The following is taken from my posting in The Baptist Gadfly titled Grudem on Regeneration.
The view of Grudem and semi-Pelagianism is that "ability" is born of God in the sinner, not faith (1 John 5:4).
According to this theory, faith is therefore not the "gift" of God, but is a subsequent act by the "able" sinner who has already been "born again." For all practical purposes, the sinner is already saved and theoretically could do without believing. Faith in Christ adds nothing for his spiritual state, according to this theory.
Is faith or power to have faith the gift of God? What would our Hardshell brothers say? Do they not sometimes give a novel definition of "faith" that says it means "ability to have faith"? Elder Zach Guess said "Faith" is "the ability to believe." (see here) Did I not show how untenable is such a definition of "faith"?
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