By: T.C. Lo; May 10, 2022
This is the subject about salvation, not sanctification. Many Christians (including some evangelicals) think they must have faith first before they can be born again (or regenerated). This is wrong theology. The Bible teaches that “REGENERATION PRECEDES FAITH.” It means one must FIRST be born again by the Holy Spirit before one can even acquire the saving-faith. However, this FIRST is not a chronological- or temporal-FIRST, but a logical-FIRST. Chronologically (i.e. in real time), regeneration and faith occur simultaneously. To emphasize the correctness of the time-order, may I further say in another way, “faith cannot precede regeneration.” This assertion is based on the fact that faith is God’s gift given to the already-regenerated by which they can be justified. Hence, the phrase “justification by faith alone” is the shorthand statement for our redemption. I frankly can find no evidence in the Scripture anywhere which shows the contrary, that a person can believe the gospel apart from grace. Faith is never presented as product of our unregenerated human nature. In fact, this truth is self-evident, because almost every person who is to be baptized, testifies publicly by saying something like this: “Because of such and such event, I was moved by the Holy Spirit, and I decided to be baptized.” When one said, “I was moved by the Holy Spirit”, one has already admitted that salvation is initiated by God.
The Scriptural passages and verses that support this concept are listed (not exhaustively) below. Some of these scriptural quotations speak of the Holy Spirit’s direct, effective, and active regeneration of sinners. Some verses speak indirectly of man’s spiritual “inability” to respond to God, thereby pointing to the need for God to first intervene in our redemptive process. Yet, some verses are less obvious that they demand us to put them in the light of all other passages for deeper contemplation before we can begin to understand them.
Genesis 3:21 “God initiated to make garments of skin (blood sacrifice) for Adam and Eve.”
Psalm 14:2-3 “man has no merit worthy to be saved apart from God’s grace.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27 “new heart and new spirit are not earned but gifts of God.”
John 1:13; 3:3-8; 6:37, 44, 63, 65 “regeneration is from God and based on God’s wisdom of election.”
Acts 11:18; 16:14 “salvation is 100% God’s outworking, and 0% human involvement.”
Romans 6:6, 17, 20; 8:9-15 “we were slaves of sin, hence, we would not have the will and power to choose God unless we are first made alive (regenerated) by God.”
1 Corinthians 2:12, 14; 12:3 “the Spirit of God is the agent of regeneration.”
Ephesians 2:1-5, 8-9 “the very first step of salvation is that God makes us alive and then gives us faith as gift by which we are justified. God is the first cause for our redemption.”
Philippians 1:28-29 “Salvation is granted by God on behalf of Christ. No human effort is involved.”
1 Thessalonians 1:4, 5, 9 “chosen by God” is the key phrase.”
2 Timothy 2:25 “Repentant heart is given by God.”
Titus 3:5 “salvation is not based on our good work but God’s mercy through the Holy spirit.”
James 1:18 “We are regenerated according to God’s will through His Word.”
1 Peter 1:3, 23 “We are regenerated according to God’s mercy through God’s Word and Christ’s resurrected power.”
1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1 “born of God” is the key phrase.”
All these verses point to a very important statement: “Salvation is from God and God alone.“
