"Regeneration Precedes Faith", a Baptist Belief

~ fundyreformed

Some say “ignorance is bliss”, but in discussions of theology, this is definitely not the case. Especially in fundamentalist Baptist circles, to bring up the topic of Calvinism is always to start a fiery discussion. And one of the chief factors in making this topic so heated and controversial (you could call it emotional) is ignorance.

As a former non-Calvinistic (some would say Arminian) fundamental Baptist, at one time I was quite ignorant concerning Calvinism. And one of the points Calvinists believe which was most repugnant to me was their belief that regeneration precedes faith. Such a doctrine seemed to make faith not essential. It made the human response less important. As a fundamentalist, I prized the “sinner’s prayer” and “altar call” methodology, and everything about this strange teaching about regeneration seemed wrong.

If you had told me then, while I was a non-Calvinist, that Baptists historically have believed in this doctrine, if you had told me my Baptist forbears were almost all Calvinists, I would have been astounded. And I am sure many other fundamental Baptists still would share my amazement. I have even seen some people on one particular fundamentalist forum site claim that the belief that regeneration precedes faith is a 20th Century innovation of “neo-Calvinists” like Piper and Mohler. And surely there are many fundamentalists all too eager to believe that such is the case. (Case in point, the widespread fundamental belief that Charles Spurgeon wasn’t really a Calvinist, and that he didn’t really believe in all 5 points of Calvinism—even though he wrote a booklet defending all 5 points!)

With the above background, let me provide a quote from the 1833 New Hampshire Baptist Confession, one of the earliest Baptist Confessions of Faith in America. I recently stumbled upon this quote, and was delighted with what I found. In no uncertain terms, it declares that the Baptists who developed this Confession, believed that regeneration precedes faith. Let me quote from section 7, “Of Grace in Regeneration”.

We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again (Jn. 3:3, 6-7; 1 Cor. 1:14, Rev. 8:7-9; 21:27); that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind (2 Cor. 5:17; Ez. 36:26; Deut. 30:6; Rom. 2:28-29; 5:5; 1 Jn. 4:7); that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth (Jn. 3:8; 1:13; Jam. 1:16-18; 1 Cor. 1:30; Phil. 2:13), so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel (1 Pet. 1:22-25; 1 Jn. 5:1; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:9-11); and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life (Eph. 5:9; Rom. 8:9; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 3:8-10; 7:20; 1 Jn. 5:4, 18).

If you are wondering what I am seeing here, let me make it simple. The above says that the “fruits” of regeneration are “repentance, and faith, and newness of life”. In other words, regeneration comes first and the result is repentance, faith, and newness of life. Regeneration precedes faith.

Just to prove that this doctrine was historically held by most Baptists does very little in proving that it is a correct and Biblical doctrine, I know. If you would like an explanation and defense of this doctrine, see my attempt in this post.

25 thoughts on “"Regeneration Precedes Faith", a Baptist Belief”

  1. I’m sorry, I don’t get it. How is it that the idea that regeneration precedes faith was tantamount to salvation by works in your then-non-Calvinist mind?

    For me, the idea that regeneration precedes faith was one of the last hills I refused to give up on the grounds of the KJV wording of Ephesians 1:13 “in whom also AFTER that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
    Then after that stronghold fell, I ran and hid from the doctrine of Limited Atonement until I was led to apply the “does all always mean all?” logic to 2 Corinthians 5:15. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back!

  2. I don’t feel it necessary to lay down a time line. I would say that it all happens in an instant. It is not as if one is regenerated then months later shows faith. There is not even one second of difference between the two actions. It is impossible to be regenerated and not have faith. They’re the same thing.

  4. Good work, Bob.

    Many (most) of my IFB friends still rabidly declare that Baptists have not historically been Calvinists.

    When I “accidentally” discovered the truth, it was a jaw-dropping experience to say the least.

  5. Ryan,

    I agree it is not so much chronological as it is causal. I do think the ordo salutis is important, but not necessarily something we need to teach the lost before they are called to come and believe in Christ.

    Blessings in Christ,

    Bob

  9. This is really good history, and something to consider in the ‘ordo salutis’ (order of salvation). In order for a sinner to come to God by faith, he/she *must* be regenerated first! Thus, regeneration precedes faith, repentance, sanctification, etc… Thanks for the post on this, although it is brief!

  12. The most wonderful part is….understanding does not cause the action, or hinder the action…a universal law always works whether we “get it” or not…I was way into my walk with Jesus before I got it…*: )

  14. Pingback: My Explanation of “The Five Points of Calvinism” « Fundamentally Reformed

  15. If one accepts the Re-formed re-definiton of regeneration, erroneous Re-formed interpretations of the Scriptures, and unbiblical Re-formed presuppositions, then you will come to believe Re-formed Doctrine.

    Biblically however, regeneration occurs when Jesus Christ comes to dwell in our hearts through faith (Eph. 3:17), to give us His life (col. 3:4), our gift of eternal life (1John 5:11, 12). Those who have the Son living in them have eternal life, those who do not have the Son of God living in them do not have the life. Biblically, faith precedes the gift of eternal life. Biblically regeneration is the specific work of God which saves us. The Apostle Paul tells us “We shall be saved by His life” (Rom. 5:10), “We are saved by regeneration” (Titus 3:5), and when we are “made alive with Jesus Christ, by grace we have been saved” (Eph. 2:5). Faith also precedes salvation. Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31) will be saved by regeneration when Jesus comes to dwell in their hearts, giving them God’s gift of eternal life, God’s gift of salvation.

    Folks, there was no regeneration, no indwelling of any man by the Lord Jesus Christ before the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Even Peter specifically states, we are born again THROUGH the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1Peter 1:3). NO man was born again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead before He rose from the dead. That one fact proves that many Reformed interpretations are unbiblical, because many Re-formed interpretations require regeneration before the resurrection. Many essential Re-formed proof texts require regeneration to be occuring throughout the book of John. Jesus was not indwelling men in the book of John. These interpretations are erroneus. These erroneous interpretations are used to proof text presuppositions such as the Re-formed teaching of the “Bondage of the Will”. “Bondage of the Will” is not a Biblical concept. Men did not have bound wills prior to the resurrection. They did have faith from Abel on through the end of the Old Testament, and through the book of John, but no man had yet been regenerated by the indwelling of Jesus Christ. The Re-formed description of the unregenerate is not Biblical. Many ungodly, faithful believing men were unregenerate. All of the names listed in Hebrews 11 were not regenerated. They were not saved in their lifetimes, they died awaiting the salvation (regeneration) that God would provide through His Son.

    It is amazing to me that the most wonderful teaching of the whole Bible is obscured by this terrible Doctrine. “Christ in you, your hope for glory” (Col. 1:27)…”Christ coming to dwell in our hearts by faith” (Eph. 3:17)…”Christ is our life” (Col. 3:4)…”Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20)…”Christ in me” (Rom. 8:10). Don’t miss it folks. When Paul admonishes to examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith” there is a context that goes with the verse. He goes on to state, “Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, THAT CHRIST IS IN YOU — unless you fail the test.” (2Cor. 13:5)

    Reformed Doctrine is unbiblical. It is based upon re-defined Biblical words, unbiblical assumptions, and erroneous interpretations of the Bible. It causes confusion and much discention in the Body of Christ. In Doctrine definitions must be Biblical, they must be tested. Every assumption must be tested, and every interpretation must be true to its context.

    Sola Scriptura,
    Melani Boek

    1. That’s are a rather interesting perspective Melani,

      I’m wondering if you have considered the text in Romans 3:25-26 that specifically deals with the question of the OT saints benefiting from the sacrifice of Christ, are you really suggesting that the Abraham a friend of God and David a man after God’s own heart produced works pleasing to God (Romans 8:8) outside of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.

      I guess then that according to your perspective that OT writers were unregenerate or that the prophets were also void of any spiritual life, clearly Melani you have not fully considered the implications of your position,

      I think the scripture below refutes your position unless of course you would hold that someone can have the Spirit of Christ and still be unregenerate.

      1 Peter 1:11-12 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
      Inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

      Can I suggest reading the great work by John Owen titled “The death of death in the death of Christ”

      May God bless you brother

      Soli Deo Gloria
      1 Corinthians 1:28-30

  16. Melani,

    Well said. I can tell you though that Bro. Bob will absolutely argue every point, he’s alittle busy right now. Your first paragraph sums up our problem nicely, its all about the definition of words, and this is where my main argument with these good reformed folks come in. There is no way you can sit down, study the precious Word of the Lord and come up with reformed beliefs, it has to be taught by a man. And let me add how I am also disturbed that that the main teaching in the whole new testament is obscured by this teaching and that is exactly as you said “Christ in you, your hope for glory” You see if I disagree with someone about the gifts of the Spirit or the millenial(?) reign of Christ or 1,000 other things, none of those things affect your salvation, but if reformed folks keep teaching their doctrine of salvation (just hoping they’re one of the elect” people will go to hell, because of it.

    For the last several weeks I have been studying in the book of Hebrews, namely chapters 3 and 4, learning about the Sabbath-rest for the people of God. I’m not going to go into that here mainly because, and I’m not trying to be cocky, but the folks here are in desperate need of milk and aren’t ready for that meat! But as I’m studying, it is so apparent, just as it is in the entire new testament that we hear the gospel message and we respond to it, there is no Holy Spririt twisting our arm to accept the gospel message. Heb 3:7 “today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” v-12 “see to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” He reminds us again v-15 “Today if you hear His voice , do not harden your hearts” I’ve got to preach hear alittle. Reformed folks do you hear His voice today? Don’t harden your hearts. This is what the precious Word of the Lord says, I’m not asking you to study Calvin, I’m not asking you to look at a video of Piper. I’m asking you, if you are hearing His voice, please do not harden your hearts, if you have been brought up calvinist or you are new to that belief system, you can respond to the message of the gospel, don’t harden your heart, God’s word says that you can, and on that authority I stand and proclaim that if you continue to harden your hearts as they did in the rebellion you will not enter God’s rest. One last point here v-19 “so we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” Please note not a word here about election, predestination or standing on your head (sarcasm) they did not enter because of “THEIR” unbelief. That is exactly why they did not enter. It occurs to me here that “Bob’s” response will be yes the spirit drew them (which He does, btw) however He doesn’t make them come, they can resist, this is the whole crux of this chapter, not to harden your heart, that is something that we “do” harden or not harden, and to get anything else from these verses we must go to White, Macarthur, Calvin, etc. The Word of God does not teach these “other” things.

    Hebrews chapter 4 will tell us alot more of how these things go together. v-1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.(these are things the Holy Spirit is asking “us” to do) Now watch this. v-2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now please don’t let Piper whisper anything in your ear, listen to what the Word says. This is the way it works folks, hear the Word combine with faith = Salvation. What a fantastic recipe! Where does faith come from, glad you asked. Romans 10:16 Isaiah asks the Lord “Lord, who has believed our message? v-17 please listen “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ” this is so simple please don’t try and confuse it, it is extremely profound and yet simple.

    I could go on for days, friends this is what the new testament is all about, every page challenging us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He that has the Son has life, he that has not the Son has not life. That’s why he came to this planet, to seek and to save that which was lost.

    Today good reformed folks, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.

    In Christ
    Greg

  17. Melani,

    Great post. You’re correct in your statement that no one was regenerated until after the resurrection.

    We’ve been debating the order of faith and regeneration on Bob’s other thread “Debating Calvinism”. You might want to join in. Although the Calvinists have become quiet of late. I understand Bob rightfully has other concerns at present.

  18. Melani,

    I’ve been offline mostly as we just had another baby girl and have had family visiting with us too. So I’m just now reading and responding to your post. Thanks for jumping in. I wish you would have responded to the fact that Baptists have believed this idea, that regeneration precedes faith, since 1833 at least. That is the main point of this post.

    You have said a lot, and I fear you are totally misunderstanding me and Reformed doctrine. By the way using the term “Re-formed” is not charitable or kind. It will not win you hearers to listen to your message. You don’t think medieval Catholic doctrine and practice didn’t need “re-formation”? That’s where the “Reformed” title comes from. You should be thankful for the influence of the reformers who brought the church back to sound doctrine and recovered the priority of Scripture, and the place of justification by grace aone through faith alone.

    You said “regeneration occurs when Jesus Christ comes to dwell in our hearts through faith (Eph. 3:17)…”. I find it interesting that you only quote from a portion of that one verse instead of the entire passage. Eph. 3:14-21 was actually quoted by the New Hampshire Baptists in their 1833 Confession. Look at the verse in context.

    For this reason I bow my knees before the Father… that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith

    Christ doesn’t dwell in our hearts through faith irrespective of the Father’s granting us strength through the Holy Spirit inside of us. Now some would stop and say well both Melani and Bob are wrong in using this verse because it applies to believers as it is written to the church in Ephesus. To that, I would respond that if Christians need to have God’s work in their inner being by the Holy Spirit in order to experience Christ dwelling in their hearts by faith, how much more so do unbelievers need the pre-work of the Spirit in order to come to faith in the first place.

    The very same points which are made against the idea of regeneration preceeding faith could be levelled against the idea that God works in believers to produce good works. Doesn’t the Word command us to obey, and offer rewards and blessing in response to our obedience? Then how can it really be God who works in us “both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13)? If it is us who are to believe, why is it that Paul thanks God for the growth of believer’s faith (2 Thess. 1:3), and gives to each a measure of faith (Rom. 12:3)? If it is for us to love one another in obedience to Christ, why does Paul say, “…may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another…”. How can God “make” us do something, and at the same time judge us for not doing that something? Moving back to unbelievers, Paul plants, Apollos waters, but “God gives the increase” (1 Cor. 3:5-6). How can God give anything if He doesn’t have something to do with inclining hearts to believe?

    Much of what you say, Melani, I have no qualms with. I believe eternal life is given only to those who believe, etc. I just believe that God has to work to give us a new heart in order for us to believe. We are responsible to believe, and the Reformed message is for all to believe. But the ones who do believe, we can describe them as those who have been (previously in the past) “appointed to eternal life” (Acts 13:48), or “elect”.

    Now to address Greg’s point a little, it is true that unbelievers harden their hearts and resist God. And they are responsible to believe and not harden their hearts. But ultimately this ability hinges on God’s work in their hearts as Moses himself declared. He said the problem the people had was they needed to be circumcised in their hearts. Ultimately it would be God who would do that. See Deut. 10:16, 30:6.

    Finally, the doctrine of salvation that Reformed theology teaches is not damning as you and Greg imply. It teaches the necessity of faith and repentance. Many reformed churches thrive and see souls converted on a regular basis. Others don’t, but the same can be said of other non-reformed churches. I don’t make statements about you non-Calvinists like Greg has been making of us. I’m not concerned for your salvation and questioning the soundness of your faith. I guess I do believe an unhealthy stress on human works in salvation can lead to some confusion around the role of a sinner’s prayer or altar call in salvation, but I don’t extrapolate from that that non-Calvinists who employ such methods are unsaved or in need of serious reformation.

    Finally, how does the following verse fit in your concept of salvation? 1 Cor. 1:18 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Cor. 15:1-2 “Now I would remind you, brothers,1 of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” I believe Scripture often uses a future idea of salvation (glorification), and a present-tense idea (being saved, sanctification process) as much as it uses a past-tense, once-for-all idea (justification). In my experience, many non-Calvinists don’t distinguish this properly and miss out on some of the teaching of God’s word in relation to this.

    Thanks for dropping by.

    In Christ,

    Bob Hayton

    1. Bob,

      I hope all is well with Mom and Bethany. I know its a busy time but a blessed time, as I look back on my life the birth of my children were some of my most cherished times.

      Now as to whether or not the teaching of Calvinism is damning. As I have come to understand the way you present the “gospel” I would say that folks could come to an understanding of the gospel and call upon the Lord for salvation, and be just as saved as I am. Some of my baptist friends would disagree with me. I have a neighbor lady who is in her 80’s and she is a 7th Day Adventist (I consider them a cult) but she will tell you that she has called upon the Lord Jesus and asked Him to forgive her of her sins and to save her, based on her profession of faith, I must believe that she is saved. My pentecostal friends are similar in that though they believe they need to call upon the Lord for salvation, they then believe that they can “lose” their salvation, if they can “lose” it then they must believe that they are “doing” something to keep it or worse they never had it to start with. I asked several weeks ago if you had called upon the Lord for salvation and you gave me your personal testimony of having done just that so I believe that we are now brothers in Christ. I can tell you though that many calvinists I have spoken with don’t believe as you do.

      Now onto 1 Cor 1:18, of course you know that the kjv states “but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” I really have no problem with the newer versions rendering “being saved” I looked at this closely some time ago and feel it doesn’t change anything in my view of salvation. I know that I’m saved. I’m hidden with Christ in God. Paul said “these things I write unto that you may (know) that you have eternal life” the fact that this passage alludes to a process doesn’t bother me at all.

      In Christ
      Greg

  19. Bob –

    It is interesting to note that the 1833 confession is not considered to be Calvinistic. That Baptist have historically had a Calvinistic view of Faith is evident from the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689, chapter 10, and in the First London Baptist Confession of 1646, Article 22.

    As to whether you were once an Arminian or not, I must strongly question that. Even Arminius believed very strongly in the Bible’s teaching regarding the doctrine of Election and Predestination. You were most likely either Pelagian or Weslyan.

    Here’s a quote from Arminius in his Articles to be Diligently Examined and Weighed (please forgive the cut/paste and delete if inappropriate) –

    ‘God resolves to administer such means for repentance and faith as are necessary, sufficient, and efficacious. …all men have, by their own fault, lost the capability of believing which they received in Adam. …No man believes in Christ except he has been previously disposed and prepared, by preventing or preceding grace, to receive life eternal on that condition on which God wills to bestow it…’

  20. Melani –

    A few comments if you don’t mind –

    ‘Christ comes to dwell in our hearts through faith’

    If you mean the Roman Catholic notion that Christ bodily dwells in the believer by his nature being infused into them, I disagree. If you understand that Christ is seated at the right hand of the father and he dwells in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, I agree.

    2) Biblically regeneration is the specific work of God which saves us.

    Yep, that is what Bob has stated.

    3) Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31) will be saved…

    Yep. That’s the gospel. We all believe that. How is it that one man has faith and another does not – what makes them differ.

    4) Even Peter specifically states, we are born again THROUGH the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1Peter 1:3).

    The Lord has given us a new birth to a living hope by the resurrection. When we believe in the resurrection it creates a living hope in us! I’m not sure what you are trying to prove here.

    According to Ephesians 2:8, we are saved BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH. The reason we are saved is God’s grace. The instrument through which we receive salvation is faith.

    5) Please note not a word here about election, predestination or standing on your head (sarcasm) they did not enter because of “THEIR” unbelief.

    Are you saying words like election and predestination or chosen or calling or born again do not appear in the Bible? If you find a verse where they don’t appear, then you can safely assume what the Bible says about them?

    All Calvinists believe that men suffer the wrath of God because they reject Christ. What else would a sinful man do but reject Christ?

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  22. “”Regeneration Precedes Faith”, a Baptist Belief”

    What a LIE.

    Pseudo-Baptist, but not true Baptist. Just like “Arminian” Baptists are pseudo-Baptist and not true Baptist.

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