"... Them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

"... Them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

Act 26

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Q. To whom did the risen Lord Jesus Christ send Paul?

A. To them which are sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus, to those whom God has DEFINITELY sanctified, i.e. separated from the state of sin and death to that state of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.

[You are NOT sanctified by your faith in Jesus Christ; you are DEFINITIVELY, i.e., once for all, not requiring or admitting repetition nor improvement, sanctified by the faith that is in Christ Jesus, i.e. by the faithfulness that is in Jesus Christ. ]

Only them which are definitively sanctified by the faith that is in Christ Jesus can receive an inheritance among them.

Only the eyes of them which are sanctified by the faith that is in Christ Jesus can be opened by the gospel ministry; only the mind of such can be enlightened by the gospel truth concerning their eternal salvation by the free and sovereign grace of God in Jesus Christ.

When their eyes are opened to the truth of their salvation by God's free grace in Jesus Christ, they are turned from the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge; they are saved from the darkness of ignorance unto the light and knowledge of salvation and righteousness.

Satan is the father of lies; when they that are sanctified by the faith of Christ are taught the truth of God, they are delivered from the power of Satan, and unto the power of God.

Only the very misguided believe that Paul was sent forth to offer salvation to them that are without salvation, i.e. still death in trespasses and sins! Common sense tells us that such a notion is just plain foolishness. But common sense is a rare virtue today. Prejudice trumps common sense.

The Immutability of Justification by God's Free Grace

Romans 3:23 - KJV

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Romans 8 - KJV

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Those whom God HAS JUSTIFIED freely by His grace "can never fall from the state of justification."

This gospel truth is beautifully summarised in the 5th paragraph of 1689.11 -

"God doth continue to (o) Forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of (p) justification; yet they may by their sins fall under God's (q) Fatherly displeasure; and in that condition, they have not usually the light of his Countenance restored unto them, until they (r) humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith, and repentance."

Why the justified by the free grace of God can never fall from the state of justification? Very simple indeed; no human factor whatsoever was involved in our justification: the BASIS is solely Christ and His active and passive obedience (i.e. "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus") alone, and the MANNER is solely by God's free grace alone. Faith on man's part is emphatically and repeatedly fenced off and jealousy excluded.

Read it again. Why are the RBs so obtuse? What has bewitched them? The devil has so subtly substituted this truth with the lie of sola fidei - introducing a fickle human factor into the equation of the justification of condemned sinners by God.

"Conversion and regeneration are co-extensive" - a popular fable

Here is a popular statement that finds great currency among the reformed people, as well as those they consider 'arminians' -

"There are no regenerated people walking around who are not yet converted." - that is, conversion and regeneration are co-extensive. This is the idea of the gospel regenerationists. 

Is there any truth with this bold statement? Cast your mite, copper or gold!

sing

I will cast my first grain of rice. Just mull and chew over it, BUT please don't get choked over this hard grain of unpolished rice.

This may sound very strange to you, but mull and chew over it slowly.

It is precisely that there are regenerated people walking around who are NOT yet converted that need to be converted that the gospel ministry was instituted for such purpose.

There were the regenerated devout God-fearing Jews, who traveled long distances from "out of every nation under heaven" to Jerusalem for the Pentecost festival that needed to be converted, and were converted under Peter's preaching.

There was the regenerated Ethiopian eunuch moving about on his rolls-royce chariot that needed to be converted, who came to worship God in Jerusalem, and was reading the Scriptures with thirst and hunger, and needed to be converted, and was converted by the ministry of Phillip.

There was the regenerated Italian Cornelius that needed to be converted. He was a devout and God fearing man, and was a man of prayer to boot, and he was walking about an unconverted man, and was working works of righteousness. And God sent Peter to minister the gospel to him to have him converted.

The gospel ministry is the means divinely instituted to MAKE DISCIPLES of God's children, whom He, by His free and sovereign grace and will, has directly and immediately begotten by His own Spirit. (John 1:13).

As I said, it may sound strange to you... but mull and chew on it. It is a HARD grain of rice... not sand. I won't give you sand to chew and mull over!

sing

Here is another grain of hard unpolished rice:

Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, whom he described as 'saints' and 'beloved of God.'

"To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."

The Apostle expressed great desire, urgency and indebtedness to preach the gospel to them!

"I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also." Rom 1:14-15

Why so? Could it be that these 'saints' and 'beloved of God' have not heard the gospel before?

Supposing these 'saints' and beloved of God' have heard the gospel and were converted, then why such great desire, urgency and indebtedness to preach the gospel to them? Was Paul being presumptuous, or misguided?

Remember, Apostle Paul is not one that would build on another man's labor. He declared solemnly, "Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation" Rom 15:20."

From these words, we can take it to mean that Rome was not a place 'where Christ was named' when he wrote to them. That explains the great desire, urgency and indebtedness to preach the gospel in Rome ALSO.

Did you notice this simple fact? They have not heard the gospel, and they need to hear the gospel.... BUT - BUT - BUT they are already 'saints and beloved of God' even though they have not heard the gospel, and Apostle Paul was in great urgency to bring the gospel to them ALSO, to convert these 'saints and beloved of God' to the gospel truth, i.e. to make them into disciples of Jesus Christ.

These were God's children, WALKING ABOUT, needing to be converted by the gospel ministry!

Just mull and chew over this grain of unpolished rice... but please don't get choked over it.

Dallas

None whatsoever! The wind bloweth where it listeth. More rice brother, more rice. AMEN to ALL that you have written!

Dallas

I had this thought recently from Rom. 1:14-15; if these be saints and beloved of God, how is it Paul speaks to them that he is ready to preach the gospel to them who are Rome also? No doubt his desire is toward feeding the sheep and that it never crossed his mind that he was making sheep!

sing

How are they saints?

They are saints because they have BEEN SET APART from their state of sin and death, in which they were in by nature, to that of righteousness and eternal life, by God's free grace at effectual calling. To that of righteousness by God's free and gracious work of justification, freely applying Christ's righteousness to the condemned, and to that of eternal life through the Spirit's free and gracious work of regeneration.

They were made saints, i.e. DEFINITIVELY sanctified, once for all from their state of sin and death to that of righteousness and eternal life once for all, by the free and sovereign act of God. All these are INDEPENDENT of the gospel ministry.

These DEFINITIVELY sanctified saints need the gospel ministry to for farther sanctification - "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" - to make them PRACTICAL saints.

Is regeneration and conversion co-extensive?

This is how conversion is related to regeneration through the gospel ministry, stated and summarized in the LBCF 1689.10. Sadly, the RBs, because of their preconceived ideas of gospel regeneration, are unable what is so plainly summarized here.

If conversion (B) is co-extensive with regeneration (A),
then A and B overlap completely.

A man asked, "Does regeneration always lead to conversion?" and answered his own rhetorical question, "There is certainly not even a hint in the scriptures to indicate otherwise."

What do you think of that? Let me inquire a bit:

What is meant by "conversion" in his question?

What is involved in the conversion spoken of?

What is a regenerated person converted from, and to what?

Does the conversion spoken of require the hearing of the gospel?

Griffin

When God does the work in changing a heart, He changes it. Man who was an enemy of God now MUST rush to Him alone.

And the proof of the pudding of this newly-bestowed life will be conversion - total change of life. This is what repentance and faith will bring.

It may take time (assuming that conversion is the total life-change and not just the moment one believes and cries to God for salvation - that is falsely called conversion). But it will be evident. Without it, man is like the seed on shallow or thorny ground; looks like growth and reality, but nothing there.

sing

Robert, tell us the distinction between regeneration and conversion, in your understanding. Define 'regeneration' and 'conversion', then we may have profitable discussion? Otherwise we may speak past each other.

sing

Here’s my understanding of the two:
REGENERATION AND CONVERSION

Regeneration and conversion are Bible words. Both words identify a spiritual work in the child of God. However, they do not refer to the same thing.

REGENERATION

Regeneration is wholly of God. It is the Holy Spirit’s quickening work whereby spiritual life is given to the sinner “by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit 3:5). The word comes from “re” meaning “again” and “generate” meaning “to beget.” Jesus identified this work of God as being “born again” (John 3:3). The Bible is emphatic that God “of his own will begat” us (Jam 1:18), even as Jesus claimed He “quickeneth whom He will” (John 5:21).

Eternal life, i.e., spiritual life, is God’s sovereign gift bestowed in regeneration. While invisible to men, this life is demonstrated by man’s response in conversion.

Note especially the absence in Scripture of even one command for a sinner to seek regeneration.

CONVERSION

Conversion is the response of the regenerated child of God to his Heavenly Father’s will and commandments. The word means to “turn” or “turn about.” Thus it was foretold of John the Baptist’s ministry, “and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God” (Lu 1:16). Those John turned are declared to be already related to “the Lord their God” but needed to turn about and obey Him.

Jesus describes the Apostle Peter’s denial and recovery by saying, “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Lu 22:32). James explains the departure of a Christian brother from the truth can be corrected if another “converteth the sinner from the error of his way” (Jam 5:20).

Numerous exhortations and commandments are addressed to the saved, i.e., regenerated children of God, calling them from sin, error and ignorance to righteousness, truth and joyful assurance in fellowship with God (1 John 1:3, 7-9). A person’s conversion is usually in proportion to his understanding of and obedience to Bible truth.

REGENERATION CONTRASTED WITH CONVERSION

While regeneration is a once-for-all event, conversion will occur in steps depending upon one learning to follow God’s revealed will.

REGENERATION - - - - - - - -CONVERSION

God’s work - - - - - - - - - - Man’s response

Sovereignly given - - - - - - - Conditional

Eternal life - - - - - - - - -- - Fellowship

One time - - - - - - - - - - - Repeated

Inward Work - - - - - - - - - - Outward evidence

Complete at once - - - - - - - Partial in steps

from http://letgodbetrue.com/

Griffin

Answered for me. As I said, many call the "sinner''s prayer" or "decision" time CONVERSION. That is really a misnomer. Peter was "saved" years before he was "converted".

As I said, it may take time (usually does). Few are so versed in the Word and spiritual growth BEFORE salvation (regeneration) that they can thus immediately be converted.

Example from earliest NT Church writing: "Brothers, if any of YOU [brothers, already saved/regenerated] err from the truth, and one convert HIM [the already saved but erring Christian]; let him know, that the one who converts the sinful one [brother, already saved] from his error-filled way will deliver that one from death, and cover much sin."

sing

Is every regenerated elect also converted?

Is that conversion dependent upon the gospel ministry?

Robert @ "And the proof of the pudding of this newly-bestowed life will be conversion - total change of life."

What is meant by "total change of life"?

Does every regenerated elect experience "total change of life" here on earth?

Is that total change of life through conversion achieved through any means?

Griffin

Answer 1: Conversion is expected of the child of God. Sadly, some may be regenerated but show little growth or Christian virtues. They fail at "conversion", but they are still blood-bought children of God. Saved, but so as by fire.

Answer 2: Conversion is part of the renewing of the mind. Our souls are saved, our bodies not until the resurrection. But our minds are commanded to grow in grace, more "in tune" with the Word of God.

It may be thru preaching/teaching, but usually, conversion comes thru personal study of the Word and intimate relationship with the Savior. As the teaching elder, I try to preach and apply the Word to help people in their growth. Some reach a state of conversion in every area; most in limited areas.

Answer 3: I think of "total life change" as ultimate conversion of every facet (mind, will, volition), A progressive sanctification until we opt for an all-out commitment to the Word. This is MY action, MY response.

sing

OK. Now I begin to know what conversion you are talking about - that which is ONLY by the Holy Spirit.

Please tell us this conversion that is independence of the gospel ministry, but ONLY by the Holy Ghost. Tell us more about this conversion spoken of in the Bible. Thanks.

Are all the regenerated (I assume all the regenerated are EQUALLY regenerated in every sense) equally converted by the Holy Spirit? Does the Holy Spirit convert some children of God more than the others?

How is the conversion that is ONLY by the Holy Spirit different from the conversion that is dependent upon the ministry of the gospel?

==========

Romans 10

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Conversion, in the biblical sense, requires two prerequisite factors:

- there must be the prior and independent regeneration by the Spirit of God; Only such can be ministered to by the word of God.
- there must be the ministry of the word of God, and a faithful one too; No preaching of God's word > no hearing of God's word > No believing and NO conversion
- there must be the ability to hear and the mental capacity to process what is preached and heard.