There are some who believe it was decided who would be saved, even before the foundation of the world and "all" individuals have no choice in the matter.
Scripture clearly teaches the 'Church' has had a predetermined destination before the foundation of the world, �however I see no clear teaching that every individual is only chosen one and the same way before the foundation of the world - no exceptions.
God is Sovereign; He chooses and saves whomever, however and whenever He pleases. While mans own righteousness can never save him, there are plenty examples in Scripture where the actions of a person has received�the attention of God.�
A Truly Sovereign God is Not bound by the "Tulip Rulebook" He bound only by His own nature.
Regeneration is new birth, Nicodemus would not of come or questioned anything of God, in his unregenerate state. You are speaking of regeneration as if it were another process. ( guess you don't know all you should about the doctrines of grace)
One will have nothing to do with God apart from God giving them a heart of flesh (rebirth).
It is really sad when self professing "christians" laugh and ridicule God's word.
In reply Jesus declared, �I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.� JOHN 3:3
Regeneration is a New Testament concept that grew, it seems, out of a parabolic picture-phrase that Jesus used to show Nicodemus the inwardness and depth of the change that even religious Jews must undergo if they were ever to see and enter the kingdom of God, and so have eternal life (John 3:3-15). Jesus pictured the change as being �born again.�
The concept is of God renovating the heart, the core of a person�s being, by implanting a new principle of desire, purpose, and action, a dispositional dynamic that finds expression in positive response to the gospel and its Christ. Jesus� phrase �born of water and the Spirit� (John 3:5) harks back to Ezekiel 36:25-27, where God is pictured as symbolically cleansing persons from sin�s pollution (by water) and bestowing a �new heart� by putting his Spirit within them. Because this is so explicit, Jesus chides Nicodemus, �Israel�s teacher,� for not understanding how new birth happens (John 3:9-10). Jesus� point throughout is that there is no exercise of faith in himself as the supernatural Savior, no repentance, and no true discipleship apart from this new birth.
Elsewhere John teaches that belief in the Incarnation and Atonement, with faith and love, holiness and righteousness, is the fruit and proof that one is born of God (1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4). It thus appears that as there is no conversion without new birth, so there is no new birth without conversion.
Though infant regeneration can be a reality when God so purposes (Luke 1:15, 41-44), the ordinary context of new birth is one of effectual calling�that is, confrontation with the gospel and illumination as to its truth and significance as a message from God to oneself. Regeneration is always the decisive element in effectual calling.
Regeneration is monergistic: that is, entirely the work of God the Holy Spirit. It raises the elect among the spiritually dead to new life in Christ (Eph. 2:1-10). Regeneration is a transition from spiritual death to spiritual life, and conscious, intentional, active faith in Christ is its immediate fruit, not its immediate cause. Regeneration is the work of what Augustine called �prevenient� grace, the grace that precedes our outgoings of heart toward God.
"Second guys he is a calvinist not a christian. In here lies the problem. You seek to argue christ with one who is not a follower of christ and who is a follower of calvin."
When you can't argue from scripture, you resort to things like this.
Dljrn04, with all due respect I think one has to turn the John chapter 3 verses into a pretzel to get that meaning out of it.
Imho: Nicodemas comes to Jesus for answers, Jesus basically replies by saying without being born again he will never understand.
See how simple it is.
No here is how simple it is. God says NO ONE comes to him unless the father draws him, MEN are dead in their trespasses and sin, NO ONE searches for God. YOU like to make God your cosmic bellhop and make him be the one grovelling for humans to love him. It is the other way around. God is God, he does what he wills, he saves whom he wants to save, on his own terms so NO ONE can boast, but most can not deal with the fact they have NO part in their salvation and being thankful to an Almighty God of the bible that saves whom HE wills. Just because he loved us first.
