Free agency of man

Free agency of man - renders him WITHOUT excuse.

Man's moral accountability to God stems from the fact that he, as a moral and rational creature made in the image of God, is a free agent.

 Man, by his very constitution, is a free agent; he acts freely without being coerced by any outside force or influence. Therefore he is justly held fully accountable and responsible for his every act. This truth of man lies at the foundation of God's moral government over man, His creature!

Free agency is not the same as free will. So don't raise a heckle if you have that scruple against the fact that the will of fallen man is in bondage to his fallen nature. Such a man still acts most freely without being influenced or coerced by any external force.

 Whether a man is dead in trespasses and sins, or regenerated, he is equally a free agent. The fall does not affect the free agency of man at all.

Regeneration, and Conversion - 1689.20.4

A picture taken in the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park,
Matraville, Sydney, NSW.

 Regeneration, and Conversion - 1689.20.4
"Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life;(8) without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.(9)
(8) Ps 110:3; 1Co 2:14; Eph 1:19-20.
(9) Jn 6:44; 2Co. 4:4,6.

These truths are distilled out of the Holy Scriptures by the ancient in their statement of faith:

1. The specific function of the gospel is revealing Christ and saving grace. It plays no role in the regeneration of a man; it only reveals the regeneration that has already taken place in the man.

2. Regeneration by the direct work of the Spirit of God is clearly distinguished from conversion through the outward means of the gospel ministry.

3. Regeneration is BOTH independent, and prior to the gospel as the outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace.

4. Regeneration - the insuperable work of the Holy Spirit - is absolutely necessary before conversion through the gospel is even made possible.

5. Regeneration - producing in the dead in trespasses new spiritual life - is the direct and insuperable work of the Holy Spirit; no instrumentality is involved.

6. Regeneration BESTOWS/APPLIES Christ and saving grace to a man dead in trespasses and sins; conversion REVEALS/MANIFES the Christ and grace that have been bestowed.

7. Regeneration produces spiritual life in men dead in trespasses and sins; Conversion reveals the spiritual life that has been produced by the prior divine work of regeneration.

You may draw out more from the above statement.
What is your statement of beliefs on the same subject?
You don't like theirs? Give us yours.

Too many, who clamour themselves to be children of those who made the above statement, have rejected the truth expressed and summarized therein.

Such are illegitimate (KJ translators use "bastards"), for example the newschool reformed baptists. They subscribe to the 1689 CoF, but repudiate the truths so plainly summarized in the single paragraph above.

The Dead Rots, and Stinks.

"Get well soon"???
This dead beast needs life first before it can get well!
The dead rots, and stinks.

Look at the picture.

If you pass by that scene, what will your reaction be? Mine may be, "Oh some heartless idiot is really mocking and insulting the dead beast!" Then I will correct myself, saying, "No, someone astute is sending out a message to idiots to mock at their ridiculous idea, i.e. that the dead has ability to perform some activities to obtain life."

I hope you get the message of the picture!
Yet many preachers don't!

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again [and remains in his native state of spiritual deadness], he cannot see the kingdom of God.... Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1Cor 2:14.

No sane man wishes a dead man to get well. We say "RIP" in a reverent tone.

However, some will rant to the dead, "Return in Person!" I'm sure you don't! Yet, many preachers rave and rant, with the express idea of getting their spiritually dead audience to hear, and respond to their earnest pleading in order to receive spiritual life!