Is regeneration dependent upon human will?

[Hammster]

Is regeneration dependent upon human will? Must man do something in order for God to regenerate him, or does God regenerate whom He pleases with no regard to what man has done?

 

[twin1954]

Is regeneration dependent upon human will? Must man do something in order for God to regenerate him, or does God regenerate whom He pleases with no regard to what man has done?

Can a dead man do anything? Can a blind man walking in darkness cause the light to shine? Can a crazy man cure himself? Can a leopard change his spots?

If the answer to any of those questions is yes then man, who is born dead and blind, crazy and drinks iniquity like water can do something to cause his regeneration.

 

[98cwitr]

One must have faith, a faith that produces fruit. Is faith self-manifested? Or from God?

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

 

[Skala]

Is regeneration dependent upon human will?

Naw.

 

[Bob Carabbio]

Is regeneration dependent upon human will?

Partially - Dod DRAWS, and PROVIDES THE MEANS, but Man must Surrender, and repent.

Must man do something in order for God to regenerate him, or does God regenerate whom He pleases with no regard to what man has done?

That's covered nicely in Rom 9:10-16.

 

[Hammster]

Partially - Dod DRAWS, and PROVIDES THE MEANS, but Man must Surrender, and repent.

So regeneration happens after repentance?

Okay. What does it do? What changes in a man after regeneration, if anything?

 

[terryjohn]

There may well be many reluctant witnesses for Christ. If it were my choice, I would be happy not to preach the gospel to an ever increasingly sinful world, and yet for the beauty of the truth in Christ, I find myself compelled to.

 

[DeaconDean]

As it is said in Psalms:

"Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power," -Psa. 110:3 (KJV)

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[The Lorax]

The new birth is as dependent upon human will physical birth.

 

[dysert]

So regeneration happens after repentance?

Okay. What does it do? What changes in a man after regeneration, if anything?

It changes you from the inside out over time. It changes how you think, what you do, how you talk, etc. What sinful things you used to find pleasure in you eventually come to dislike, and what holy things you used to avoid you eventually come to get involved with. In short, you become a new (and better) person.

 

[Hammster]

It changes you from the inside out over time. It changes how you think, what you do, how you talk, etc. What sinful things you used to find pleasure in you eventually come to dislike, and what holy things you used to avoid you eventually come to get involved with. In short, you become a new (and better) person.

So the old man doesn't want to do these things? Does the old man want these changes?

 

[dysert]

So the old man doesn't want to do these things? Does the old man want these changes?

Are you talking *after* regeneration? The old man unfortunately sticks around and still has a great influence on the new man. That's the problem Paul lamented in Rom. 7. The good news is that after regeneration, the Spirit gives us the power to resist, whereas before regeneration we were slaves to sin without the ability to resist. The Christian sins because s/he wants to, the non-Christian sins because s/he has to.

 

[Hammster]

Are you talking *after* regeneration? The old man unfortunately sticks around and still has a great influence on the new man. That's the problem Paul lamented in Rom. 7. The good news is that after regeneration, the Spirit gives us the power to resist, whereas before regeneration we were slaves to sin without the ability to resist. The Christian sins because s/he wants to, the non-Christian sins because s/he has to.

So the unregenerate man doesn't want to change? (Let's try it that way )

 

[dysert]

So the unregenerate man doesn't want to change? (Let's try it that way )

No. I don't think the unregenerate man wants to change.

(Why do I feel like I'm being set up for something? ;-)

 

[Hammster]

No. I don't think the unregenerate man wants to change.

(Why do I feel like I'm being set up for something? ;-)

I don't know if you're being set up.

Based on your replies so far, how would you answer the OP?

 

[dysert]

Is regeneration dependent upon human will? Must man do something in order for God to regenerate him, or does God regenerate whom He pleases with no regard to what man has done?

I don't think regeneration is dependent upon human will, though human will does play a part. I think it's all God. God issues the Call, and those who accept it are regenerated. Those who deny it are not. The thing is, even our ability to accept the call is given to us by God, so it's a fuzzy line.

 

[Hammster]

I don't think regeneration is dependent upon human will, though human will does play a part. I think it's all God. God issues the Call, and those who accept it are regenerated. Those who deny it are not. The thing is, even our ability to accept the call is given to us by God, so it's a fuzzy line.

How do you reconcile this with your previous statement?

"I don't think the unregenerate man wants to
change."

 

[dysert]

How do you reconcile this with your previous statement?

"I don't think the unregenerate man wants to
change."

I don't see an inconsistency. The unregenerate man does not want to change, but God gives him what is necessary to change (Eph. 2:8-9).

 

[Hammster]

I don't see an inconsistency. The unregenerate man does not want to change, but God gives him what is necessary to change (Eph. 2:8-9).

"I don't think the unregenerate man wants to
change."

Does he want to change before or after regeneration?

 

[dysert]

"I don't think the unregenerate man wants to
change."

Does he want to change before or after regeneration?

May I ask what your goal is Hammster? This back & forth stuff seems more like an interrogation than a conversation. What are you trying to get at? Maybe we can actually talk about it.