"Regeneration Before Faith"?

Sproul explains: "Reformed theology views regeneration as the immediate supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that effects the change of the soul's disposition.... Faith is the fruit of regeneration."

Let's examine this strange theory in more depth. This is a dogma not produced by Biblical exegesis but is necessitated by other points in TULIP. Nowhere does the Bible state that regeneration (i.e., new birth, being born again, given eternal life, salvation) precedes faith, but there are scores of scriptures that tell us that faith of necessity comes first:

• He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved.... (Mark 16.16)
• To them gave he the power to become [through new birth] the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. (John 1.12)
• He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6.47)
• He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live.... (John 11.25)
• ...that believing ye might have life through his name. (Acts 16.31)
• Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.... (Acts 16.31)
• And many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. (Acts 18.8)
• The gospel of Christ...is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. (Acts 18.8)
• That if though shalt...believe in thine heart...though shalt be saved. (Rom. 10.9)
• It pleased God...to save them that believe. (1 Cor. 1.21)
• ...them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Heb. 10.39)

Indisputably, the above scriptures, and many others, declare that only upon believing in Christ, and as a result of faith, is one "saved" (regenerated). But if faith only follows regeneration, one has become a "born-again" Christian before believing unto salvation--a concept directly contrary to Scripture. How could one become a Christian by "regeneration" without believing on Christ through the Gospel? Therefore, reasonably, we must conclude Calvinists are not born-again, because they did not believe on Christ through the Gospel, but merely just assumed they were regenerated without obtaining as a gift from God genuine faith.

Please read next very carefully what you are about to read, because it is stated with intricate precision. Whether you agree or not, at least try to understand clearly every word presented here as it is for your benefit to do so.

Robert Morey claims there may be one verse in the Bible that teaches regeneration before faith: "Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew [from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God'" (John 3.3). His reading of this verse is wishful thinking so he doesn't have to repent to the cross as a helpless sinner. Morey says, "Christ places regeneration by the Spirit as a requirement before one can 'see,' i.e., believe or have faith in the Kingdom of God..."

To "see" the kingdom means to "believe or have faith in the Kingdom..."? There is no such concept as "faith in the Kingdom" anywhere in Scripture: faith is in God and in Christ. And Christ explains "see" when He reiterates, "Except a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3.5). One must be in the kingdom of God to see it. Realizing that it is absurd to speak of "faith in the Kingdom," Morey rephrases it to "believe the good news of the Kingdom," which equally far away from what Christ says, since you can't be in it to truly see it unless you really in it.

Christ commanded us as His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person who we encounter and who will listen. The Apostle Paul had a passion to get he gospel to everyone he could reach. He spent his life persuading Jews and Gentiles to believe in Christ, disputing in the synagogues and public places. But if Calvinism is true, Paul wasted his time--and so would we. The elect need no persuasion, being sovereignly regenerated without believing on Christ. And the non-elect are totally depraved, even "dead," unable to believe unto salvation, no matter how persuasively we preach the gospel. Who can then say a Calvinist ever led anyone to Christ? Impossible.