REGENERATION PRECEDES FAITH
By Nick Bibile
Majority of the churches believe faith precedes regeneration. This is incorrect. The following study proves through Scripture that regeneration must come first.
The Word of God teaches that an unbeliever — one not yet born of God — cannot understand spiritual things:
“The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)
Paul does not merely say the natural man will not receive spiritual truth — he says he cannot. Therefore, something must first happen to the sinner before he can receive Christ in faith. The minds of unbelievers have been blinded by the god of this world:
“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Regeneration removes this spiritual blindness and gives spiritual understanding. Just as a blind man cannot see the sun until his eyes are opened, regeneration must open the eyes first.
“The mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:7–8)
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
If those who are in the flesh cannot please God, and faith is pleasing to God, then a person must first be delivered from the flesh’s dominion before he can exercise saving faith.
“The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” (Acts 16:14)
First the Lord opened her heart; then she paid attention, believed the gospel, and was baptized. God’s work upon the heart preceded her response of faith.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)
“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” (Philippians 1:29)
Belief is something granted by God, not something produced by the unbeliever.
“As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48)
They believed because they were appointed by God to eternal life — not the other way around. The order is clear:
God appoints to life.
The appointed believe.
“Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)
Jesus did not say “first believe, then you will be born again.” Spiritual birth comes first.
“You do not believe because you are not among my sheep.” (John 10:26)
Jesus did not say “you are not my sheep because you do not believe” — the causation runs in the opposite direction. Unbelief is the result of not being among His sheep, not the cause.
“I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” (Ezekiel 36:26) “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.” (Ezekiel 36:27)
God first gives the new heart; then the regenerate man responds in faith and obedience. God is the author of salvation — He causes, and the regenerate man responds.
“Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ.” (Ephesians 2:5)
A dead man cannot respond until life is given. Consider Lazarus:
“Lazarus, come out.” (John 11:43)
Dead men do not hear; God made the dead man hear. The effectual call came first, then Lazarus obeyed. He came out because Christ had given him life. Birth precedes breathing — it is the birth that causes breathing.
“…since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)
Peter exhorts believers to practice brotherly love since they have been born again. Regeneration comes first.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44)
Coming to Christ is an expression of faith. God’s drawing must precede a man’s coming to Christ. Regeneration opens the spiritual eyes; faith is the act of seeing Christ.
Faith does not cause regeneration — believing comes after regeneration. Dead men cannot walk; life must be given first. Regeneration gives spiritual life, enabling the believing sinner to exercise faith and repentance.
Faith is the first fruit and evidence of the new birth, while regeneration is the sovereign work of God that makes faith possible.
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