https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10212695782404934
November
13, 2018
A
rhetorical but misguided question was posed by a sincere gospel-regenerationist
(one who believes that the preaching of the gospel is necessary for the work of
regeneration by the Spirit of God; their mantra is "no preaching, no
regeneration"; this makes their activities indispensable in the Holy
Spirit's work of regeneration.
Nipps
@
Sing: In reference to John 3:1-8, Do you think that the wind blows and then
days or months later the leaves or grass move??? The grass and leaves (elect)
immediately are moved by the wind (spirit).
Sing
F Lau
@Nipps...
a valid rhetorical question, but quite misguided! Such a question misses the
whole point of the illustration, besides taking the illustration in the wrong
literal sense! The moment the Spirit blows, the spiritually dead are quickened.
The
point of the illustration is that the wind blows INDEPENDENT of man's presence
and activity, i.e. the Spirit's work of regeneration is FREE, SOVEREIGN, and
INDEPENDENT of human means and activities. The wind DOES NOT wait until someone
is there to observe the effects of its activity. (According to some, unless
there are men standing under the tree, the wind can't, and won't blow!)
In
spiritual terms, the way appointed to discern or make manifest the regenerating
activity of the Spirit is to preach the gospel. If there are faith and
repentance, then it is evidenced that the Holy Spirit HAS worked... then you
are seeing 'the leaves or grass move' expected in your rhetorical question - a
point which the illustration DOES NOT deal with.
The
effects of the Spirit's work of regeneration can ONLY BE OBSERVED or BROUGHT TO
light through the gospel ministry.
"But
is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath
abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the
gospel."
The
passage states plainly, that life and immortality - the effects of the
regeneration work of the Spirit based on the finished work of Christ - are
brought to light through the gospel.
The
gospel ministry is the means to bring to light life and immortality that ARE
ALREADY there. The gospel ministry CANNOT bring to light what is NOT ALREADY
there! It is not the means to bring life and immortality. That's a devil's lie!
Imagine,
you turning on the light in a dark room; your turning on the light makes
manifest the furniture that is already there; your turning on the light DID
NOTHING to bring the furniture into the room!
Is
that simple enough?
Take a look at this article on conversion and regeneration:
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2010/07/conversion-regeneration-and.html
