Men with Chests

Romans 8:30 ( NKJV ) ³⁰Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

I have been enjoying a book on the life of John Calvin, edited by Burk Parsons, called “John Calvin, A Heart For Devotion Doctrine and Doxology.”  As I was reading I was impressed by the clarity of Keith A. Mathison in chapter 14, “Transforming Grace,”  and his clear and persuasive explanation of the reformer’s biblical view of the doctrine of regeneration.  This view has been lost to a great extent by those who claim to be “Protestant” and “Evangelical,” and as a result much of the church that claims to be “Bible believing” has moved to an evangelism that is semi-Palagian (seeker sensitive), not to mention Armenian. So, without further ado, here are two salient paragraphs:

“Regeneration is the act of the Holy Spirit by which he brings a man from the state of spiritual death to spiritual life.  It is in effect, spiritual “resurrection.”  In the act of regeneration, the Holy Spirit changes the disposition of the soul and renews the will.  The new life given in regeneration immediately manifests itself in faith, and repentance.  Regeneration is, therefore, not the result of faith, as Armenians and others assert.  Rather, faith is the result of regeneration.  The state of the sinner is analogous to the state o Lazarus in the tomb (John 11:1-44).  Like the unbeliever, Lazarus was dead, unable to do anything to change his condition,  Jesus commands this corpse to come out of the tomb (in one brief statement, He destroys the claim of those who say that if God commands something we must have the natural ability to do it).

The command Jesus gives to Lazarus is analogous to the external call made to all unbelievers.  Like Ezekiel preaching to the valley of dry bones (37:1-14), the external call is made to the spiritually dead.  Those who proclaim the gospel preach in a graveyard.  Lazarus cannot obey Christ’s command until he is given new life, and this is something only God can do.  When Lazarus is given new life, he immediately responds and exits the tomb.  In the same way, the spiritually dead sinner cannot respond to the gospel until he is given new life through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.  Once he is regenerated, however, he immediately responds placing his faith in Jesus.  He is the justified by God”  (Keith A. Mathison, “John Calvin, A Heart For Devotion Doctrine and Doxology”, pg.175, ed. Burk Parsons, Reformed Trust Publishers 2008)

Buy the book.  It will encourage your heart.

~Michael Holtzinger