Thread: Does Regeneration Precede Faith?

http://victoriouswordchurch.blogspot...ede-faith.html

September 20

Does Regeneration Precede Faith?

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:15, 16)

A Calvinist doctrine that attempts to deny the freedom of man's will and teach that God preselects individuals for salvation apart from their accepting it is the false teaching that a person is regenerated by the Holy Spirit before they believe and receive salvation. This regeneration supposedly gives the sinner not only grace to be regenerated, but the faith to believe the Gospel.

A leading proponent of this doctrine, R. C. Sproul says, "We do not believe in order to be born again; we are born again in order that we may believe" (Chosen By God, p. 73). Sadly, these theologians do not realize how they denigrate God's character. Furthermore, this doctrine diametrically opposed to Scripture. Observe the following:

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16)

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31)

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be save, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)

In light of the Scriptures, regeneration, or the new birth, cannot precede faith. That would mean then that if a person is regenerated BEFORE they believe, then they have LIFE before they believe. Therefore we do not get eternal life, the new birth, apart from believing FIRST. Since so many passages teach that we are saved and receive new life AFTER we believe, then it stands to reason that regeneration does not happen until one believes God.

Let us share the gospel with all because Jesus died for all and God is willing to save all (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9).

No, it doesn't.

Originally Posted by CatchyUsername

No, it doesn't.

You just summed up my whole "unique" devotional in a nutshell

Originally Posted by victoryword

You just summed up my whole "unique" devotional in a nutshell

of course, because dead people are capable of making themselves alive.

(I won't intrude further.. my only comment.. sorry, i probably shouldn't have said anything, this is not *dealbreaker* stuff..)

Originally Posted by Femme*

of course, because dead people are capable of making themselves alive.

(I won't intrude further.. my only comment.. sorry, i probably shouldn't have said anything, this is not *dealbreaker* stuff..)

Yes you should have said something. What fun is there to post stuff if there is no one who disagrees?

However, yours is indeed the typical reformed response based on the "T" in TULIP. However, never could understand how anyone reading the Bible manage to come up with the teaching of "Total depravity." However, don't mind discussing it if you don't.

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

They can't make themselves alive but they get convicted by the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the savior and by that decision to accept him they get regenerated .
The work of the Holy Spirt is to make Jesus real to the sinner....the sinner then chooses to accept

John 12:36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light

Which confirms everything you said.

Exactly Colonel..revelation and regeneration are not the same thing...God, by Holy Spirit enlightens the dead for a moment convicting and offering salvation...if they in that moment of grace, temporal moment, say 'Yes' the Holy Spirit BIRTHS them into the Kingdom...

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

They can't make themselves alive but they get convicted by the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the savior and by that decision to accept him they get regenerated .
The work of the Holy Spirit is to make Jesus real to the sinner....the sinner then chooses to accept

!DINGDINGDING! !DINGDINGDING!