Decisional Regeneration

[StoneThrower]

I ran across this article today and thought it was worth sharing.
It helps explain why the church is in such a pitiful state.

"Decisional Regeneration" - James E. Adams

The methods and theology of those that practice "Decisional Regeneration" need to be examined — not with a malicious spirit, but with a fervent desire that all of God's people may be one in doctrine and practice for the glory of God. We love all that are in Christ. But we agree wholeheartedly with Charles Spurgeon that:

The best way to promote union is to promote truth. It will not do for us to be all united together by yielding to one another's mistakes. We are to love each other in Christ; but we are not to be so united that we are not able to see each other's faults, and especially not able to see our own. No purge the house of God, and then shall grand and blessed times dawn on us,"2.

So then our purpose is not to question the sincerity of some Christians or to malign them, but to unite Christians in the truth as it is in our Lord. This alone is true Christian unity.

As we earnestly seek to bring unity to the Church of Christ let us turn from falsehood unto God's truth. The practice of "Decisional Regeneration" in the Church must be exposed in order to save men from the damning delusion that because they have "decided" or "signed a card," they are going to heaven and are no longer under the wrath of God. The purity of the gospel is of extreme importance because it alone is the power of God unto salvation and the true basis of Christian unity.

 

[MadDogMarine]

I ran across this article today and thought it was worth sharing.
It helps explain why the church is in such a pitiful state.

"Decisional Regeneration" - James E. Adams

The methods and theology of those that practice "Decisional Regeneration" need to be examined — not with a malicious spirit, but with a fervent desire that all of God's people may be one in doctrine and practice for the glory of God. We love all that are in Christ. But we agree wholeheartedly with Charles Spurgeon that:

The best way to promote union is to promote truth. It will not do for us to be all united together by yielding to one another's mistakes. We are to love each other in Christ; but we are not to be so united that we are not able to see each other's faults, and especially not able to see our own. No purge the house of God, and then shall grand and blessed times dawn on us,"2.

So then our purpose is not to question the sincerity of some Christians or to malign them, but to unite Christians in the truth as it is in our Lord. This alone is true Christian unity.

As we earnestly seek to bring unity to the Church of Christ let us turn from falsehood unto God's truth. The practice of "Decisional Regeneration" in the Church must be exposed in order to save men from the damning delusion that because they have "decided" or "signed a card," they are going to heaven and are no longer under the wrath of God. The purity of the gospel is of extreme importance because it alone is the power of God unto salvation and the true basis of Christian unity.

"The best way to promote union is to promote truth"


He obviously doesn't read his bible yet desires truth???

Luke 12:49-53, the Lord said:

“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Standing for the truth results in division and many times has need of confrontational courage.
What we have in all the churches now is a bunch of "Jelly Fishes for Jesus"

That is why our great country has lost it's moral compass and courage. It is all downhill from here thanks to the spiritual morass the churches have created by preaching a politically correct social gospel that offends no one.

Excuse me while I

 

[hotcoffee]

I ran across this article today and thought it was worth sharing.
It helps explain why the church is in such a pitiful state.


So then our purpose is not to question the sincerity of some Christians or to malign them, but to unite Christians in the truth as it is in our Lord. This alone is true Christian unity.

As we earnestly seek to bring unity to the Church of Christ let us turn from falsehood unto God's truth. The practice of "Decisional Regeneration" in the Church must be exposed in order to save men from the damning delusion that because they have "decided" or "signed a card," they are going to heaven and are no longer under the wrath of God. The purity of the gospel is of extreme importance because it alone is the power of God unto salvation and the true basis of Christian unity.

I'm really starting to worry about you. It seems that you are searching for something. It seems that your study left you lacking a basic truth and you are spending a lot of energy searching for something you should already know in your heart.

My dear friend... if you need to talk out your own damning delusions or questions that you just need to talk out please let me know.

Sometimes the best way to hide the fact that we are missing something important is to disclaim it.

You're in my prayers....

 

[StoneThrower]

"The best way to promote union is to promote truth"


He obviously doesn't read his bible yet desires truth???

Luke 12:49-53, the Lord said:

“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Standing for the truth results in division and many times has need of confrontational courage.
What we have in all the churches now is a bunch of "Jelly Fishes for Jesus"

That is why our great country has lost it's moral compass and courage. It is all downhill from here thanks to the spiritual morass the churches have created by preaching a politically correct social gospel that offends no one.

Excuse me while I

Please read the full article, and not just the blurp as neither one of is promoting ecumenism under the garbage can label of evangelicalism.

 

[StoneThrower]

I'm really starting to worry about you. It seems that you are searching for something. It seems that your study left you lacking a basic truth and you are spending a lot of energy searching for something you should already know in your heart.

My dear friend... if you need to talk out your own damning delusions or questions that you just need to talk out please let me know.

Sometimes the best way to hide the fact that we are missing something important is to disclaim it.

You're in my prayers....

I am always willing to talk, but I have no idea what your talking about damning delusions? Have you ever read Pilgrims Progress? If not you need to it refers to the narrow gate mentioned in scripture.

No need to worry, the points I am trying to make are only to shine a spotlight on what it means to be a Christian, that its a work of God from start to finish and not of man. I think the article explained that man does make a decision, but only after God enables him to do so. Man is dead in sin and a dead man can do nothing!

We have churches full of those naming the name of Christ that look or think no different than the rest of the world. Christ to them is no more than an accessory they have added to their life. Rather than being their life. You can both see and hear this when they are the center and everything else revolves around them VS Christ is the center and their life revolves around Him.

What a man claims does not make it so. With easy beliefism, cheap grace, and a modern day gospel we have churches full of false converts, and those out side the church that were fed a lie and believed it. That just because the walked an isle signed a card or raised a hand or were made wet that now their ticket is punched and are resting in an assurance that they should not have. Of Course I believe in Lordship salvation that if Christ isnt your Lord he is NOT your savior.

Luk 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?
Luk 6:47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them!

So dont we have a right to question someone who is willfully disobident and sets them self up over Gods authority and his word?

Our churches are full of those that asked Jesus into their heart and he just didn't stay. What went wrong, they never repented, they still see themselves as a good person and until one understands and embraces their depravity the gospel is not embraced. It doesn't mean they don't know it or intellectually agree with it.

"The nature of Christ's salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Savior from hell rather than a Savior from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness." - A. W. Pink

The protestant church has bought into a lot of tradition as well that is not Biblical. I am not going to sit hear and criticize Romanism and turn a blind eye to the effects of a criminal like Charles Finney and his tactics to get decision's for Christ that are not efficacious but create bitter back sliders with hardened hearts. Twice the sons of Hell!

I don't have the ability to do an attachment here, but if you never read anything else I say read this, and prayerfully consider the truthfulness of it and what history has shown to be true. You can even listen to it if you don't have time to read.
Free Wonderful Book

 

[StoneThrower]

"The best way to promote union is to promote truth"


He obviously doesn't read his bible yet desires truth???

:

Perhaps you will like this quote from the same article better.

A man may make a profession without ever having his confidence in his own ability shattered; he has been told absolutely nothing of his need of a change of nature which is not within his own power, and consequently, if he does not experience such a radical change, he is not dismayed. He was never told it was essential so he sees no reason to doubt whether he is a Christian. Indeed, the teaching he has come under consistently militates against such doubts arising. It is frequently said that a man who has made a decision with little evidence of a change of life may be a 'carnal' Christian who needs instruction in holiness, or if the same individual should gradually lose his new-found interests, the fault is frequently attributed to lack of 'follow-up,' or prayer, or some other deficiency on the part of the Church. The possibility that these marks of worldliness and falling away are due to the absence of a saving experience at the outset is rarely considered;

 

[b23hqb]

Please read the full article, and not just the blurp as neither one of is promoting ecumenism under the garbage can label of evangelicalism.

I just read the entire article. It just reaffirmed everything I have been taught, for the past 50+ years, about salvation.

A classic example of the alter call is myself: In summer 1971, I traveled around Oklahoma and Texas as a high school student, part of a church musical/singing group at various churches. At the beginning of our three week event, I answered an alter call, to the surprise and happiness of many other members of our group.

Upon returning home, however, I found out that answering questions appropriately and saying a certain prayer did not necessarily do it, at least for me.

it took me six more years, attending a non-denominational church, to actually come to a real acknowledgement of salvation through my actions, my prayer, and my repentance. I had people helping me along the way, but it was my choice, my actions, at my time, and my asking the Lord for forgiveness.

I am not saying that everyone who answers an alter call are not truly saved; that is for the Lord, His job, to sort out. And He will.

I just have to deal with myself, and thank God for that opportunity.

 

[ItalianScallion]

I'm really starting to worry about you. It seems that you are searching for something. It seems that your study left you lacking a basic truth and you are spending a lot of energy searching for something you should already know in your heart.

My dear friend... if you need to talk out your own damning delusions or questions that you just need to talk out please let me know.

Sometimes the best way to hide the fact that we are missing something important is to disclaim it.

You're in my prayers....

Sometimes people read too much, then uncertainty and even error creeps in. It's good to read but sometimes it makes one try to express the truth in too many different ways. IOW: Many opinions don't always clarify the truth and, very often, they lead to "legalism"

 

[b23hqb]

Sometimes people read too much, then uncertainty and even error creeps in. It's good to read but sometimes it makes one try to express the truth in too many different ways. IOW: Many opinions don't always clarify the truth and, very often, they lead to "legalism"

I agree. Way too many people try to figure out God, instead of just simply figuring Him in.

 

[ItalianScallion]

I agree. Way too many people try to figure out God, instead of just simply figuring Him in.

Yep! I'm not trying to upset anyone but I'd say ANY profession of faith, regardless of the place & time, doesn't guarantee that they got saved so why pick on the person who walks down the church aisle? After all, it is a "public profession". Whenever, wherever & however it happens, it's still a "matter of the heart" between God and the individual person...

 

[hotcoffee]

I am always willing to talk, but I have no idea what your talking about damning delusions? Have you ever read Pilgrims Progress? If not you need to it refers to the narrow gate mentioned in scripture.

Luk 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?
Luk 6:47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them!

So dont we have a right to question someone who is willfully disobident and sets them self up over Gods authority and his word?

I agree there are many many many people in brick and morter churches around the world that are not saved.

I agree that alter calls can produce fake professions of faith.

Let me give you this example to illustrate why I am praying for you.

In many of our churches today there are the musical interludes. A singer will go to the front of the church and sing. Chosen for their beautiful voice, but plagued by the need to do the best of their ability they practice and practice and practice until the song they are singing becomes a perfectly proper vocalization.

The problem is, during the practice and worry over the vocalizations, they have lost something.... their heart....

Then the choir director gets up and announces the next hymn.... and as the congregation begins to sing.... a beautiful voice from the congregation sings in celebration of the Spirit within them.... and the whole congregation is awed by the heartfelt display of their gift.

What I'm getting at, Stonethrower, is sometimes a person's desire to do something can get in the way of the Spirit.

I'm getting old now.... I've been saved for over 50 years.... I've backslidden and rededicated my life to Him... I've studied and talked with Him. I've sinned without knowledge... and begged forgiveness. I've heard vocals and sermons without heart that were absolutely perfect. I've met a lot of people who claim to be Christians who don't display even a hint of the light. I've attended and worked in brick and morter churches that were filled with the Spirit and I've attended others that were as cold as brick and morter in the darkest winter night.

Judgement is not your job. Judgement belongs to God alone. Jesus is there to intercede but even Jesus my Lord doesn't judge.

All the words in all the books in all the world cannot produce or explain Salvation. It's all wrapped up in a personal relationship with Jesus the Messiah.

If there were rules to salvation, deathbed salvation would be impossible.

I worry for you because you are too practiced and wordy.... I pray that you will someday enjoy the simple beauty of the Spirit and allow God to be the Judge and enjoy the intercession of the Messiah on our behalf.

 

[Zguy28]

Sometimes people read too much, then uncertainty and even error creeps in. It's good to read but sometimes it makes one try to express the truth in too many different ways. IOW: Many opinions don't always clarify the truth and, very often, they lead to "legalism"

On the other side, sometimes people don't read enough and become stubborn and belligerent. This is how people become Fundamentalists and ultimately Extremists.

"Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice."
Ecclesiastes 4:13

 

[Zguy28]

Judgement is not your job. Judgement belongs to God alone. Jesus is there to intercede but even Jesus my Lord doesn't judge.

This is absurd. What you have written here is the same as saying 1 Corinthians was a fool's errand.

Do you disagree with Paul? Why or why not? I'm interested in your explanation.

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

All the words in all the books in all the world cannot produce or explain Salvation. It's all wrapped up in a personal relationship with Jesus the Messiah.

Unfortunately many put their faith in a "personal relationship" instead of putting their faith Jesus Christ and lead spiritually empty lives.

 

[hotcoffee]

This is absurd. What you have written here is the same as saying 1 Corinthians was a fool's errand.

Do you disagree with Paul? Why or why not? I'm interested in your explanation.

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Unfortunately many put their faith in a "personal relationship" instead of putting their faith Jesus Christ and lead spiritually empty lives.

Confusing isn't it....

Jesus tells us to go out and be a shining light.... Jesus sat down with the whores and tax collectors.... Jesus chose a murderer to join the apostles after Judas left.... and then Paul comes along and says "God judges those outside 'Purge the evil person from among you.'"

I think you need to look at the verse in the context it's written in. Corinth was a church in Greece right? They were the ones that had orgies in their worship gatherings to their gods..... then when the Christian Church opened, this was something to worry about.

I think in this Context Paul is saying protect the Church.... and let God sort out the rest.... But I doubt Paul would have ever said that God is not the ultimate Judge.

If God is not everyone's judge than the job of intercession wouldn't be given to Jesus. God even judged Jesus. Remember He told those at the Baptism "I am well pleased". If Jesus had given in to temptation, God would have judged Jesus unfit to die for our sins... right?

We don't have the right to judge others because of the logs in our own eyes. We are all sinners....

IMHO.... we aren't supposed to judge people... it's God's job....

If I see someone mooning the congregation.... am I judging the person if I tell them to pull their pants up?

 

[ItalianScallion]

On the other side, sometimes people don't read enough and become stubborn and belligerent. This is how people become Fundamentalists and ultimately Extremists.

True. Fundamentalists & extremists can also be legalists but some fundamentalists have a tendency to have no gray areas and usually stick close to biblical doctrine. I'd rather listen to a fundamentalist who sticks tightly to doctrinal truths than someone who goes off in many different directions trying to over explain something.

 

[Dondi]

So what does it mean, then, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10:13?

 

[ItalianScallion]

So what does it mean, then, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10:13?

It means that people who genuinely call on God for salvation and who honestly intend to "endure to the end" will get saved. Anyone can call themselves Christians but that doesn't mean they are. The parable of the sower & the seed is a good example of that. 3 of the 4 tried Christianity on but their intent wasn't serious and they had no desire to remain in it. If it was they would have remained in it (1 John 2v19)

4 times in my life I prayed for God to save me. Only at the last request was I sincere and ready for the commitment. At that point I was saved.

 

[hotcoffee]

It means that people who genuinely call on God for salvation and who honestly intend to "endure to the end" will get saved. Anyone can call themselves Christians but that doesn't mean they are. The parable of the sower & the seed is a good example of that. 3 of the 4 tried Christianity on but their intent wasn't serious and they had no desire to remain in it. If it was they would have remained in it (1 John 2v19)

4 times in my life I prayed for God to save me. Only at the last request was I sincere and ready for the commitment. At that point I was saved.

My intention was always there.... and I always enjoyed a life of peace.... but odd stuff kept happening to me.... I made a lot of stupid choices.... It's a great thing to have Jesus Christ to take care of me.... a few times I should have died but the Lord was looking out for me....

I guess the soil was good where my seed fell.... but sometimes I think my seed fell really close to the seed on a rock.... and they must have known that ol' devil more than I did.... I'm glad I have my Jesus tending to my growth....

I know a lot of people who are willing to endure.... but they don't want to bother Jesus with their baggage.... Beth Moore tells a story of the woman who went to Christ and said here.... I can't handle this bag of garbage anymore.... problem is... when she left she took the bag away with her.... she said she was ashamed for Him to see what was inside.... she could handle it....

I agree with Beth Moore.... she says He can handle anything.... He has really seen it all... but we are afraid to give it to Him.... or we're too embarrassed...

 

[cheezgrits]

It's a great thing to have Jesus Christ to take care of me.... a few times I should have died but the Lord was looking out for me....

And don't get me wrong, I'm glad he did, but this is the conundrum I have with Christianity... if a loving, caring, forgiving god would save not just you personally, but folks that in a justice filled world wouldn't be here...prime example is a drunk driver who survives multiple wrecks and tickets, gets "saved" and professes "the Lord saved me! Looking out for me!" yet how many children die each year at St. Judes from cancer? How many families lose a life of a relative in a senseless crime or accident?

Again, hotcoffee, I am not demeaning you personally, I'm glad you survived your hard times, but honestly, wasn't that really more your perseverance and will to survive? I have to believe that your version of the Creator is similar to mine, a force of creation but also created free will and randomness. I can't really believe a professed "caring" god could pick and choose amongst his creatures.

 

[Zguy28]

So what does it mean, then, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10:13?

What it means is that it is part of Paul's overall point that Jews and Gentiles alike can be saved, and are saved by the same Lord, through the same Christ, and by the same grace through faith.