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To: OrthodoxPresbyterian; xzins; Corin Stormhands
It would be nice if we could emphasize our points of agreement.

1) Sinners are saved by God's free and sovereign grace in Jesus Christ, totally apart from any works of righteousness they perform or any supposed virtue in them.

2) Everyone who is saved — including all persons dying in infancy — is saved through being elected to salvation by God the Father, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and regenerated or born again by the Holy Spirit.

I think we are in agreement there.

You added later that "regeneration precedes faith." Is regeneration and being born again the same thing. I have seen Calvinists argue both sides. From my recollection most seem to believe that regeneration precedes being born again and others argue that there is no difference.

Apparently the author of this article is of the opinion that regeneration and being born again are synonymous and that the order is: election, redemption and then regeneration.

In the case of an infant who dies in infancy, there does not appear to be any need for "regeneration" before redemption since there is no need to change the heart of the infant who dies to make it willing to exercise faith in order to be saved. The exercise of faith is irrelevant to an infant. It is not saved through the exercise of faith, it is saved because solely because of God's grace apart from anything the infant did or did not do.

43 posted on 10/15/2004 9:01:13 AM PDT by P-Marlowe
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To: P-Marlowe
You added later that "regeneration precedes faith." Is regeneration and being born again the same thing. I have seen Calvinists argue both sides. From my recollection most seem to believe that regeneration precedes being born again and others argue that there is no difference. Apparently the author of this article is of the opinion that regeneration and being born again are synonymous and that the order is: election, redemption and then regeneration.

Regeneration is synonymous with "Born Again" (Re-Generate -- "Again Born"). Further, I don't know why you divided Redemption and Regeneration in the Calvinist ordo salutis -- God Redeems dead sinners by Regenerating them.

In the case of an infant who dies in infancy, there does not appear to be any need for "regeneration" before redemption since there is no need to change the heart of the infant who dies to make it willing to exercise faith in order to be saved.

Of course there is a need for Regeneration, to change the "heart" (i.e., the spiritual constitution) of an Unregenerate Infant. All humans born of Adam are conceived Spiritually Dead. In order to enter Heaven, they must be made Spiritually Alive -- Regenerated.

44 posted on 10/15/2004 9:11:21 AM PDT by OrthodoxPresbyterian (We are Unworthy Servants; We have only done Our Duty)
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To: P-Marlowe
The exercise of faith is irrelevant to an infant. It is not saved through the exercise of faith, it is saved because solely because of God's grace apart from anything the infant did or did not do.

True enough; but the issue which I am getting at is the continued false Arminian belief that Faith precedes Regeneration in Adults. According to the Bible, that's simply a Lie -- for Faith is God-pleasing, and the Bible teaches that while he is yet Unregenerate a Man absolutely never chooses that which is God-pleasing.

45 posted on 10/15/2004 9:15:07 AM PDT by OrthodoxPresbyterian (We are Unworthy Servants; We have only done Our Duty)
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