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By God's grace, still presenting the same old message from the same old Book...

Someone told me they did not believe regeneration of an infant could take place in the mothers womb. I am of the understanding that regeneration of an infant can take place in the mothers womb. Regeneration is accomplished the same way with an adult, I believe. With this I have considered regeneration and our so great salvation, and will say a little about that.

No unregenerate person has positive desire toward the Lord of glory, and no unregenerate responds positive to spiritual things. There is no unregenerate believer, and there is no regenerate person without faith. 

Here are passages dealing with regeneration in the mothers womb:

Luke 1:15 (KJV) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Luke 1:44 (KJV) For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

Luke 1:44 (KJV) For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

King David, it seems, was regenerate while still upon his mother’s breast (Ps 22:9). John Baptist showed evidence of having been born again while still in his mothers womb (Luke 1:15,41,44; Gal 5:22). Of Jeremiah, it is said before he came out of the womb he was sanctified (Jer 1:5; 1Cor 1:30; 6:11; Rom 15:16). Then there is the infant son of David (2Sam 12:23). David seems to have had witness that the infant was saved. While there is some reason for questioning if these things are so or not, there is nevertheless reason for accepting these things as being so. God need not make these things open and clear now, but there is some reason for thinking they are so, unless you are inclined to be of the mind man must do the right things to gain salvation. Deal with the Scriptures while considering these things.

Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Luke 1:15 (KJV) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Regeneration is a creation making conversion possible. It is my understanding that means are not used for regeneration, but are used for conversion. Truth is written on the heart and inward parts (Jer 31:33; Heb 8:11; 1Pet 1:23; Ps 37:31). This is means used for conversion. One is taught immediately by God (John 6:45).

There is warning given by Paul the word of God can be corrupted (2Cor 2:17), but Christ Himself is incorruptible (Heb 1:12; 13:8) (same yesterday today forever), so their is reason for saying the rebirth is not accomplished by the hearing of the word that is preached, but rather, the new birth is accomplished by God Himself (Eph 2:1; Tit 3:5; 1John 2:29; 5:1; John 1:13; Rom 2:28-29). 

Subsequent conversion and growth in faith at hearing the word preached is the normal experience with the regenerate (2Pet 3:18; 1Pet 2:2; 2Thess 1:3). God acts direct apart from means for the new birth, yet as the usual experience is generally understood, especially with adults, it is safe to say that God directly regenerates a man apart from the use of means, so it seems, at the same time the preached word is being received (1Thess 2:13).

The gospel preached is typically received with power by those that have previously heard and responded to the inward effectual call, therefore the gospel is truly good news for it is confirmation of Eternal Life abiding in the regenerate. The subsequent conversion wrought by hearing the gospel preached seems to be typical, but is not essential for our having eternal life, and being saved. A ministry goal is reconciliation, preaching that the redeemed of the Lord can know they have eternal life (1John 5:10-13; John 3:15-16,18; 5:24; 20:31; 1Thess 2:13; 2Thess 2:13; Acts 13:38-39,48).

As God reveals the heart to sinful man, pride vanishes. There is no room for self promotion when the contents of ones own heart is discovered. Much that is advanced by religion as gospel is no more than the promotion of self-adulation, merit mongering. Words such as, “God has done His part now you must do yours,” “accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour,” “ask Jesus into your heart” and “if you were sincere you are saved” are simply not supported by Scripture, and are words used t0 deceive multitudes. The deceived person will imagine their action has made them holy, but instead they are simply deceived. Such deception is flesh mongering, self adulation, merit mongering, and is not of God. God being subject to man in salvation is the height of folly but is advanced as gospel to much of the religious world, even among those generally thought of as orthodox in their faith. Deception is not orthodox. Those that are dead in trespasses and sins do not contribute or cooperate in any way to their being made alive. Ye must be born again. The new infant has no part in their being an infant, and the dead have no part in their being made alive. The new birth is essential and is all of God.

Ephesians 2:5 (KJV) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

It has not been shown me that men gain the fallen nature as they age, or that they become dead in trespasses and sins but instead they start with it. Men are told, flee youthful lusts (2Tim 2:22). All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

The grace of God actually brings salvation to the sheep, and does not merely try to bring salvation. The one that is saved is not given license for sloth, and when we are saved we are not to be passive recipients of salvation, but are to be active in serving our Lord. Each is to be actively about doing those things they learn from the Bible (Heb 13:15; James 1:25). With this, one should be in one of the Lord’s churches. 

I am a sovereign grace Baptist, finding that salvation is wholly of God’s grace, His working repentance and faith in us; I believe in total depravity of man, their natural position being dead in trespasses and sins, being at enmity towards the things of God and toward god Himself; unconditional election (Rom 9:11,16,18-24); particular redemption, Christ died for the sheep, His own people, and not the goats (Ps 111:9; Isa 53:5,6,8,11,12; Matt 1:21; 20:28; 26:28; John 10:14-16; 17:9; Eph 1:4-7; Rom 8:29-30; Gal 1:4; 3:13; Tit 2:14; Heb 9:12-14; 10:14-15; 1John 4:10; Rev 5:9-10); effectual calling whereby the sheep hear His voice, know Him and follow Him, their certainly coming, being drawn to Christ (John 6:39-40,44,45); and perseverance of the saints (Phil 1:6; Rom 8:29-30; 1Pet 1:5; John 6:37; Jer 31:3; Heb 13:8). 

God is not passive in our coming to faith. Before a person is born again, they are active at resisting Christ, but after the new birth, one is active in Coming to Christ, because they have new desires and new understanding, a new view. The unsaved man, the natural man is active in rejecting our Lord, and would not come to the Lord (John 3:3, 5; 6:44; 1Pet 2:4), but our Lord is active in salvation (John 6:37-39,44; 15:5). One must become a new creature (Jer 13:23). The new birth is considered foolishness to the natural man, their being subject to merit mongering.

Does salvation require passing a Bible quiz? I think not. If one had to pass a Bible test to be saved there sure would be plenty that would have missed out, that are now saved, now complete in Christ (Col 2:10). Salvation is not based on how smart one is. What does our so great salvation have to do with everyone knowing all the very same things from the Bible or having certain things that would be essential to know? Eph 4:13; Rom 8:29-30 Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? No, not at all, and I am not denying Isaiah 8:20. Jesus completely saves!

Romans 8:29 (KJV) 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.
30 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.

Ephesians 4:13 (KJV) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

It is no proficiency test score of intellectualism that gives me a clear conscience and confidence before God. Christ died for my sins and I recognize evidence of new life. With that, I know my election, and am able to understand Ephesians 1:4 even if others do not like it. I know my election, I am known of God and I know God. Christ died to make me free.

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Is God divided? Is one to have the Holy Spirit but not have the Son? Is one to have the Son but not have the Father? 

Where is the one that says any will reach heaven apart from Christ? Or have words been twisted about by those that don't like the Spirit operating immediate apart from instrumentality to accomplish the new birth?

We are not made alive by our knowledge. The preached word gives testimony of what has happened with the child of God. Predestination, calling, justification, glorification. Do you imagine one is not predestined unless they understand that doctrine correctly? What? Is predestination a result of our getting knowledge? We are born of God, and the Scripture is clear enough, we are made willing (Ps 110:3). The soul gladly welcomes when called. I find no stress in saying the effectual call is recognized at gospel conversion, but I have no stress saying gospel conversion very well may be absent. Some have not the knowledge of God and that is to the shame (1Cor 15:34). Do you suppose they were to be lost ever more a result of this shameful thing? I sure don’t think so. John Baptist had Christ while yet in the womb. Was he lost, yet dead in sins a result of not having head knowledge, effectual calling as we want to insist it must be, and gospel conversion as some insist is needed for one to have life? When the babe John Baptist leaped in the womb was there not anything effectual? Is life a result of our head knowledge? Some seem to think so. Do you imagine one is not justified unless they understand that doctrine of justification? What? Is justification the result of our getting knowledge? Oh puffy headed man gets smart, and that results in new life. How absurd. We are not born again because we learned the lesson well. 

These things ought to be taught, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. Sin, righteousness, and judgment to come ought to be taught. Some have not the knowledge of God. 

If we belong to Christ, we are born of God. Before we were dead and then we were alive, of God. We are made alive because of predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. The new birth is not after Adam, but of God. God is not divided. We are not receiving just a part of God as if God is divided. We are not made alive because our head has been filled with knowledge. 

Some have a little knowledge and it puffs them up, but they error being ignorant of God’s word. God is not divided. If one is born of God, they are partaker of the divine nature, and if they have received the Spirit, they have received the Son. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Mark 12:29 (KJV) And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 

Where is the one that denies the Trinity? Where is the one that says a child is not partaker of the parent till they have been taught by the lords of the faith and know the right things about their parent? Is it enough they have the same nature? When one is born of God they are partaker of the divine nature. Where is the one that says they do not have Christ?

Where is the one that imagines pre-regenerate sorrow in preparation of getting smart enough to be born of God? But now that might be denied as if such a foolish thing was not promoted, but it was being promoted. Where is the one that has to get smart enough to be born of God? The new birth is perverted by such thinking. 

I was made sorrowful of sin, and I continue with that, a result of being partaker of the divine nature. I did not receive Christ a result of my being sorrowful of sin, gaining knowledge of salvation. The knowledge of salvation has taught me what God has accomplished and tells me of my home, and how God has first loved me, even while I was unlovely, even while there was nothing to commend me to God, and beyond that while I yet hated God, and was a child of wrath. Oh my pitiful insufficiency, and the blessed new birth, being born of God, and the all-sufficiency of Christ. 

The dead are made alive, having been born of God, and being born of God they have received the Holy Spirit. Having received the Holy Spirit they have the God-head. Where is this gap that is being tossed about? Is there a gap between having received life, and gaining knowledge? So what?

Is God divided? 

Matt 28:19; Mark 12:29; John 5:19-24; John 14:6; John 8:42; John 10:38; John 14:7; John 14:11; John 14:20; John 15:26; John 17:21; John 20:17; Romans 8:9-12; 2Cor 13:14; 1 John 5:12 

The gospel bring life and immortality to light. Life results from having been born of God. The Father gave a particular people to the Son; the Son died for those the Father gave Him; the Holy Spirit regenerates those the Father gave the Son. The elect are born of God, and having been born of God they receive the Spirit that abides in them ever, their being partaker of the divine nature. God is not divided.

2 Timothy 1:10 (KJV) 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:

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Regeneration < - - - GAP - - - > Knowledgeable Gospel Conversion

When I consider a gap, I place no emphasis that any particular person might be saved apart from that person having made confession of faith. My only reason for mentioning a gap is because of certain ones that completely distort the idea of a gap, their insisting some are saying people get to heaven apart from Christ. If any say a person gets to heaven apart from Christ, I reject what they say, and consider them seriously in error. I reject any notion that a person gets to heaven apart from Christ. What I say is that if one is regenerate, they have been indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and so they have Christ. They very well may not hear the gospel for a long time after having been made alive, that is not significant to us, and if they never hear that is not significant, but our duty is to preach the gospel. Those that posses life will hear when God gives them understanding. When they first believe, then they understand they have Christ, they understand they have life, and there is no reason to argue about when that life was created, in regards to a particular time, but it is significant to say they were born of God. When they hear the preached word and believe, then they have the knowledge of salvation. Salvation is not known, is not understood, except by hearing and understanding the gospel. Hearing and understanding results in understanding what Christ has already done for us, and what He will continue to do for us. There is no reason to imagine any person is saved unless they have heard and believed the gospel. Our duty is to preach the good news. Those that hear are commanded to repent and believe. Only those having life will repent and believe. It is God that must open the understanding. Only when one repents and believes is there any reason to imagine they are saved. He brings forth fruit in his season. If Christ would give use peace regarding some person we loved, but had no knowledge if they had confessed Christ, that is between a man and God. Ultimately, salvation is of the Lord, and he knows His own. Hearing and understanding the gospel gives the knowledge of salvation, that salvation accomplished wholly of God. Our salvation is not a result of how we respond, but our salvation is dependent upon God, and we repent and believe because it is Christ that works in use. Salvation is of the Lord. A person has no knowledge of salvation if they have never heard the preached word, a person has no reason to suppose they are saved if they have never believed the gospel, and we have no reason to say any are saved, and will reach heaven apart from Christ. We simply do not know the identity of the elect, and even among those that confess Christ, ultimately it is the Lord that knows His own. We by charitable estimation consider a person saved based on observable evidence. My only point is that when one is regenerated they posses eternal life, but there is no observable evidence till such a person confesses belief of the truth, and the truth is understood by their hearing the word of God. All I say is that hearing the preached word is not what saves, but by hearing and believing the preached word salvation is understood and can be claimed. Again, the Lord knows those that are His. The gap is not at all significant, we don't know if a person is elect, we don't know if they are regenerate, unless by their own confession. We should never imagine any are saved apart from their having made confession of faith, based on conjecture. I hope I am being clear with this. I think notions of gap are insignificant and really make no difference, except as we would realize that it is the living that will respond to the gospel, and not those dead in trespasses and sins. We do not know when a person will respond to the gospel and we do not know if a person will respond by confessing Christ. We do not know the ones that have been made alive, and all we are to do is to preach the word, in season, out of season etc. and neither he that plants or he that waters is anything, but it is God that gives the increase. We preach that the elect come to the knowledge of salvation. 

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Scripture Out Of The Mouth Of God

The way I understand is that Scripture, given by inspiration of God, does proceed out of the mouth of God and is truth (Joh 17:17; Matt 4:4). “It is written...” is a popular phrase in the Scriptures, and I believe that phrase helps magnify the word. My reason for thinking the word is not powerless as such is that “...the inspiration of the Almighty giveth ... [men] understanding.” We preach the word and the Lord gives increase as He will, accomplishing whatsoever He desires (1Cor 3:7). We don’t have it of ourselves to demand that the word accomplish any particular thing. God gives the increase as he will, according to His will, and however much any messenger might seem used where there is evident increase, nevertheless neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. I think it is not the word that is changed, the word is truth, if it is Scripture does not need changed to communicate what God desires, and we ought not imagine our desires for what the word accomplishes has any significance whatsoever regarding the word accomplishing whatsoever God desires. I think it is not the word that needs blessed but it is man that needs changed that they would comprehend, man given understanding to comprehend. The written word is discovered to be effectual to one, but not to another. The difference is accomplished in the man and that not by the word being changed, or because of the preacher. The word never changes (Ps 12:7), and this gives a difficulty as it is recognized men are able to corrupt the word, that is, they are able to substitute new and different, but nevertheless the word that proceeds out of the mouth of God never changes. By faith we receive the word. Our comprehension and understanding is finite. When the angelic host of God appears to men (2Sam 24:17; 1Chron 21:16,20; 2Kings 6:17), I think it was the eyes of man that were opened and not that the host of God were changed or altered; and as I understand, in the same way, true Scripture proceeds out of the mouth of God, and does not change, but God opens man’s understanding as He will, accomplishing what He will. It is man that is blessed, changed, by having the understanding opened, and with that we might say the word was blessed, but the word did not change, so it was man that was blessed (Acts 3:26). The Lord has magnified His word above all His name (Ps 138:2). 

1 Corinthians 3:7 (KJV) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Job 32:8 (KJV) But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Peter 1:21 (KJV) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Psalms 119:9 (KJV) BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psalms 119:11 (KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Matthew 4:4 (KJV) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Psalms 138:2 (KJV) I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Effectual Calling

This is an area that many see differently. Here is how I am understanding. The term “effectual call” I understand as being accomplished by regeneration, and one recognizes their being a partaker of the effectual call by conversion. It is effectual that one is regenerated, made new, and that new creature is made to be effectual towards God and the things of God. It is effectual that before we did good or evil, that we were chosen. It is effectual that we are loved of God. It is effectual that we come to understand these wonderful things and comprehend the love of God towards us. Before the elect were only evil continually, children of wrath even as others, and after they are partaker of the divine nature (2Pet 1:3-4). As we come to understand God’s working, we comprehend various aspects such as predestination, calling, justification, adoption, glorification and such like. As I see, effectual calling comprehends all these things that have to do with our salvation. In my own life, there is not just one time that I have discovered God effectually dealing with me, and yes, there was early on at the first that by faith I first comprehended God effectually dealing with me, but God continues to deal effectually with me and I trust will evermore deal effectual with me. I don’t speak dogmatic about a particular time, or event whereby we are effectually called. Our coming to understand these things, as I understand, does not mean they were not so previous. What I know is that I continue to understand the word effectually working in me, and that results in my tending to be less dogmatic about a number of things, and more dogmatic about others, but not so I would be unpleasantly unbending.

Regeneration Results In Conversion

Here is how I am understanding this. Yes, in as far as the new birth makes one partaker of the divine nature, conversion results from regeneration, the direction of the heart new, the nature is radically different, and as a result things are perceived different, and so there is conversion as any of various things are recalled. This partaking of the divine nature is finite in that we are not all we will be one day, but we are certainly different than prior to regeneration. When we are regenerated, we are changed, and indwelt evermore by the Holy Spirit. This world is so often veiled in tears, but God causes us to understand and have hope. This walk is ongoing and our increasing in the knowledge of God should be seen as ongoing.

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By grace,
Bob Krajcik
Mansfield, Ohio

Bible Study Letters

A message of comfort from the Scriptures,
that we through patience and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope.

Come and hear, all ye that fear God,
and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
Psalms 66:16

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