Regeneration Before Faith Proof Texts (VI)

I Peter 1: 22-25 (Proof Text #9) 

"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you." (I Peter 1: 22-25)

"Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." (James 1: 18)

"For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." (I Cor. 4: 15)

These texts also show conclusively that it is by the word of God and its gospel message that sinners are born again or regenerated. 

Abraham Booth (1734-1806), a leading 18th and 19th century Particular Baptist leader, wrote: 

 

"But it is impossible for us to conceive of the mind being enlightened, of the conscience being relieved, of the will being regulated, and of the affections being purified by the word of truth, any further than it is believed. It may therefore be concluded, that regeneration is not, in order of time, prior to faith in Christ, and justification by him." 

If the gospel or word of God is the means or instrument of regeneration (rebirth), it can only be so for those who believe it. This is so self evident that the advocates of the regenerated before faith view end up denying that being born again is by the instrumentality of the word of God. But, the above texts are very clear that being born again is by the preaching of the gospel. Many other texts say the same, although they do not use the terms of birth or regeneration, but use other words such as "salvation," "sanctification," "calling," etc. We are saved by believing the gospel and we are sanctified by faith. It is a calling to faith.

The apostle Paul says "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10: 17) Since faith is required for salvation and for eternal life, and it is produced by the word of God, therefore men are born again by the word of God. 

Sinners are born again by faith in the word preached. That is what the above verses plainly affirm.