How To Be Born Again

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[P-Marlowe]

Ping to the Knights of the Eternal Time Table.

For discussion. Be nice everyone.

Zins Meister, if you have the KOETT official roster, make sure everyone is pinged. Thanks.

NEENERS

Marlowe

[P-Marlowe]

I always like to see a good presentation of the gospel. This is not exactly the four spiritual laws, but it is concise and pretty much gets to the point.

I think Jonathon Edwards sermon where he speaks of the knock on the door of the heart contains an excellent presentation of the calling of God's love to us and his requirement that we respond.

"O thou poor distressed soul! whoever thou art, consider that Christ mentions thy very case when he calls to them who labor and are heavy laden! How he repeatedly promises you rest if you come to him! In the 28th verse he says, "I will give you rest." And in the 29th verse, "Ye shall find rest to your souls." This is what you want. This is the thing you have been so long in vain seeking after. O how sweet would rest be to you, if you could but obtain it! Come to Christ, and you shall obtain it. And hear how Christ, to encourage you, represents himself as a lamb! He tells you, that he is meek and lowly in heart, and are you afraid to come to such a one! And again, Rev. 3:20. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him and he with me." Christ condescends not only to call you to him, but he comes to you; he comes to your door, and there knocks. He might send an officer and seize you as a rebel and vile malefactor, but instead of that, he comes and knocks at your door, and seeks that you would receive him into your house, as your Friend and Savior. And he not only knocks at your door, but he stands there waiting, while you are backward and unwilling. And not only so, but he makes promises what he will do for you, if you will admit him, what privileges he will admit you to; he will sup with you, and you with him. And again, Rev. 22:16,17. "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth, say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely." How does Christ here graciously set before you his own winning attractive excellency! And how does he condescend to declare to you not only his own invitation, but the invitation of the Spirit and the bride, if by any means he might encourage you to come! And how does he invite every one that will, that they may "take of the water of life freely," that they may take it as a free gift, however precious it be, and though it be the Water of life."

Charles Spurgeon was known occasionally to preach with such conviction.

[jude24]

Gotta emphasize Free Will in a Gospel Tract, don't we?

(The Four Laws are much better in that respect....)

[P-Marlowe]

Gotta emphasize Free Will in a Gospel Tract, don't we?

Do you have a better tract?

The emphasis is always there even when committed Calvinists preach messages of repentance and calls to Christ. They don't recognize it as such, but it is plain to see. Notice how even Jonathon Edwards cannot escape it:

And again, Rev. 3:20. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him and he with me." Christ condescends not only to call you to him, but he comes to you; he comes to your door, and there knocks. He might send an officer and seize you as a rebel and vile malefactor, but instead of that, he comes and knocks at your door, and seeks that you would receive him into your house, as your Friend and Savior. And he not only knocks at your door, but he stands there waiting, while you are backward and unwilling. And not only so, but he makes promises what he will do for you, if you will admit him, what privileges he will admit you to; he will sup with you, and you with him."

Should I make a tract of this sermon?

[jude24]

Do you have a better tract?

As a matter of fact, I use the 4 Laws booklets. They're fairly reasonable.

Should I make a tract of this sermon?

I'm frankly suprised Edwards would have such utter disregard for the context of that verse.

[P-Marlowe]

I'm frankly suprised Edwards would have such utter disregard for the context of that verse.

I'm not. Seems that every time a Calvinist preaches a powerful "Come to Jesus" sermon they start sounding like a free will Arminian.

[jude24]

I have no problem with powerful "come-to-Jesus" messages. I've done similiar things myself. My concern is that Rev. 3:20 is certainly not a salvation verse: it was spoken regarding the apostasy of a Church, to those already saved. It's a fellowship verse.

[P-Marlowe]

It's a fellowship verse.

I disagree wholeheartedly. Look at the way Jesus describes the Church at Laodecia. He says they are miserable and blind -- the same terms he used to describe the Pharisees. This is hardly an apt description of people who are covered by the blood of Jesus. No, the church as a whole is in open apostacy and I would suspect that they, like many liberal churches today, were filled to the brim with people who were not saved. But Jesus extends his gracious offer to them to come in and sup, if only they would open the door.

I think it is presumptuous of you, or anyone, to claim that the letters to the churches have no application to anyone who is not saved. It is,after all, the REVELATION of Jesus Christ. It is where the lost can find him.

[P-Marlowe]

BTW, do Calvinists even have tracts? If so do you have an example? I would love to see one.

I note that you use the 4 Spiritual Laws as a foundation. Do other Calvinists use them? Is there some simple gospel tract that Calvinists use that is not the 4 Spiritual Laws?

Or is the Calvinist Gospel just too complicated to put in a handout?

[jude24]

An interesting point... I'll have to get back to you about it.

I'm going to ping Jean and Steve, for their comments on Rev. 3:20 as a soteriological verse.

[P-Marlowe]

I'm going to ping Jean and Steve, for their comments on Rev. 3:20 as a soteriological verse.

I guess its too late to try to talk you out of that, huh?

[jude24]

Mom, do you have access any Reformed tracts?

I know some Presbys use the "Ultimate Questions" tract. I don't like it, because its too expensive for distribution (it has glossy photographs). It's also too long.

The 4Laws booklet are a happy medium. The fact that I can get them in bulk for free also factors into my choice ;-)

[RnMomof7]

The 4Laws booklet are a happy medium. The fact that I can get them in bulk for free also factors into my choice ;-)

I believe our church uses the 4 spiritual laws..

I will see if I can locate any other . But after all the method of salvation is the same no matter which doctrine you hold to

[connectthedots]

Which crybaby had the other thread pulled?

Jean, the above comment is not directed to you since I have no reaso to think it would have been you.

Jean, you did post a Q&A regarding God predestining all sins committed by all men. Quite franky, I think the verses cited are at best inconclusive as to that argument when read in context.

I did find the reference to Ephesians 1:11 interesting. It certainly does lead a reasonable person to conclude that Paul's conversion was predestined by God, but then I have been consistent in acknowledging that there have been specific instancs where it that has been the case.

I also noted that in Ephesians 1:13, Paul talks about Christians to whom the letter was addressed "having believed..." This seems to clearly indicate that their circumstances were far different than the circumstances of Paul's conversion. There is absolutely no indication that their faith in Christ was predestined at all. Paul certainly did not state that their salvation was predestined. If their faith was predestined, certainly Paul would have made mention of it. Based on the context, it is much more reasonable to conclude that those individuals made the decision to believe the Gospel message and accept Jesus as their Savior.

I have no problem in agreeing that some people were/are predestined to eternal life in order that God's power and sovereignity may be made known to the entire world. I also have no reason to think that it could evcen happen in these present days. On the other hand, I have every reason that apart from 'special circumstances' God has given every man grace sufficient to understand his need for a Savior and that men upon hearing the Gospel can either accept it or reject it. This is entirely Biblical, and is consistent with a loving and just God. That is not something one can say as it relates to Calvinist theology proclaimed by many Calvinists.

I'd be interested in hearing comments regarding Ephesians 1:11-14.

[lockeliberty]

BTW, do Calvinists even have tracts? If so do you have an example? I would love to see one.

Here you go:

How does one seek God?

1) They must first be awakened to their desperate condition. An awakened person is one who is basically persuaded of the truths of Christianity, but who is not converted; the first thing which usually happens to a person who is converted is that they are awakened to the imminent danger of their present condition: That if they died today, they would go straight to hell. What was in his head notionally is now felt in the depths of his being and he becomes alarmed and scared. He is made aware in his own experience of the horror of his peril and of the necessity of something happening quickly. He does not love God, but realizes that Christ is going to be his judge unless his present condition is changed. He is awakened. John Gerstner says in his tape on Reformed Evangelism & Seeking: "The first stage of evangelism, genuine evangelism, of spiritual corpses is to make them intellectually and emotionally aware that they are in great danger and have that built into their deepest conviction."9

2) Reform your life. This may sound a little strange. I thought so at first until I examined more closely why this is consistently the advice of both Edwards and the Puritans. A person who is seeking salvation must not continue on in a way of any external sins. To profess to be seeking the Lord and to continue lying, cheating, or committing adultery is a sham. Solomon Stoddard writes in his excellent work A Guide to Christ: "Men that are seeking salvation, must not allow themselves to go on in a way of damnation: that terror is not sufficient that will suffer men to live in an unreformed life: if men be thoroughly scared, they will dread doing what wounds their consciences: fear of hell will make men afraid to sin."10 p. 3. Jonathan Edwards wrote: "Persons who are under awakenings, and would seek a true hope of salvation, should in the first place see, that they thoroughly renounce every wicked practice. They should search their ways, and consider what is wrong in them; what duties they have omitted, which ought to have been done; and what practices they have allowed, which ought to be forsaken; and should immediately reform, retaining no one way of sin, denying all ungodliness, omitting nothing which is required; and should see that they persevere in it, that it be not merely a temporary, short-lived restraint, but an everlasting renunciation."11

What next?

3) Meditate on your sins. Meditation on the sins of the heart and life will aid in bringing conviction to the heart for sin. "Persons ought to endeavor to be convinced of sin" is the doctrine of an unpublished Jonathan Edwards' sermon on Jeremiah 2:23. In this sermon Edwards exhorts men to think much on sins, ranging back to childhood for material: men should "ransack the secret corners" of their memories as they attempt to recall and feel particular sins. One should also seek to grow in such convictions. Edwards mentions the importance of mediatation on sins in many sermons: "Earnestly to seek humiliation. To that end they should labour to be convinced of sin. They should be much engaged in searching their own hearts, and keeping a watchful eye upon them. They should not rest in their own efforts, but earnestly seek to God to give them a right sight of themselves, and a right conviction of sin, and show them that they have deserved God's everlasting wrath...Seek that you may be brought to lie at God's feet in a sense of your own exceeding sinfulness. Seek earnestly that you may have such a sight of yourself; what an exceedingly sinful creature you are, what a wicked heart you have, and how dreadfully you have provoked God to anger; that you may see that God would be most just if he should never have mercy upon you. Labour, that all quarreling about God's dispensations towards sinners may be wholly subdued; that your heart may be abased and brought down to the dust before God; that you may see yourself in the hands of God; and that you can challenge nothing of God, but that God and his throne are blameless in the eternal damnation of sinners, and would be in your damnation. Seek that you may be brought off from all high opinion of your own worth, all trust in your own righteousness, and to see that all you do in religion is so polluted and defiled, that it is utterly unworthy of God's acceptance; and that you commit sin enough in your best duties to condemn you for ever."12

4) Read and study the Scriptures. The Bible is God's word to man concerning all that pertains to life and godliness. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).
Read and meditate upon those verses which reveal sin to you and what you are like in your natural condition: Jeremiah 17:9; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10-18. They should read and study the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 and Jesus' exposition of the spiritual meaning of two of the commandments in Matthew 5:21-22 & 27-30. This may aid the sinner in seeing their guilt before God.
Read and study those verses which reveal Christ: Isaiah 53; Hebrews 9; and the gospels. We recommend that a person who is seeking read the gospel of Luke and carefully note what Christ says about following Him.
We have other specific suggestions about scriptures to read in our tract Guidance for the Seeker. Reading the Scriptures is an indespensible means of grace.

5) Pray fervently. I have given detailed instructions to the seeker for this in Guidance for the Seeker, but basically the seeker should pray that God would show him the rottenness of his heart, the wickedness of his sins, and the desperateness of his condition. He should ask the Lord to help him see sin the way God sees it and enable him to hate all sin. He should ask God to help him to see the blessedness of Christ, and to value Christ above all persons and things, and to love Christ with all his heart. He should beg God to change his heart and to enable him to repent and believe in Christ in truth. He should repeatedly beg God to have mercy on him.
All of the sinner's prayers arise out of self-love. It may be necessary to tell him of this so that the seeker does not think he is doing anything to merit his salvation and he does not grow proud of his seeking. Usually for one who is seeking in the right way, this is not a problem, but self-righteousness is a powerful force in the heart of the unconverted. Jonathan Edwards states that it is better for the sinner to "pray out of self-love than to neglect prayer out of self-love." A person's prayers may be good even though the person is evil. It is better to perform a spiritual duty from an evil motive (ie. self-love) than to not perform it from an evil motive.
The Pharisees prayed in self-righteousness and hypocritically and thought that God loved them for it. The awakened seeker knows that even his prayers are sin, and realizes that God may not listen to or answer his prayers and may damn him in the end. There is a vast difference between the two. (God hears King Ahab in I Kings 21 even though he is counted among the most wicked of men) God many times uses this means to show the sinner his depravity, heard-heartedness, and makes him more and more sensible of his lost condition.

6) Go to hear the Word of God preached. The seeker should go to the best church he can find. He should be present at morning and evening worship services. He should pray to God before he goes that God would use what is said to speak to his heart. He should ask the Lord to use the word preached to reveal his sins and the wickedness of his heart to him, to reprove and rebuke him, and to instruct him that the word might be profitable to his soul.

7) Striving has to do with the degree of fervency and diligence with which one pursues the kingdom of God. A person may seek God diligently or in a lazy and slothful manner. Christ said to "Strive to enter by the narrow door" and that "the violent take it (the kingdom of heaven) by force." Jonathan Edwards deals with this in his revival sermon Pressing into the Kingdom of God. Edwards uses the following terms to describe this violence: "This expression denotes strength of desire"; "firmness of resolution"; greatness of endeavor"; "Pressing into the kingdom of God denotes an engagedness and earnestness, that is directly about that business of getting into the kingdom of God."13 We highly recommend that seekers read

Help From Jonathan Edwards

The following things have been gleaned by studying the sermons of Jonathan Edwards and from reading and re-reading his Narrative of the Surprising Work of God.
1) The doctrine of hell is the best doctrine we can use to awaken sinners and to maintain their fears and convictions while they seek.
2) Man's sin and depravity and the law of God should be preached for conviction of sins. Joseph Alleine wrote in An Alarm to the Unconverted: "The heart is never soundly broken till thoroughly convinced of the heinousness of its original and deep-rooted depravity."15 The sinner needs to repeatedly hear that their heart is rotten and of the necessity of God changing their heart.
3) It is critical that they understand God's sovereignty in the bestowal of mercy and His just right to refuse the giving of mercy to anyone. "God has a liberty to bestow His grace upon whom He will. Mercy is God's own, and He will make choice who shall be the subjects of it. God is master of His own gifts, will bestow them on one, and deny them to others. It is just for God to deny sinners saving mercy, but if he pleases to have mercy upon some, none may prescribe who they shall be; but He may choose one, and refuse another." 16
4) God's absolute justice in the damnation of men and in their own damnation needs to be stressed. For this we have used Guidance for the Seeker and Edwards' sermon The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners.
5) They should be told that they are both unable and unwilling to believe rightly and this necessitates them seeking God for a changed heart and his saving mercy.
6) Seeking with diligence. This we have covered previously

[connectthedots]

That is one of the most disgusting examples of how to share the Gospel I have ever read.

As bad as it is, it seems pretty clear that man does have the ability to decide to accept or reject the Gospel message.

I wonder what Edwards' attitude is about the sexual relationship between a husband and wife. My guess is that he thought that song of Solomon was merely an allegory of Christ's relationship to the Church and that sex was for procreation only.

[lockeliberty]

I respond to you with great reluctance.

Ever heard of the "First Great Awakening"?

[RnMomof7]

Which crybaby had the other thread pulled?

Rest assured it was not a Calvinist

[RnMomof7]

That is one of the most disgusting examples of how to share the Gospel I have ever read.

Don't like the repentant part huh?

Men do indeed have the respond yes or no without Gods grace....but they always say no