What this means is that we are not regenerated by a decision that is made by the old man.
Not true. If an *unbeliever* wishes to get saved, he must *choose* to get saved while still an unbeliever, or while still unregenerated. He in the process of *becoming* a believer, but is not yet a full-fledged believer until he actually chooses to receive the new nature made available by Christ.
To be fair, these terms can be confusing. A "believer" can be either a "nominal believer" or a "genuine believer." Only a regenerated believer is a "genuine believer." What I'm talking about is a not yet "genuine believer" can indeed make a choice to become a "genuine believer."
However, receiving Christ means obtaining the love of the Lord (Romans 5:5); and it is by this love that we begin to do the works of Christ.
You see, this is where you're wrong. We can do the works that Christ might require of all men, including the need to act according to God's image. This doesn't save, and this doesn't deliver us from the "body of death," or the "carnal life."
But if you're saying that only by the new nature of Christ can we produce evidence of that new nature, you would be correct. There are some things unbelievers can do out of obedience to Christ, and some things they cannot do out of obedience to Christ. Nominal believers cannnot do good works and present the new nature until they actually have that new nature.
For example, an unbeliever cannot display the new nature of Christ without first receiving it. And to receive it one may not just do good works, but must actually ask for the new nature before demonstrating the fruit of that nature.
A person may indeed show the love of Christ out of temporary adherence to the command of Christ to "love." But a new nature is not really demonstrated if a person does not *live* in that love!
It is not that we are saved by the good works that we will be doing or even saved by the decision to begin walking in them. We are forgiven through faith in the blood of Jesus and by that alone.
You're not representing my position properly. I said you must want both the good works of the new nature plus the new nature in order to be saved, or to receive that salvation. I did not say you just want good works to be saved. You must also want the new nature that produces those good works.
We begin to do works of righteousness out of thankfulness for the salvation that He has given us; but we don't receive that salvation by doing those works of righteousness; neither by making a commitment to do them. It is by faith in Christ and His Cross alone that we are saved.
We do make a commitment to turning our life over not just to doing good works, but more, to doing good works all the time by receiving an entirely new spiritual nature. This nature is not just good works concocted by sinful men, who refused to repent of their sins. More, it is a choice for Christ's new spiritual nature that he has designed for those who want to be saved.
The heavenly Father draws them, giving them a measure of faith that they can lay hold of (see Romans 10:17) in order to make a decision for Christ; after which they will be given a full measure of faith that will save them.
Already answered that. All men may respond to God's word after God has first reached out to them. And God has reached out to all men first, so that they may obey His command to live in His image.
This does not mean that we are unable to call out for salvation as unbelievers. On the contrary, God's word has first reached out to all unbelievers in order to bring them to faith. All God requires is a positive response in faith--in faith in the word that first called out to them. This is a good response by an unbeliever, and it is, in fact, a good work resulting in salvation. It is just not a good work that provided for their salvation.
Salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Romans 4:5-6).
Words mean what they mean in context. In context, Paul is talking about not being able, under the Law, to pay the price for our redemption. The Levitical and Aaronic priests could not do this, since they themselves were spoiled by sin. The only priesthood not disqualified by sin was Christ's own priesthood, which successfully redeemed us from sin.
The priestly works of sinful men were allowed by God, through a dispensation of mercy. But it was not an eternal product, but only a temporary reprieve. Final redemption is exclusively by the works of Christ. The only work we do is choose to believe in it by embracing it, asking for, and receiving it.
This scripture is to say that, if you are going to insist that salvation is by works, the only "work" that will save you is simple faith in Jesus Christ. But that salvation is not of works is clear from such passages as Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-7, and Romans 4:1-8.
I also provided you 1 John 6.29. Jesus did require a "work," that we choose to believe in a new life through Christ. We opt for good works on a permanent basis, which is what a "new nature" entails.
That's nice that they became better people...however if they didn't actually get saved I would say that there is no eternal dividends...and no reward in heaven for you. Your witnessing, if all it did was make better people out of your converts, was nothing but wood, hay, and stubble.
I would say that if you deny men the ability to choose for salvation, and insist that they wait for God to "enable them first," then you are on a futile mission. Since God has *already enabled them* to respond to His word, His word has *already gone out* across the earth, simply for the purpose of enabling them to respond.
God calls us into the ministry to play a role in this universal expression of God's word by paying the price, as Jesus did, by living in this sin-sick world, identifying with it, so that it can be clearly and effectively communicated to them. We bring the message "home," so to speak, so that final judgment can take place on earth.
