Replies

Interesting article. I'm going to spend some time chewing on this and thinking, because I think the author makes some good points, and I find this a slightly different view of the subject. I can see where many of the arguments that various of us have gotten into may have been avoided if we would have realized that we were looking at the same thing from two different vantage points. I had never really considered the idea that regeneration precedes repentance and faith, but I can see the concept.

As I look back on my own salvation experience, I can see the progression as it played out in my own heart. I can name the exact time and place where my heart was opened, and the event that opened it. Of all things, speaking to an exceptionally good rock guitarist after a concert, wanting to know how he had developed such an amazing talent. His one-word reply: Jesus. My life was never the same after that moment. You might have heard of this fellow, his name is Phil Keaggy, and he is even now a good friend of mine.

"I find this a slightly different view of the subject"

I thought it was an important article because it clearly shows the difference between Biblical Christianity, Hyper-Calvinism, and Arminianism.

The name Phil Keaggy does sound familiar. If I heard any of his music I would know. I'm a big fan of Eric Clapton's music (but not him, personally).

You are good friends with Phil Keaggy? Wow. If you don't mind, I would love for you to pass my comments on about his song "Under the Grace."

Usually I don't go for real slow Christian music like Keaggy has, but I will say, this is one of the best songs out there in the Contemporary Christian scene....one that makes me so frustrated because I fail so much...I don't fall asleep crying over my salvation and my sin and this song just makes me so aware of how an ungrateful and pathetic person I am compared with God's greatness:

Under The Grace - Phil Keaggy

I lie awake in the middle of the night again
I try to make some sense of it all rushing in
There's so much I feel within this heart of mine
I well up inside and my eyes, they overflow
For I know, it is grace

The look of love in the shape of your face I have known
It speaks of this deep sacrifice you have shown
And the wonder of it all is, I didn't deserve this
I couldn't have planned it so right
And so my eyes, they overflow
Let it rain, let it pour, let it go
For I know this, yes I know - it is grace

And the hungry in heart seeks for its place and a home
But it may tear you apart when you see
What this grace here has done
Fly, fly all you burdens - go fly away
It's here I remain - under the grace

It seems there's so little time to make amends here
If not for you, will then I'm without a friend here

And who opened your heart, nobodys? THE ALMIGHTY....:)

That is all we Calvinists are trying to get across.....we are nothing without God and we would be so lost in our own sin our futile attempts at seeing any good in him would end up producing no fruit. We are so blinded until the Holy Spirit removes the film from our eyes so that we can see and we see the joy in Christ!! We see it!!! But only because He OPENED our blinded eyes.