Alexander Campbell on Ordo Salutis

Alexander Campbell, one of the leaders who started the "Restoration" movement in the early 19th century, which later spawned those sects who call themselves "Church of Christ," or "Christian Church," or "Disciples of Christ," etc., battled the Hyper Calvinism he saw in both Presbyterian and Baptist circles, and one of those elements of Hyperism is the idea that sinners are regenerated or born again before faith and repentance. Ironically, however, he agreed with many Hyper Calvinists in opposing many of the things those in the "anti mission movement" (which later spawned the Two Seed, Hardshell, sects) believed, such as opposition to mission societies and to theological education (although he later espoused seminary instruction). 

I agree with Campbell in opposing Hyper Calvinism and the view of some who say that a man must be regenerated or born again before he believes and repents. Here is what Campbell said about the controversy:

Alexander Campbell (12 September 1788 – 4 March 1866) wrote (as cited by me here; emphasis mine):

"The popular belief of a regeneration previous to faith, or a knowledge of the gospel, is replete with mischief. Similar to this is a notion that obtains among many of a "law work," or some terrible process of terror and despair through which a person must pass, as through the pious Bunyan's slough of Despond, before he can believe the gospel. It is all equivalent to this; that a man must become a desponding, trembling infidel, before he can become a believer. Now, the gospel makes no provision for despondency, inasmuch as it assures all who believe and obey it, upon the veracity of God, that they are forgiven and accepted in the Beloved.

A devout preacher told me, not long since, that he was regenerated about three years before he believed in Christ. He considered himself "as born again by a physical energy of the Holy Spirit, as a dead man would be raised to life by the mighty power of the Eternal Spirit." Upon his own hypothesis, (metaphysical, it is true,) he was three years a "godly unbeliever." He was pleasing and acceptable to God "without faith;" and if he had died during the three years, he would have been saved, though he believed not the gospel. Such is the effect of metaphysical theology." (MARCH 1, 1824 - "Address to the readers of the Christian Baptist")

Though I cannot agree to Campbell's views on several points in his soteriological system, yet I agree with him in denying that regeneration or the new birth precedes evangelical faith and repentance. See this posting where I cite extensively from Jeremiah Jeter who overthrew the mistakes of Campbell in his ordo salutis. (here)

In my posting titled "Why Alexander Campbell Left The Baptists?" (See here) Campbell writes to J.M. Peck, Baptist leader and missionary:

"You next enter upon the dogma that the Spirit, Without The Word, regenerates the soul of the sinner. My controversy with the Baptists began on this dogma. You admit it was the dogma of some of them; but you say they were of an antinomian cast: yet you only except Andrew Fuller. Well, if the old Baptists were all or chiefly antinomians—and especially all those with whom I was associated; and if the new Baptists since Fuller's time have discarded this antinomianism, is it not time that, at least on this point, there should be an end of the controversy between the good Fullerite Baptists and us?

In my long series on "Regeneration Before Faith Proof Texts" I showed how the bible shows rather clearly that sinners are born again, regenerated, converted, and renewed by faith, by a faith union with Christ. This was the view of the Protestant Reformers, men like John Calvin and Martin Luther.