of each elect's effectual calling - whether still in the womb or at deathbed, or somewhere in between - from sin and death to grace and salvation is all in God's own appointed and accepted time. It is God's sole prerogative as to WHEN He apply eternal salvation to each of His elect personally in time. No amount of prayers will affect or change the time of an elect's effectual call to life. Not human acts can SPEED UP or SLOW DOWN when God effectually call each elect to grace and eternal life.

SO, there are certain things that are clearly BEYOND the realm and sphere of any activity or prayer of God's children. You don't see any example of prayers on those things that concern the eternal aspect of the salvation of God's elect. You don't see any instruction to pray on such things either.

b. Why pray to God for the salvation of certain people, then?
- What do people mean when they pray for the salvation of people? Go ask the Arminians and the RBs, and all others in between, what they mean?
- They probably mean that by their prayers the things mentioned above are made to happen. They think their prayers and their witness and good works are the means God appointed to secure the things mentioned above. They pray to God to regenerate those that are dead... but God without fail always effectually call His elect, and ONLY at His own appointed and accepted time... WITHOUT any one's prayer or preaching, etc.
- They pray that the dead may believe to receive eternal life... may believe that they may be justified by God... that by means of their zeal and activities, they think by their activities, will get more people into heaven. How deceived and deluded!!!

- The Bible gives many instances where prayers are requested and made for the salvation of CERTAIN people. The 'salvation' where our prayers and activities are involved is not the eternal aspect of salvation; it is the temporal aspect of salvation...

- All these prayers HAVE TO DO with the gathering into the NT church and shepherding of God's children (the elect already effectually called to grace and eternal salvation... all by God's free grace in justification, regeneration, adoption, gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell in them).

- "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." Matt 9:38. The 'harvest' are those that God has already effectually called... these alone are able to be 'harvested' - to be gathered by the laborers into the NT church to be nurtured... "teaching them that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" Titus 2:12-13.

- "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
- In carrying out this work of making disciples we need to pray that the Lord will bless our effort to bring God's children to the gospel truth, and gospel living. Disciples can only be made out of God's children... those elect whom God has effectually called to eternal life, i.e. bestowed with eternal salvation. Only children of God can be taught to observe all things whatsoever Christ their Lord and Saviour have commanded them. To all others, Christ and the gospel is utter foolishness. Spiritual things are spiritually discern. Spiritual things are foolishness to them without eternal life.

- This is the apostolic example set before us... "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you." (II Thessalonians 3:1)

c. There is a salvation which can only comes through the gospel ministry.
- This is distinct from the eternal salvation that is by free and sovereign grace alone... applied to an elect personally through the sovereign effectual call to grace and eternal salvation.
– This is a salvation that God's children must work out for themselves. The gospel ministry is the means. To be taught to observe all things that the Lord Jesus has commanded through His apostles bring much salvation/deliverance from ignorance, ungodliness, timely consequences of sin, etc.
- To be taught to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and taught to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world is a salvation which we must pray and work for God's children.

No amount of prayers will turn a goat into a sheep. Our prayers and gospel ministry can turn ignorant and untaught and uninformed children of God... into men of God that they may be thoroughly equipped for every good work God has appointed them.

We ought to pray to God to bless our labours to those around us - whether among the family members, or whoever - that His children may be found and gathered into the NT church. We labour because we know there ARE God's children out there, NOT because God's children WILL BE made through our ministry, and they need to be gathered into the NT church.

Apostle Paul is very specific in his mind... his ministry is for the elect regenerate alone. As he labours for the temporal salvation (in contrast to eternal salvation which God bestows freely and sovereign without man's aid whatsoever) of God's children, he asks God to bless the labours of his hands... there may be conversion. That's the apostolic model for us.

You asked

Q2. Would earnest prayer including prayer and fasting moves the heart of God to commute the death sentence to that of life eternity? Are we capable to move God's heart and change His mind?

2. Some facts stated above in Q1 will give a definitive answer to your question above.

a. Christ and His merits (His life of perfect and sinless obedience unto God for His people, and His substitutionary death for His people) ALONE is the SOLITARY cause and instrument for the commutation of the condemnation of death to that of justification unto eternal life.

- And the MANNER/METHOD of this commutation is by the FREE and sovereign grace alone... conditioned ON absolutely nothing in or of man. If it is conditioned on anything, the man under the condemnation of death is ABSOLUTELY unable to meet that condition. It is Christ alone PLUS
NOTHING - not prayers, not preaching, not believing, not repentance, etc.

- Christ Himself prayed for those whom God the Father has given Him... and none other. "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." John 17:9-10.

- Remember too that God is eternal and immutable, working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will for His own glory. The Triune God has decreed and determined in eternity the exact people whom He has predestinated to eternal life, and God is immutable in His decree.

You asked:

b. Are we, God's children, capable to move God's heart and change His mind?

- In the eternal aspect of salvation, certainly not... see Romans 8:29-30. In this eternal aspect of salvation, it is entirely MONERGISTIC, by His free and sovereign will and purpose...
- In temporal matters, certainly yes. There are ample examples in the Scriptures. In temporal matters, it is SYNERGISTIC. God's children are commanded to observe and obey God through the grace working in them. They must work out their own salvation – ONLY those already bestowed with eternal salvation is able to do something to work out their own temporal salvation in this life. In this sense, those who labour and work hard will enjoy more salvation.

- God hears the prayers of His children and intervene in the temporal affairs in their lives. Human involvement - whether prayers or gospel witness, brotherly kindness, charity is limited to the temporal aspect of salvation alone. In this aspect alone, God's children have an ACTIVE role to play. If we don't pray and labour, not only our own spiritual well being is adversely affected, the well being of other children of God are also adversely affected... leaving God's children to remain in ignorance and in bondage to traditions and superstitions. For a child of God to be tossed about by every wind of doctrine and fables is heart breaking.
- Every effort must be expanded to gather them into the spiritual home... that each may be nourished and instructed and grounded in the truth of Jesus Christ, and thoroughly equipped for every good work that the Father has appointed for His children.

You asked:

Q3. If not, why should we pray for the salvation of many?

The Sungai Dua Church has been praying for the salvation of God's children in the community around us... that we may meet them in our daily life and teach them the gospel. We pray for the salvation of the RBs folks too that they may be delivered and saved from their ignorance and blindness to the gospel of eternal salvation by pure and free grace.

I labour and pray for their salvation - not from their eternal condemnation... God takes care of that all by Himself in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and applied by the Holy Spirit – but that they may know the glorious gospel of free and sovereign grace of God in their salvation from eternal condemnation, that the truth may set them free from falsehood and lies and superstitions!

Apostle Paul speak of his salvation through the prayers of the Philippian saints: "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." Php 1:19.

Apostle Paul reminds Timothy of saving himself and his flock, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." 1Ti 4:16

You wrote:

We know only one thing: we are not deserving to be saved at all. His choosing some for

Himself is the testimony of His grace. Oh! How we should be humble in the sight of His greatness.

And that one thing is enough to humble us to the dust. All glory and praise be to His alone.

Your brother and servant in Christ,
sing

The Multi-Faceted Designations for the Elect people of God...

Various terms used to describe God's people: the elect, children, sons, Christians, disciples, believers, followers, saints, brethren, etc...

Before the foundation of the world, God has chosen a people. They are God's elect. All others have been left to themselves, or bypassed - as far as redemption and salvation by Jesus Christ is concerned.

Among God's elect: there are those already in heaven, others are on earth, and still others are yet to be born. The names of all these were written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world.

1. There are those already in heaven...
- God regenerated each one them at certain point during their earthly lives.
- Many were never reached with the gospel ministry, some have no mental capacity, other have no opportunity.
- Of those who were reached, some were converted, and these were converted to vastly different degrees. Some were not converted, they remained unbelieving, like God's children among the Jews, read Rom 9-11.
- There was Lot, and there was Abraham! There was king Saul, and there was David! There was the thief on the cross, and there was Apostle Paul.

2. Among the elect of God on earth...
a. There are those who are still dead in trespasses and sin, just like any of the non-elect.
- These too have been redeemed by Christ, justified by the blood of Christ.
- These are God's elect but they are NOT children yet, because they have not been born again of God.
- Eternal salvation has not been applied to them personally, though they have been redeemed LEGALLY by Christ's finished work.
- Among these, some have the gospel preached to them, and others have not. Being still devoid of spiritual life, the gospel ministry was of no benefit to them. (Penang's famous 'char koay teow' is of no value to a dead man whatsoever, not matter how many times it is brought to him. I hope you get the point.)
- The elect who are still spiritually dead, not yet regenerated by God, would consider the gospel as foolishness, just as the non-elect would!

b. There are those whom God has regenerated, and given eternal life, without any human agency/instrumentality.
- These are born of God, therefore they are children of God. These are effectually called out of their NATIVE state of sin and death to that STATE of grace and salvation, all by the free and sovereign activity of God. These are already PERFECTLY fitted for eternal glory. They are united to Christ.
- Of these, some have not been reached with the gospel ministry. Others will never be reached.
- These have not been personally brought to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through the gospel ministry. "Faith cometh by hearing."
- These are Gods children BUT they are NOT yet disciples, not Christian yet, because they have not been converted to Christ yet through the gospel ministry.
- Each elect shall be effectually called out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation at some point before their death... whether still in the womb, aborted, or on the dying bed. Christ will not lose one of His.

- Others have been reached with the gospel. Of these there are believers, and others are not believers yet.
- Of the believers, there are disciples to vastly varying degrees.
- See the parable of the sower... some are fruitful, others are fruitless!
- Some are careless in hearing the word of truth, and make paupers of themselves.
- Others are careful in hearing the word of truth, and prosper.
- Some are converted to a great degree, others resist conversion!
- There are wise virgins, there are foolish virgins.
- There are good disciples, and there are bad disciples.
- There are those who consistently enter the strait gate and walk the narrow way; others who consistently enter the wide gate and walk the broad way.
- Some hears and do, others hear and forget!

3. There are those still to be conceived and born...
a. Until the last is born, and called to grace and salvation, the world will remain...

I hope this broad sketch helps.

Those who choose to repent and believe DO SO because they are ALREADY saved by God, i.e. regenerated and given eternal life. Only the spiritually alive  (God's children) is able to exercise the choice to repent and believe, believing something that is already true - the good news of God having saved them. They believe what is ALREADY true; their believing DO NOT  make their salvation come true. They believe what is ALREADY true. One is called to believe what is already true, not in order to make something untrue to come true.

Jesus Christ came to die and to save His people - not one more, and not one less. His people are those whom God has chosen, and given to Jesus Christ. They belonged to Jesus Christ, and He came to save them, and them alone - as many as God has given to Him. "As many as" means "not one more and not one less."

John 17: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

John 6: 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Please note the distinction between
"All that the Father GIVETH me..." and
"... all which he HATH GIVEN ME..."
Do you know the distinction between the two?
Think about it.
If interested, take a look here:
http://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2012/10/hath-given-and-giveth-shall-come-and.html

The Lord Jehovah Jireh!

These are our three older children...
Lau Jo-Siah - 刘主率 (centre)
Lau Jo-Hannah - 刘主恩 (l)
Lau Jo-Hanan - 刘主捍 (r)

The Lord has very graciously provided for our children.

Jo-Hanan will join his older siblings at the National University of Singapore soon. NUS has accepted him to do his undergraduate in Industrial Design. The course will commence on 12 Aug 2013.

Jo-Hannah will begin her third year, majoring in Linguistic.

Jo-Siah has one more year in Law.

I marvel at the Lord's abundant goodness in providing them the educational opportunities at a top class university that is not prohibitively unaffordable to a wage earner... thanks to the student grant from the Singapore MoE... even though the expenses would still quite a big burden on a minister's stipend!!! The Lord will provide!

Our youngest Lau Jo-Ezer - 刘主敦 is taking his SPM this November.

Prize giving day..

Lau Jo-Hannah - 刘主恩 (l)

 Lau Jo-Ezer - 刘主敦 (centre)

Lau Jo-Hanan - 刘主捍 (r)

May our Lord bless each one of them, and knit their hearts and minds together!

What their names mean...
刘主率 - the Lord's leadership
刘主恩 - the Lord's grace
刘主捍 - the Lord's defence
刘主敦 - the Lord's faithfulness
刘 the first character indicates their family name,
主, the second character show their generation name, and

率, the third character is their personal name.

Gospel Regeneration: the Protestant's Priest-craft

Preachers love one, and loath the other!

Naturally! But when their hearers also love the same injurious lie, great indeed is the delusion! They very foolishly rest their eternal salvation (since regeneration involves one's eternal salvation...) in the hands of preachers, and some of them are only hirelings!

John 3
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
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.

Is it hard to understand this? Or is the truth too humbling for the high-minded preachers to swallow?

Supposing you were the dead Lazarus lying in the tomb, would you rather have Christ acted on you DIRECTLY, or would you rather have He acted on you INDIRECTLY through the activities His apostles, to bring you out of death?

The former keeps the apostles properly in their place, while the latter deceitfully elevates them to be mediators!

John 11
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

It was only AFTER Christ Himself had ALREADY raised Lazarus that He summoned His disciples to do something for living Lazarus, i.e. to set him free from the hindrances of the napkin and graveclothes on him! You remove hindrances from men ALREADY MADE ALIVE by Christ!

While Lazarus was dead, Christ did not ask His disciples to do ANYTHING! Christ knew the HARSH realities... the disciples are completely impotent of doing any spiritual good with regard to the dead! He didn't depend on the disciples as the indispensable mediators to get Lazarus out of his deadness!

Get the point? Is that toooooo hard to understand? Or is it an ADDICTION to a form of priestcraft!

See the discussion here:

https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau#!/photo.php?fbid=10200367373042405&set=a.10200367372162383.1073742058.1097484914&type=1&theater

No need to pretend they are the same!!!

Two flying dolphins!!! 

There is no need to pretend they are the same!!!

The Calvinists declared:
"By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death...." WCF 3.3

The Old School Baptists declared thus:
"By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice." 1689.3.3

Just as the dolphin is distinctly different from the cow, so are Old School Baptists from the Calvinists!!!

The OSBs believe in election and preterition.
The latter believe in election and reprobation.

The OSBs believe God passively left the non elect to their just desert.
The Calvinists believe God actively damned the non-elect to everlasting death!

Sing F Lau  
By God's grace I'm a old school particular baptist, and most definitely not a new school calvinist.

Delli
Alright Brother Sing, You stated thus.The PBs believe in election and preterition. 

The latter believe in election and reprobation.

The OSBs believe God passively left the non elect to their just desert. 
The Calvinists believe God actively damned the non-elect to everlasting death!

preterition is defined;The act of passing by, disregarding, or omitting. 2. Law Neglect of a testator to mention a legal heir in his or her will. 

Doesn't this mean, that being passed by and being disregarded for salvation, they are also left in their natural state of sin and death and therefore reprobate concerning the faith.

Sing F Lau 

Brother Dellis, you ask a good question. 

The non-elect are left in their natural state of sin and death. These are by-passed concerning the salvation.  

The reprobate concerning salvation and the reprobate concerning faith are very different issues.  

The reprobate concerning the faith is a term used in reference to God's children. Some of God's children are reprobate concerning the faith (i.e. not the same as reprobate concerning SALVATION!!!) because they oppose the truth of God.  

2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 

It is a common fact that God's children oppose and resist the truth of the gospel... i.e. the Arminians and Calvinists are reprobate, reject concerning the faith! They both resist eternal salvation by grace alone!!! They are NOT reprobate concerning their eternal salvation!

Delli

I have seen posts by quite a few calvinists which refer to themselves as the only ones who have the faith once delivered unto the saints. They will state with boldness, that because others do not believe as they do, eg. the arminian free will concept of salvation, then they have not, this faith unto salvation. 

If I understand you correctly, there will be many in heaven, who never thought they would be there, because they believed, but remained reprobate concerning the faith? 

What God said to Elijah, 
Romans 11:4  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 

Is it possible that God has done this in every denomination that nameth the name of God today?

Sing F Lau 

There are Calvinists who dismiss other Christians as reprobate concerning salvation just because they do not believe their calvinistic idea of salvation. They are convinced that unless a man holds to their idea of salvation they can't possibly be saved by God, to begin with! Haughty and presumptuous they are!  

It is entirely possible that the mind of God's children are pretty messed up... thus, as far as holding to the faith once delivered to the saints is concerned, they are REJECTS... cannot pass the Quality Control test with respect to that body of gospel truth! But such is equally justified, regenerated, adopted, and glorified - all in the same MANNER (by grace alone) and on the same BASIS (the finished work of Jesus Christ).  

There will be many in heaven who WERE THOUGHT by others that they would not be there... there will be great surprises! If one understands free grace well enough, the surprise would be minimized!  

There are God's children in every church group... many of them would be reprobate concerning THE faith once delivered to the saints.

Delli

Thanks again! It's always a pleasure talking to you.

RC Priest-craft vs Her Daughters' Preacher-craft!!!

The Preacher is the mediator between the Holy Spirit and the sinner dead in trespasses and sins!!!

Gospel Regeneration: the Priestcraft of the Calvinists and Arminians!!!

The preaching of the gospel is the divinely appointed means for the sovereign and omnipotent Spirit to regenerate and convert the elect who is dead trespasses and sins.... In other words, the regenerating activity of the Sovereign Omnipotent Spirit of God is dependent and conditioned upon the preaching activities of man.

Bottom line: no preaching of the gospel by man, no regenerating activity of the Spirit of God! The eternal salvation of the elect is conditioned and dependent the activity of human preachers!!!

Very many preachers love, are in fact severely addicted to this idea. That's understandable! The elevate themselves to be indispensable mediators in regeneration! But when poor sinners are sucked into such fable too, then the delusion is great indeed!

I would have the simple gospel truth at any time: the Omnipotent Sovereign Spirit of God executes His work of regenerating His elect directly, and without having to go through the fickle feeble fumbling gospel preachers as the mediators!!!

The only thing that guarantees the promised salvation might be SURE to all the seed is the DIRECT activity of the Holy Spirit upon each elect.

The fable of gospel regeneration will leave many elects in their native state of sin and death, even those who have no ability to hear, and many who have no opportunity to hear the gospel. Such shall be damned and end up in the lake of fire!

The gospel regenerationists will retort, either insisting that there is no elect among those who can't or have no opportunity to hear the gospel, or that such is regenerated in a special way without the gospel preaching!

Just remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, '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.'

"So is EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit" - there is one way to be born of the Spirit of God: direct, and without the preacher as the mediator!!!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10200341747281777&set=a.10200341746441756.1073742050.1097484914&type=1&theater

The Grotesque Calvinistic Synergy!

An Addiction to Synergy

The Grotesque Calvinistic Synergy

This definition of the 4th of the Five Points of Calvinism can be seen as the Authoritative Definition of the Calvinists notion of the biblical doctrine of Effectual Calling. It is taken from here: http://www.graceonlinelibrary.org/reformed-theology/arminianism/calvinism-vs-arminianism-comparison-chart/

The Efficacious Call of the Spirit or Irresistible Grace:
"In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call (which is made to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By mean of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man’s will, nor is He dependent upon man’s cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God’, grace. therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended."

If you are discerning enough, spell out some of the grievous errors about this notion of the biblical doctrine of the effectual call. Thanks.

Heb 5
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

If you have strong teeth, start biting and tear the fable apart, and give us the truth!

----------------------------------------

Charles
The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. - fails to meet the definition of "irresistible" Irresistible = cause w/o effect Moderated Calvinism is cause and effect and thus not "irresistible" - driving A SQUARE PEG INTO A ROUND HOLE! caps unintentional! LOL

Delli
I had to be saved, before I understood the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was only after I was born again, that God led me to the knowledge of Christ, because I know that while in the state on sin and death, I could in nowise hear or understand the things of God.

Charles
the modern Calvinist say your salvation could not be genuine if you didn't understand it. That is why they claim others are not saved if they don't agree with them.

Malco
Wow! now i understand why so many so called calvinists hold to the heretical "free offer of the gospel" doctrine. Thank you Sing for this informative article.

Charles
I was saved (regenerated) as a Wesleyan Pentecostal and I hold to my youthful trinitarian baptism as my earnest confession of Christ for remission of sins and refuse to be beguiled out of that! Whoever accepts me has to accept my early confession.

Malco
Yeah, and i was saved as a mormon. Hold on to your delusion.

Delli
The thought that there are some in the world, or have been in the world, who never had a man preach to them, the gospel, and because of this, would never come to faith has always confused me. How is it that Noah came to faith when all the world was corrupt in his day?

Malco
I don't agree with you. No one is ever saved under a false gospel, especially the heretical one preached by Arminianism

Delli
That's the whole point, Malcolm. Everyone who is saved, is saved according to the gospel.

Charles
You can be regenerated (saved) as a Mormon, Buddhist or Baptist doesn't concern God!

Malco
No one is saved accept by the faith of Christ and an imputed righteousness that is freely imputed to God's elect

Sing F Lau .
"In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation
=======
"In addition to the outward general call to salvation..."
- This explicitly implies that the outward general call precedes and is prior and prerequisite to the special inward call, thus without the former the latter is impossible!
- It must be outward gospel call PLUS the special inward call. The special inward call can only be ADDED to the general outward call.
- The supremacy and the indispensability of the general outward call is asserted; and thus the means who deliver the outward general call is elevated. The divine work of the special inward call is impossible without the human work of the general gospel call.
- Without the prior general outward call, the Holy Spirit is impotent and has no warrant to extend that special inward call....

This doctrine is EVIL...
- the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit is denied... He is subordinated to man (preachers!) actions. They castrated the Spirit of God!!! EVIL! The Spirit's work must be build UPON the man's work!
- the works of man (preaching, believing, etc) become essential to eternal salvation... repudiated salvation by free grace. EVIL!
- this excludes all who are incapable of being outwardly called (whether because of inability to hear or no opportunity to hear). It disadvantages them; it shows partiality to those who have ability and opportunity to hear!
- It promotes a God who shows partiality... those able to hear, and those having the opportunity to hear have the advantage of being regenerated!

Charles
E-V-I-L

Sing F Lau .
Malco @ "I don't agree with you. No one is ever saved under a false gospel, especially the heretical one preached by Arminianism"
=======
Every one saved by God was saved when he was dead in trespasses and sins, while in whatever religious background he was born into and grew up with; yes, God saved him when he has ZILCH knowledge of the gospel of Christ, in fact when he has perverse notions of the gospel!

God saved such a man in order that he may be brought to know the gospel of his eternal salvation by God's free grace!

Charles no one is regenerated, justified nor glorified under true gospel preaching...let alone false gospel preaching!

Sing F Lau .
Malco @ "No one is saved accept by the faith of Christ and an imputed righteousness that is freely imputed to God's elect"
===============
Every one saved is saved on the BASIS of the fidelity/faithfulness of Christ in His work of eternal redemption.

The righteousness of Jesus Christ was LEGALLY IMPUTED to all the elect when He died on the cross!

The righteousness of Jesus Christ is APPLIED to each elect PERSONALLY at his effectual calling out of his native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation. The application is freely by grace - the MANNER salvation is applied to each elect personally.

The blessedness of that righteous justified state is EXPERIENCED by faith in Jesus Christ through the gospel call.

A little precision will aid in the cause of truth in these days of woolliness!

Sing F Lau .
"In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation "
=========

"In addition to the outward general call to salvation ...." in these few words we have a great fable, that outward general call has to do with the salvation (i.e eternal salvation) of those dead in trespasses and sins!

Outward general call is for the calling out of God's children, those ALREADY SAVED by the gracious and sovereign activity of God, to the gospel truth... it is for the CONVERSION of God's children to the truth of their great salvation by God's free grace.

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

The preaching of the gospel IS IS IS to those that ARE SAVED, and is perceived and received as the message of God's power in salvation!

CantoJoe
What I have been taught:

Arminianism - Christ died for all, universal salvation, everyone has a choice to be saved

Calvinism - Christ died for ALL, but only the elect will have faith to be saved (sufficient for all, efficient for the elect)

Hyper-Calvinism - Christ died only for the ELECT, and only the elect will have faith to be saved.

Am I representing the views correctly?

Charles
 subcalvinism - Christ died for ALL, but only the elect will have faith to be saved (sufficient for all, efficient for the elect)
July 27 at 11:20pm · Like

CantoJo
My former pastor told us youths:

"The hyper-calvinists were called diarrhoea calvinism" while "The calvinists were called constipated calvinism"

Sing F Lau .
Grow up Canto.... do your own study and do your own thinking. Don't vomit here what you have been fed with.

If you can stick to the subject at hand, feel free to comment, else hold your peace

Sing F Lau .
Canto @ Am I representing the views correctly?
## You can answer for yourself!

"Calvinism - Christ died for ALL, but only the elect will have faith to be saved (sufficient for all, efficient for the elect)."

## That's BPeeeeing unique trademark Calvinism... that is actually classic Arminianism. The BPeeeee gave it a new clothing and own it as their own brand of Calvinism... because they are really old Arminians who love a reformed label!

"Hyper-Calvinism - Christ died only for the ELECT, and only the elect will have faith to be saved.

## Christ died only the the elect is the simple plain truth. He came to save HIS people from their sins.
## "Only the elect will have faith to be saved" - is a big lie of the devil!
## God saves the elect while they are dead in trespasses and sins, when they were in enmity against God. If any one needs faith to be saved by God, then NO ONE will ever be saved by God!

Canto, you don't even have the gospel!!! Poor thing!

CantoJo
Sing, but if PBs like you are Calvinists, why don't you regard Calvin as your patriarch?

Sing F Lau .
CantoJo, I consider you a theological RETARD asking me such a question!

The Particular Baptists were NO Calvinists!

And I'm NO calvinist! Far from it!

Crossett
Calvinism does not hold that Christ died for all, this is a false representation. Christ died for the elect alone.

CantoJo
Crossett , to quote Calvin, "faith in Christ brings life to all, and that Christ brought life, because the Heavenly Father loves the human race, and wishes that they should not perish"

Calvin said that Christ died for all. Dr Jeffrey Khoo said those who are hyper-Calvinists try to outcalvin Calvin himself.

Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

This is one of the proof texts given in the Westminister Confession of Faith

Sing F Lau .
Hello Crossett and CantoJo.... you are dealing with the 3rd of the Five Points.
So, you two can continue that point somewhere else.
The Scriptures does plainly taught particular redemption... His people, as many as... not one more and not one less that Father gave to His Son to save!!!

The topic here is dealing with the 4th point... a gross error of Calvinism.
If you can keep to that , you comments are welcome.

CantoJo
Speaking about Irresistible Grace, the WSC answers faith as a saving grace.

So only those who are the elect will experience God's irresistible grace, to have faith to receive salvation.

That reasoning sounds sensible to me

Sing F Lau .
CantoJo, saving faith IS NOT a faith that saves.
Saving faith is a grace/fruit of salvation.
Saving faith is used in distinction from mere 'historical faith.'

Faith is a fruit of salvation. A fruit of salvation cannot possibly be a means to receive that salvation.

Crossett 
Faith is a fruit, i agree, it is not a condition.

Sing F Lau .
Faith is not a condition, neither is it a means to receive salvation.

Eternal salvation is APPLIED to an elect while he was dead in trespasses and sin in the effectual calling, thus making him perfectly fit for eternal glory.

But the Calvinists condition the DIVINE effectual call on the human gospel calling, thus forming the grotesque calvinistic synergy and prostituting pure monergism!!!

Sing F Lau .
"The eternal call (which is made to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion."
========

There is typing error in this statement. It is the EXTERNAL call, not the ETERNAL call. But this error is very minor... almost all can detect it.

The next error in this statement is more subtle and many fail to see it.
It is true that the external call, issued through human instrumentality can be and often rejected by God's children, yes, even by God's children.

The gospel call is not a call to offer salvation to everyone. The gospel call is not offering any salvation. The gospel call is proclaiming the salvation that God has already done... purposed, accomplished, and APPLIED to the elect... calling upon those recipient of this free grace salvation to BELIEVE the truth of their salvation.

The gospel call, the call to believe the gospel is addressed specifically to God's children in the audience to believe the truth of their salvation by God's free and sovereign grace. And this call is so often rejected by God's children. Many would prefer to believe a lie - a synergistic idea of salvation. Both Arminians and Calvinists reject the gospel call to believe the gospel of grace alone.

Both the Arminians and the Calvinists believe that the gospel call is addressed at those who are still dead in trespasses and sins, those whom God has not saved yet; and such are called to believe the gospel, the good news of God having saved them in order that it will become truth of them. To them, the gospel call the hearers to believe what is not true of them in order that in believing, it may become true of them!

Scriptures declares the gospel call as the means of bringing God's children (already saved by God's grace alone) to believe the truth of their salvation... to believe what is ALREADY true... what God has already done for them and in them!!!

Sing F Lau .
"The eternal call (which is made to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion."
========

Another very serious error... the internal call DOES NOT ALWAYS results in conversion; it always results in REGENERATION which makes response to the external call possible; it makes conversion of God's children to the truth possible when there is the subsequent gospel call.

There is serious confusion between conversion and regeneration.
Regeneration deals with the elect STILL dead in trespasses and sins.
Conversion deals with the bringing of God's children to the truth of their salvation by God's free grace.

The internal call always result in REGENERATION. The effectual call ALWAYS brings an elect out of his NATIVE state of sin and death to that of grace and eternal salvation... God's power and act always accomplish and attain its purpose.

"This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all forseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature,(7) being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit;(8)........ he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.(9) --- 1689.10.2.

The effectual call (calling an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation) thereby enables a man to answer the gospel call. The gospel call comes separately through the human agency.

In the gospel call grace is offered to those already effectually called... gospel grace is offered to the living, the children of God. It is utterly foolishness to offer grace or anything to the dead. The superstitious Chinese love to offering roast pork, hell banknotes, etc. to their dead!

Salvation is not offered. Salvation is bestowed to the dead in trespasses and sins, and the dead in trespasses and sins are brought to eternal life! And these are called to believe the truth of their salvation by God's free grace... in believing they will experience the blessedness. This is CONVERSION.

Regeneration by divine act and conversion through man's instrumentality are separate and distinct. To join them together to is produce a synergistic monster alien to the Scriptures.

Sing F Lau .
"By mean, of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man’s will, nor is He dependent upon man’s cooperation for success. "
=========

The role of the gospel call in this effectual call by God is RIGHTLY and completely denied, repudiated, and excluded by the second sentence above. "He is not limited.... for success." God is not dependent upon the outward external call issued by preachers for the efficacy of the call.

Drawn to Christ NOT in the sense of being brought to knowledge of Jesus Christ through the gospel ministry, BUT joined and united to Christ by the divine act of applying the redemption of Christ to an elect. This drawing is always effectual and irresistible.

"Those whom God hath predestined unto life, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,(1) by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ;(2) ..." 1689.10.1

This rightly EXCLUDES the erroneous and fanciful idea that "His Word" in the 1689.10.1 above refers to anything (e.g the preached word, the written Scriptures made known, etc) but specifically to the 2nd Person of the Godhead, even the eternal life giving Word.

The THREE Persons of the Godhead are actively involved in effectually calling an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation by Jesus Christ.

Sing F Lau .
"The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ.
========
In the effectual call, the sinner is as spiritually dead as could be.
The Spirit DOES NOT graciously cause the elect sinner to cooperate.
The Spirit DOES freely and sovereignly quicken the dead sinner to eternal life, with the elect sinner entirely passive.

Having been quickened and made a child of God, with the Holy Spirit dwelling within him, a child is enabled to hear, to understand the gospel, is able to respond to the call of repentance. When the gospel call do come, they respond to the call in repentance and faith.

Abraham was effectually called when he was a pagan dead in trespasses and sins in Ur. Abraham was brought to faith in the promised Messiah much later in Gen 15:1-6.

The devout Jews who came to Jerusalem to worship God during Pentecost were effectually called when in their place of residence. They were CONVERTED through Peter's preaching.

There are lots of similar example... the Ethiopian eunuch, Cornelius, Lydia, etc. REGENERATION is prior and independent of the gospel call.

Sing F Lau
"God’, grace. therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended."
========

God's grace in the effectual call NEVER FAILS in bringing an elect from the state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation, making perfectly fit for eternal glory... WITHOUT the gospel call.

This effectual cal is separate and distinct from the gospel call, BOTH logically and chronologically.

All the elect are effectually called to grace and salvation without fail at their appointed and approved time.

NOT ALL elect will have the gospel call... they are those not capable of being outwardly called through the gospel ministry. Read WCF 10.3. This grotesque of joining the effectual call to the gospel call plainly rejected and repudiated by the Calvinistic confessions.

The gospel call is needful for the CONVERSION of God's children. It is not needful for the REGENERATION of God's elect. The Calvinists DO NOT understand, nor believe this gospel truth... ending up with a grotesque synergistic monster that is injurious to God's sovereignty, and His children.

Greenfield
amen