The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 70-16, titled "Bible Questions and Answers."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  Copyright John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

Is there any difference between the Reformers and the Puritans views on Regeneration?

Answer

The Reformers, as we know, Martin Luther, Zwingli, Melanchthon, and others, basically articulated and crystallized the view of Regeneration that became the Puritan view.  The Puritans come at a later time--100 years later and more.  So the Puritans locked on to the reformed doctrine of salvation that came out of the Reformation, so there really wouldn't be a great distinction.  The Puritans took that basic view and elucidated it, and extrapolated on it, and developed it, and enriched it by their voluminous writings--I mean they were unbelievable--talk about verbose, they had no terminal facilities, they didn't know how to stop--they just kept going deeper, and wider, and richer, and of course we are all immensely indebted to that because we live in a world of short answers and quick everythings.  That's why I think there is such an appeal to the Puritan literature to people today, because to go back and plunge that deep is so refreshing in the superficiality of our current time.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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