A "Hollow Log" Regeneration

"But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." (Acts 26:16-18 KJV)

Why was Paul sent as a preacher to the Gentiles? It was in order that these things might be experienced by them:

1. To open their eyes
2. To turn them from darkness to light
3. To turn them from the power of Satan unto God
4. To have them obtain forgiveness of sin
5. To have them obtain inheritance among those sanctified by faith

Because the Hardshells have denied that preachers are means in the regeneration and eternal salvation of the elect, and denied that conversion is essential to regeneration, they have therefore forced themselves into redefining the experience of regeneration or the new birth. Anything connected with conversion and with the means of gospel preaching must be excluded from the experience of regeneration; And, what is the consequence of that? Is it not a watered down, or "hollow log" regeneration? I have written on this before. For instance, see the posting "Is It Regeneration?".

What kind or regeneration is it that does not open a person's eyes? That does not make him see anything? What kind of rebirth is it that does not save a man from darkness, or does not turn him from the power of Satan to the power of God? What kind of regeneration or saving experience is it that does not impart forgiveness of sins? That does not give one title to God's inheritance?

Another Thought

Many Hardshells at the start of the 20th century were teaching that God's elect are regenerated by the personal preaching of Jesus to a sinner. I plan to write much upon this in the future, but let me say a few things now in this context.

If Jesus first appears to these Gentiles, before Paul preaches to them, then why did not the preaching of Jesus do the things enumerated above? Further, why even send Paul to preach to them if Jesus is doing the preaching himself?