Justification and Regeneration by Charles Leiter
In that a book well worth reading is now available to listen to on youtube (in various “bite sized” sections), how about we go through it together, one video at a time?
I think its a good idea.
Why?
Because it is an excellent book and very much worthy of our time.
Here’s the introduction, foreword (written by Paul Washer) and preface, narrated by Mike Lykins:
Come back on Monday for the next section in the series.
Gordon H. Clark, “God’s Hammer: The Bible and its Critics” pg.20-23:
When Adam fell, the human race became, not stupid so that the truth was hard to understand, but inimical, to the acceptance of the truth. Men did not like to retain God in their knowledge and changed the truth of God into a lie, for the carnal mind is enmity against God. Hence the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, for the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned. In order to accept the Gospel, therefore, it is necessary to be born again. The abnormal, depraved intellect must be remade by the Holy Spirit; the enemy must be made a friend. This is the work of regeneration, and the heart of stone can be taken away and a heart of flesh can be given only by God himself. Resurrecting the man who is dead in sin and giving him a new life, far from being a human achievement, requires nothing less then almighty power.
It is therefore impossible by argument or preaching alone to cause anyone to believe the Bible. Only God can cause such belief. At the same time, this does not mean that argument is useless. Peter tells us, “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.” This was the constant practice of the apostles. Stephen disputed with the Libertines; the Jerusalem council disputed; in Ephesus Paul disputed three months in the synagogue and then continued disputing in the school of Tyrannus. (Acts 6:9; 15:7; 19:8,9: compare Acts 17:2; 18:4, 19; 24:25). Anyone who is unwilling to argue, dispute, and reason is disloyal to his Christian duty. Continue reading
your situation, your sex or your country?
No, you did not. Your parents (by their activity alone) made the choice to cause your birth.
Spiritual birth: What was it that triggered the new birth?
The Apostle John lists three things that were non factors:
John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
1. It was NOT because of blood (not because of human ancestry).
2. It was NOT because of the will of the flesh.
3. It was NOT because of human will.
Question: So what caused the new birth?
Answer: GOD!
God did it! The new birth is the work of God alone, all of grace.