The final theological ramification of Total Depravity is the idea that regeneration precedes faith.
As stated in earlier posts, the idea that regeneration precedes faith is the necessary result of the logic of Total Depravity. If people are totally depraved, dead in sin, and have no free will to believe in Jesus for eternal life, then God must give them the faith so that they can believe.
But this gift of faith could not be received by someone unless they were first regenerated by God. So the Calvinist argues that regeneration precedes faith.
And while we cannot disagree that this is the logical result of consistent Calvinism, it is exactly this logical result which shows one and for all that Total Depravity is not taught in Scripture.
Total Depravity leads to the belief that people are regenerated by God before they believe in Jesus; but the Bible repeatedly says that faith results in regeneration (John 1:11-13; 20:31; Gal 3:26; 1 Pet 1:23-25).
When forced to choose between the logical result of a theological position or the clear teaching of Scripture, we must choose Scripture every time.
And of course, if faith precedes regeneration, as Scripture states, then this also calls into question the theological premises which led up to this idea, namely, that people are unable to believe and so God must give them the gift of faith.
The Bible teaches that people are able to believe. Faith therefore, is not a work, is not a gift, and results in regeneration, just as Scripture says.
One caveat, of course, is that although regeneration follows faith, faith is preceded by revelation.
Without revelation, there would be no faith. Faith is a response to the multi-faceted revelation of God.
While revelation precedes faith; regeneration follows.
This was discussed in numerous previous posts (see the link list below), and so nothing more needs to be said here.
Some point to Acts 16:14 as evidence that God regenerates people before they can believe. In this text, Paul and Silas met a woman named Lydia on the banks of a river outside of town, and as they explain the gospel message to her, the text says that “the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.”
We will talk about this text more in the future posts on Irresistible Grace, but for now, it is enough to note that the phrase “opened her heart” is an idiomatic way of saying “helped her understand.” Acts 16:14 is not talking about God regenerating an unbeliever so that she can believe, nor is there any mention anywhere about God giving her the gift of faith. Instead, Acts 16:14 is a verse which shows the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of other people.
John 3 is one of the many texts which clearly reveals that regeneration follows faith.
In speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus talks about being born again, and being born of water and spirit (John 3:3, 5). When Nicodemus asks how he can enter again into his mother’s womb to be born a second time (John 3:4, 9), Jesus states that anyone who believes in Him will have everlasting life (John 3:15-16).
According to Jesus, believing in Him has the result of receiving regeneration unto eternal life.
If you want to read more about Calvinism, check out other posts in this blog series: Words of Calvinism and the Word of God.
Perhaps regeneration and faith go hand in hand. Which is first? Maybe it’s a photo-finish.
Yes, the the question is never really about chronological sequence, but logical.
scripture clearly teaches that faith is preceeded by revelation from God to the unbeliever of his need for a savior, and that need being met in Jesus. In response to our belief in God’s word (Romans 10:17), His general revelation around us in creation, and through the work of Holy Spirit to convict/convince us, God regenerates us. We have eternal life because we trust in Jesus for it (john 6:47). is there a “time lag” between the faith and the regeneration? probablynot, but faith must precede regeneration. mankind is responsible to believe because he has the ability to do so.
Right. Order is: Revelation, Faith, Regeneration, though as you point out, there is no “time lag” between faith and regeneration.
Grace precedes it all:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
The origin of regeneration, mind renewal, transformation etc., is God. To claim or allude to self-resurrection seems foolish to me. We are raised from the dead. I don’t think it can be shown from scripture where we dig ourselves out.
Right. Grace precedes all. I have never thought otherwise. But there is a difference between grace and regeneration.
As the last commentator states: “The origin of regeneration, mind renewal, transformation etc., is God.” What precedes what is irrelevant in the sight of God, Who is not bound by time whatsoever. More than one scripture indicates that faith is a gift from God—yes, people are commanded and encouraged to believe, but the “natural man does not receive the things of God . . .”
A commentator far more lucid than I am put it this way: “Outside the door to heaven are the words: “Come all ye who are heavy laden,” once you pass through, on the inside of the door is written: “Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.”
We always want to put God in a box—our box. But God’s ways are not our ways—He is infinite, we are finite. The latter part of the Book of Job demonstrates God’s wisdom in dealing with the logic of Job and his “friends.”
As Nicodemus asked: “How can these things be?” He did not know—neither do we. All that we can know of God is what He has revealed to us. The Apostle John saw things that he could not describe in his revelation from God, and there is much even in the written revelation of God’s Word that may not fit with human logic—“Whosoever will, may come,” is the Gospel call, but equally true is that “All of the acts of God are known to Him before the foundation of the world.”
Brad,
What other texts say that faith is a gift from God? I would be curious to study them.