Bob from England

Many thanks for your comments - with regards to Mr Roloff's teaching on repentance, I did some research and found him to be correct in his statement that repentance is a turning from sin. 
He correctly points out that repentance is not simply a change of mind but a change of mind that leads to a change of action viz. turning from sin.  The problem with "preachers" who teach that repentance is simply a change of mind and nothing more is that their "ministry" leads to people having a false sense of assurance, as true salvation is linked to a turning from sin.

Invicta. The Bible says that old Brother Simon "believed". Have you ever sinned or been "overtaken in a fault"? I have. He was rebuked, bro, and instead of rebelling, he repented in fear and asked for prayer. Sounds like a brother in Christ to me.

We are born of God when we trust Jesus. 
This idea, that some people have, that we are born again first, then trust in Jesus does not have Biblical warrant but I'm bemused by it. 
Where do they get it from?

We are born of God when we trust Jesus. 
This idea, that some people have, that we are born again first, then trust in Jesus does not have Biblical warrant but I'm bemused by it. 
Where do they get it from?

Calvinism promotes a line similar to that. That would be one possible source.........

Reply to Alan: Many thanks, dear brother, for your kind and encouraging comments, this is much appreciated

Reply to Alan: Many thanks, dear brother, for your kind and encouraging comments, this is much appreciated

You may be interested in an article I've written about Watchman Nee. 
One may not agree with all of his theology, but I learnt a valuable lesson when reading his biography
 
http://bobhutton1.blogspot.co.uk/
 
 

Further to the comments above I link to an article that looks at this in a fair, and balanced way, before coming to the conclusion that Simon was saved, but in need of repentance:  (I don't necessarily, endorse everything on the web site)
http://www.gracelife.org/resources/gracenotes/?id=70

Wouldn't it make much more NT sense to see that God in these last days has chosen all men, whether Jew or gentile to come to Him (way too many passages to list), just as He did with Abraham as an individual. It was still a choice God gave to Abraham and absolutely dependent on Abraham's acceptance and obedience.
Reformed theology relieves all people everywhere of their individual responsibility to believe the Gospel, it is contrary to every page of God's Word. What on earth would be the purpose of the Great White Throne if no one has a choice? What would be the purpose of Christ's life and ministry on earth in order to judge us all equally against His standard or if not, His Sacrifice on the Cross?  Reformed is a false religion and not of the Lord my friend. It ignores reason and accountability and is basically a spiritual welfare program. Oh sure, it breeds intellectualism but that is one of its biggest unScriptural problems making its followers lovers of intellectual men rather than lovers of God.  It is of the world and worships men and their studies more than Gods Word. Eph 1 is no battle cry for the reformed my friend, the reformed interpretation ignores the context and subject of the passage which is verses 4. 12-14. This passage has zero to do with any imaginary "hand picking" of saints.
 

You are absolutely right, dear brother.
There is no way to account for the existence, and survival of Israel outside of a working of God.  Humanly speaking, Israel should not have come into being in May, 1948 and having done so, should have been wiped out. 
However, as God has His hand upon that nation, and the Jewish people, all attempts to eradicate Israel are doomed to failure.
Thank you for reminding us of this, the Lord bless you.

Ah but Invicta,
Isn't it more accurate and thorough to look at Foreknowledge as "knowing beforehand" who will believe of their own free will because He can see when they do, not manipulating them to believe? The word references knowledge, not action. See the difference? Therefore the question of whether we can change it or not is irrelevant IMO.

Many thanks for your helpful reply.
When I first read this back in the 1970s I thought that he wasn't truly saved. 
However, as I've looked into my own heart and life, and seen how many times I've come short, I can see that, yes, he was truly saved but in need of repentance which he duly exhibited.

Many thanks for your helpful reply.
When I first read this back in the 1970s I thought that he wasn't truly saved. 
However, as I've looked into my own heart and life, and seen how many times I've come short, I can see that, yes, he was truly saved but in need of repentance which he duly exhibited.

You are absolutely right, dear brother.
There is no way to account for the existence, and survival of Israel outside of a working of God.  Humanly speaking, Israel should not have come into being in May, 1948 and having done so, should have been wiped out. 
However, as God has His hand upon that nation, and the Jewish people, all attempts to eradicate Israel are doomed to failure.
Thank you for reminding us of this, the Lord bless you.

This is a wonderful synopsis of Israel's place in history as well as where she stands today and in the future. Bro. Cloud's teaching on this is Scripturally and historically correct and a breath of fresh air amid all the replacement theology crowd.
It also puts Christians who love Israel in their proper place instead of being portrayed as some sort of radical extremists.
 Gen. 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 
 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 

Many thanks for your helpful reply.
When I first read this back in the 1970s I thought that he wasn't truly saved. 
However, as I've looked into my own heart and life, and seen how many times I've come short, I can see that, yes, he was truly saved but in need of repentance which he duly exhibited.

Many thanks for your helpful reply.
When I first read this back in the 1970s I thought that he wasn't truly saved. 
However, as I've looked into my own heart and life, and seen how many times I've come short, I can see that, yes, he was truly saved but in need of repentance which he duly exhibited.

Simon was saved.  How could it read any other way?
Verse 9 tells us that Simon's sorcery was past, he didn't do it anymore.
Verse 11 tells us that his actions are past tense, not doing it anymore.
Verses 12 and 13 show that people that held Simon in high regard believed on the Lord (Got Saved) and were Baptized and he did likewise.  It reads no other way.
Verses 18-24 show as Heartstrings pointed out, this man sinned and was rebuked and he made repentance and did not want to do wrong.  Admitting and not wanting to do wrong is a sign of being saved.  In Proverbs it says the wise in heart receive commandments.  Simon did because he was.

The Bible says that he "believed". All babies have to grow up.

The US is blessed by supporting Israel (Genesis 12 v 3) and I say that as a Brit.  I truly wish the UK would support Israel but there is a great deal of anti-Semitism in the UK.
When the shameful vote took place in the UN last December the US abstained (due to Obama stepping in and stopping the veto, wicked man) but Britain's action was even worse by voting against Israel.  This is due to people like Alan Duncan, a foreign office minister (and a sodomite) who has a strong anti-Israel bias.
 

It's my pleasure, Alan.  I believe that in these days of apostasy and declension, we need to encourage one another.
Regards
Bob

This is the most powerful, and encouraging, sermon I've ever heard about our Spiritual Warfare and I share it with you, dear brethren, for your spiritual blessing:
 
http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/love-worth-finding/christian-warfare-608139-full.html

This is the most powerful, and encouraging, sermon I've ever heard about our Spiritual Warfare and I share it with you, dear brethren, for your spiritual blessing:
 
http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/love-worth-finding/christian-warfare-608139-full.html

Ok, while this is an interesting discussion, it is not what the OP is about. Let's get back to discussion of Roloff (who, BTW, would come down squarely and correctly on the side of repentance is necessary for salvation and is most definitely NOT a work). 
I don't know where the icon for it went, but back to topic...
Anyway...
Roloff was well known in his heyday as a man who stood on biblical principle against unjust government intrusion. He was a no-holds-barred, no-apology Baptist preacher. He had a love for people that was pretty amazing. He reached a lot of young people through his ministries. But he had weird eating ideas. LOL (He was a health nut of sorts)