It is interesting that the Christian community is the one to abandon ship, while the rest of the world is coming to terms with the end of the world scenario.

Look at all the Hollywood films depicting the end of the world. You've got asteroids, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions - the whole gamut of natural disasters to scare you to death, and to take your $'s.

Then, there are the cable channels with all the possibilities/probabilities of these natural events occurring, replete with scientists giving their spiel on the portending destruction. There is one showing what would happen to NYC in the event of an earthquake/tsunami.

The whole world is expecting some catastophic event to either herald in a NWO or destroy the old one, and Christians want to DOWNPLAY the possibility of such an event, even though Scripture gives very graphic details of end time events.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't want some lunatic using Scripture unwisely, but I do want people to know what God has said in His Word about the end times.

Heart (soil - softened by the work of the Spirit) -

Repentance (work of the Spirit in conviction, and the response of submission) -

= Saving faith (germination of life)

= Regeneration

= Salvation

= All of Grace - All of God

Michael H.,

I tried to put my post of yesterday, in a mathematical formula for ease of reading, but couldn't line it up using the means available. I could do it elsewhere and copy, but maybe this will suffice.

When I said "simultaneously," it was a quick response to a seemingly endless discussion, and I wasn't prepared to prove what I had said. So, thank you for giving me the exercise.

Michael Hranek wrote:
There are some who claim regeneration (new birth) before and apart from hearing the word of God,
I personally believe that salvation, the new birth, occurs IMMEDIATELY...
If as you say it is SIMULTANEOUSLY it would stand to reason it is different

2) It would seem that repentance occurs at regeneration.

3) I think it is rare if someone is saved the first time they hear the gospel.

4) For the new birth to occur simultaneously - it would necessitate that the Word had already been implanted in the heart that had been softened by the Spirit, and saving faith occurs when all the conditions are right - and, that would be at the point of repentance.

Jesus used word pictures - the parable of the seed in the good soil is illustrative. We know that life is in the seed (Word of God), but the seed must be planted in the soil(heart) and germination(life) will not occur without water(washing of the Word - repentance) and sunshine (supernatural work of the Spirit).

I'd like to elaborate on my previous post, if I may.

If one has ever nursed a sick person who refuses to eat, and may be at the point of starvation, even - and, has put the food to the mouth so as to whet the appetite - one knows that often, the person recovers.

Is that not illustrative of us? We are hungry, thirsty for the spiritual, and may not even know it, and, when we "taste" the goodness of the Lord - the Word of God - the Bread of Life - drink the Living Water - we are given life. But, the Bread, Water, is brought to us by the preaching of the Word, and applied by the Holy Spirit, to whet our appetite, to make us taste and see that the Lord is good.

Michael Hranek wrote:
passing by
Why? If you don't mind please explain in more depth what you believe. Thanks

Another "Yes, Lord" for me was "Come, let us reason together says the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

Another, "Yes, Lord" was "Come, all who are thirsty, and I will give you drink. Come, you who have no money, and buy bread..."

There is this immediate response of the heart to the offer from the Lord. It is a "Yes, Lord" with one's whole being. It is a hearing, a receiving, a responding, a filling of the Holy Spirit that manifests itself in joy, and contentment, and exhibits love towards others. It becomes in us a fountain of living water to others.

Michael Hranek wrote:
Kindle
It is being discussed on this thread the ability of an unsaved man to have faith.
So I have the right to consider did this SALVATION ("saved us" ) and washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (new birth) occur before the sinner called upon the name of the Lord
or after the sinner called upon the name of the Lord

John Yurich USA wrote:
Speaking of baseball caps worn with the bill in the back. Can anybody give a logical explanation as to why baseball caps are worn with the bill in the back? I can see why umpires wear their baseball caps with the bill in the back so that they can have their umpire mask on. But I can not see any logical reason why normal americans wear their baseball caps with the bill in the back.

______________

Jeep coveting wrote:
'I was just listening to my mp3 in my jeep of A.W. Pink's "The Sovereignty of God".
Don't forget the complete works-the complete vision has to have the above or it aint Rogerant's Jeep.
Maybe that is why Mike thinks it's so cool

Mike wrote:
You have a Jeep? Cool!

You are consistent, Mike.

It'll work again in the summer when Rogerant goes fishing for whatever is biting in July. He'll just have to give us a visual of himself with his ipod and jeep and fishing gear.

bypassing wrote:
'Sure, he's funny - sometimes - and, he's clear on his Reformed theology, but he's also a cross between Greg House and Simon Cowell in demeanor.
It's just irritating to see DJC49 get special attention on these boards.'
Said passingby

Publican wrote:
Palliating sin by subjectivizing it is exceeding dangerous. The Lord is not going to allow any kind of handicap for men or women concerning any sin that they are both able to fall into. The sheer quantity of factors that resistance is confronted with, should place one outside the realm of quibbling over particulars.

Publican wrote:
Your question concerning the Revelation. You could do no better right now, than to take heed to DJC49's post. Beautifully written, concluded with wisdom. Take special note of his mention of 'our consolation'. Very important... virtually, key.
DJC49
I'm sure that I will be looking for, and drawing from your storehouse of wisdom and knowledge. And, no doubt, deferring to you often.

You are clearly on the take!

Either you are DJC49, or he is paying you off.

Prefacing your accolades to Lyn and John UK, followed by compliments to Rogerant, are really just your way to sandwich in compliments in a grandiose way to DJC49. You can't fool me, even if you can make everyone else drool over DJC49's "wisdom."

Sure, he's funny - sometimes - and, he's clear on his Reformed theology, but he's also a cross between Greg House and Simon Cowell in demeanor.

Have you read "The Unseen Hand" An Introduction to the Conspiratorial View of History by A. Ralph Epperson, published by Publius Press in 1985?

SwordandTrowel wrote:
They are not of the world even as I am not of the world." John 17:16
"For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." Heb.13:14
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Rev. 21:2
One of like precious faith . . a stranger and pilgrim on the earth!

Those verses pierce my heart with their encouragement and hope.

The more I know, the more I want to shut out the world - "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil." Maybe the Amish way of life(without modern technology) is an improvement. The current means of communication is both a blessing and a curse.

fuzzy logic wrote:
from article: "They were working on him, but you could see he was dead, said Halcyon Alexander, 29. "People were still coming through."
Only a few stopped.

I stopped quickly,(not a smart thing to do), and so did the cars behind me, including an 18 wheeler which jackknifed. People in other cars sat stoically, including the one next to me in the passing lane. The rescue workers went about their jobs professionally, and with the necessary detachment.

Since I was the first vehicle on the scene, and was obviously shaken, they looked at my car to see if perhaps I had hit the man. They seemed confused by my reaction, given I was not involved and asked if I needed help. Mind you, my reaction was silent tears, nothing more.

Imagine that. . .a natural response to a person dying before my eyes, and yet, it was an unnatural response by the people around me. How calloused we have become.

Christian Raas wrote:
Thank God I am not in an 'emergent church'. I would still be entangled in the homosexual lifestyle and even feel good about it. Just another sign of the last days. Please come soon, Lord Jesus!

But, the sin that I see that is the most pervasive in our day, and descriptive of a culture, is the sin of PRIDE. I have never seen so many self-important people, impressed with themselves, with an undeniably haughty attitude. One sees it in the educated world - "Knowledge puffs up," and, one sees it in the lesser educated with no reason to think highly of themselves.

Where is HUMILITY? Can't be found.

Mike wrote:
Coke or Pepsi? Neither. Dr. Pepper.

Albion wrote:
Americans
Are you all on holiday just now?
It seems deathly quiet on the comments board these days.