Follow Up On Discernment

Yesterday's writing had a concluding paragraph that read:

Discernment is possible only when you have truth as the backboard to bounce things up against. Not cultural truth, but biblical truth.

In finishing my reading of Acts today, I came across a study note that reinforces the thought mentioned above. For a bit of a background, let me say that I have been recently reading in a new Bible, it is The Reformation Bible with the English Standard Version. I like this Bible, not only because of the particular translation, which I find comparable to my NRSV, but also because of the study notes.  Since it is a "reformation" Bible, it keeps me on my toes when reading the notes, being sure they are not particularly bias. For the most part that is the case.

In the final chapters of Acts, Paul has several opportunities to defend his faith and share not only his testimony, but expose some of his theology. Having these opportunities before Jewish elite and Roman elite, I suspect he would be very careful about what he says to maximize each opportunity. After all, he has no idea if he will have a second chance.

Prior to being sent to Rome because of his appeal to Caesar, he has an opportunity to present his case before King Agrippa.  In this defense he makes this statement:

"...(I) declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance." (26:20)

This sounds similar to John the Baptist whose baptism was a Jewish baptism of repentance and his call for the Pharisees and Sadducees to first show fruits that they had repented before they were baptized. (Matthew 3:7ff)

The key to this is repentance. A turning from with a turning to something or someone. Now in my study Bible there is an extensive note regarding "repentance".  Here is a statement within that note.  It starts a paragraph, and as best as I understand it, what follows does not verify what this statement says or implies.

"Faith and repentance are themselves fruits of regeneration." (The Reformation Study Bible, pg 1603)

Now on the surface one might agree with that statement, especially if we were looking at John the Baptist's ministry. However, look at it closely. This is where discernment comes in and of course a descent understanding of scripture.

Faith and repentance are NOT fruits of regeneration, they are the first steps to regeneration. Continuing faith and yes, even an on-going repentance as sin is revealed in our lives are in some fashion "fruits" of our believing. However, initially we cannot have regeneration without first having faith and repenting of our sins.

Of course, there is a whole other background to all of this, that being Calvinism and reformation theology, compared to a non-Calvinist position. That is not the focus of my intent here. I am simply saying, statements like the one posited above, if we are not careful, can pass right by. Now you may say, "So what, let it pass." The so what is that it goes directly to our understanding of salvation. Here is how it was explained to me by a Presbyterian minister.

First our inner man, which is dead, is regenerated by the spirit of God so that we can then believe and repent.

I would propose that scripture teaches it is our step of faith and willingness to repent that results in salvation/regeneration. 

Oh my, the wheels on the bus go round and round and round! Depending on what camp you pitch your tent, either way, discernment is a handy tool.