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

Faith is a work (John 6:29; 1Thes 1:3; 2Thess 1:11). Apart from faith, no man shall be saved. Works are inner or outward. When faith, prayers, decisions, any work, any merit of man is said to be the efficient cause of salvation, works, not grace, is introduced. Faith is granted on behalf of Christ (1Pet 1:21; Col 2:12; John 1:13; 6:28-29; Acts 13:48; 18:27; Rom 3:22; 9:16, 18, 22; 10:17; 12:3; John 6:45; Gal 5:22; Eph 1:19; 2:8; Phil 1:29; Heb 12:2; Tit 3:5). Salvation is through faith alone, belief through grace, the gift of God, and not by any merit of man. Man is saved by grace.

The extent of ones understanding, especially as regards the extent ones sinful heart is revealed to a man, is something, IMO, that only God could answer. With all the psychological trickery some use, many are deceived about such things, and told they should count themselves saved because of the desire of some person that wants to get ahead of God in matters of salvation. When one has been deceived about such things they will be difficult to talk to, when it comes to the truth of our salvation. I have thought the Arminian could be saved, and I do believe a person can be saved in an Arminian church, but I find Arminians, some far more than others, are spreading a falsehood. When someone has been taught that their decision is the essential cause of their salvation they have been deceived, yet I think they might still be saved, but are embracing heresy. One can embrace heresy and still be part of the whole, still be saved, but with the next step being schismatic, and there is a short step to schismatic. The doctrines of election, regeneration, faith, conversion, predestination are certainly wrestled so as to not match the intended meaning when the Arminian spreads his heresy. Those matters are extremely important. I try to be very clear, we acknowledge what God has done for us, but it is not a case of God has done His part now we must do ours. When Lazarus was brought back from the dead, there was no decision on his part that would allow God to make him alive, and when we are made alive with the second birth (Eph 2:5) there is no choice about it, no decision as if we were sovereign over God in matters of our so great salvation. The merit mongers have all sorts of twisted logic they use to explain their heresy, but heresy it is. Some that say they are Calvinists nevertheless want to hide those truths when they are presenting the gospel, but they are doing a great disservice. If one sees their need of salvation, they will not be hindered by those doctrines, if they see desire in Christ they will find Christ able to save to the uttermost. 

Just this week I had a reunion with a high school friend that enlisted in the Marine Corps with me, some years ago. We had much to talk about and actually talked from 5 PM one day till about 8 AM the next, both of us realizing when it started getting light outside just what time it was. We were on a lake in a boat, all night. Along with talking over old friends from the Marine Corps, and speaking of our friends that were also in Vietnam in that war, some with their names on The Wall, there was some sharing the wonder of Christ and Him crucified. One of the first things he told me when I saw him that evening, was how years ago, when we meet by chance after not seeing each other for a time, was how I said to him I had found the Lord, and what a profound change that had made in my life. In the boat that night I was asked questions and was able to relate the free and sovereign grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and how He chooses us. Be sure there were no questions from me hoping for answers from him to gain anything. My heart was so blest when I was giving testimony out in that boat it was as if there was nothing else around, nothing to distract from the moment. Anything that came to mind of the counsel of God I shared. I remember how we just looked at each other during that time, nothing distracting.

Ye Must Be Born Of The Spirit (John 3:1-8)

1 John 5:4 (KJV) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

John 3:7 (KJV) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

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

By grace ye are saved. . .

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

John 1:13 (KJV) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 6:44 (KJV) No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:65 (KJV) And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Romans 9:11 (KJV) (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

Romans 9:15 (KJV) For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Romans 9:18 (KJV) Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Acts 13:48 (KJV) And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Very many will reject the plain texts of Scripture and instead turn to fables, pretending salvation is of the will of man, man's decision being the essential element, but this is false teaching. The plain text of Scripture says, Ye must be born again. The new birth is not of the will of man, but of God. Salvation is of the LORD. First, you must be ordained to eternal life, and that is of God, our having been chosen, ordained to eternal life, chosen of God in Christ from before the foundation of the world. Many rely on their judicial works, their decision, and expect a reward based on their decision. This false practice of making a decision to earn salvation is not of God, and does not cause the new birth. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Ephesians 1:4 (KJV) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

The New Birth Experience

The order is regeneration first, then faith, yet in practical understanding at the moment one is regenerated they immediately are granted salvific faith of the operation of God (Col 2:12; Phil 1:29). As I understand, this can happen with the babe in the womb, and results in complete and sure salvation, nothing lacking regarding the new life from the second birth. God acts direct apart from means, yet as the usual experience is generally understood, especially with adults, it is safe to say that God directly regenerates a man at the same time the preached word is being received (1Thess 2:13). Subsequent conversion and growth in faith at hearing the word is the normal experience with the regenerate (2Pet 3:18; 1Pet 2:2; 2Thess 1:3). When the new birth is being accomplished, man is passive, the dead being made alive, immediately of God apart from means, and instantly made alive and not in stages and not over a period of time. Those that were dead are made alive, in an instant, by immediate action of God. When one is born again, the mind is cognizant and discovers that some things are abhorred and some things desired, and that there is hungering and thirsting, and clearly these things are not part of the natural unregenerate man (2Cor 2:14; Rom 8:5-11). With the new birth there is faith, otherwise why would there be a thirsting, hungering, that hopes for new things, and causes a man to think different and act different (Heb 11:1-6). 

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John 3:7 (KJV) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

David, it seems, was regenerate while still upon his mothers breast (Ps 22:9). John Baptist showed evidence of having been born again while still in his mothers womb (Luke 1:41; 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.

As a dear brother in the Lord said about this comment:

I agree with what you have written. Is it not strange that their was not a Gospel minister around when these things happened to give the (COMMAND WORD) to give eternal life? All that was around that caused these things Was the Holy Spirit Himself and His quickening to eternal life POWER. AMEN.
Your friend in Christ, Calvin Waller

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1 John 3:12 (KJV) Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

Acts 2:23 (KJV) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

But for what sort did Christ die?

Romans 5:8 (KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Matthew 1:21 (KJV) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

1 Corinthians 6:11 (KJV) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

For of such Christ was crucified and slain, and for such Christ died. . .

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For the believer there is not a testimony of being without sin (1John 1:8) but rather, through faith in the blood of Christ Jesus (Rom 3:25), having redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:14; Eph 1:7), the blood cleansing away all sin (1John 1:7), the blood shed for the remission of sins (Matt 26:28; Rom 3:25). 

When Christ comes the second time, (I am pre-tribulation rapture and pre-millennial second coming), with His coming again when He will put His foot on the mount Of Olives (Zec 14:4), there is first the signs of His coming, with mourning and sorrow over their imminent destruction (Matt 24:30), and for those that are to perish, this is worldly sorrow (Isa 33:14; Jude 14,15; 2Cor 7:10). 

Realize, before a person comes to the knowledge of salvation, before they actually trust Christ, there is first the revealing of sin, and with that mourning and sorrow, godly sorrow, the sin being abhorred. Thank God for His mercy, mourning and sorrow is not the end for the elect (Isa 25:8; 33:17; 65:17; Jer 29:11; 1Cor 15:54, 57; Rev 7:17; 21:4).

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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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Bob Krajcik
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