The Rise And Progress Of Religion in the Soul For the 21st Century

CHAPTER 13 - SECTION  1  

  Temporary feelings should not be confused with the permanent change of heart caused by supernatural regeneration and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit 

Because most readers in the 21st century think someone is saved by repeating a salvation prayer, it’s important from the start that we debunk the heresy of decisional regeneration, which has been the premier salvation paradigm for the last 75 years. Saying a prayer never saved anyone. God turns sinners into saints with supernatural regeneration and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and they’re “born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13). Unless one is “born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). 

Any sinner can feel sorry for his sins and ask God to forgive him. This is NOT being born again. Altar calls are extremely confusing for at least 90% of seekers, because they interpret an emotional release of guilt as evidence God has changed them. Most think as long as they believe God has saved them, that’s the faith of salvation, and when they return to sin, they don’t see it as Biblical evidence they were never saved. 

This book presents the Biblical view that until God supernaturally changes a sinner’s heart, and fills him with the Holy Spirit, he remains a sinner. Without supernatural regeneration and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, there’s no salvation, and no empirical fruit of salvation. “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God” (1 John 3:10). “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25). 

By this time, some readers may have been quickened in their spirit, so I must caution them against thinking they’re saved simply because they’ve experienced warm feelings toward God. A mistake here could be infinitely fatal. False converts stop seeking God when they think they’re saved, and then have the confidence to disregard the warnings and curses of God's law. 

Christ warned two groups of people who looked like they were saved but were not. "The stony-ground hearers who received the word with joy," who looked like they would produce fruit, but "soon withered away" (Matthew 13:20), and the group among the thorns who heard “the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and they become unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). You may be in one of those groups. 

Let’s not waste what we’ve accomplished up to this point with a false security which will eventually plunge you deeper into misery and ruin. Let me help you compare your experience with what the Bible says about the changes brought about by supernatural regeneration and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, so you’ll be able to judge if you’re saved according to God’s Word.