Regeneration Before Faith Proof Texts (IX)

Gal. 3: 26 (Proof Text #12) 

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (nkjv)

Some translations give "children of God" rather than "sons of God." In my writings, particularly on  biblical "adoption" or "son placement," I have shown how the term "son" was used generally to denote not a birth son, but a birth son who has, through growth into adulthood, become "son" in the highest sense, being at that time more in the image and likeness of the father than when in childhood. So, if it is referring to becoming a full grown son, then it does not relate foremost to becoming a child or birth son. However, I do believe that both aspects of becoming sons are under consideration. So Ellicott says in his commentary:

"The translation “children” here is unfortunate, as the point to be brought out is that the Christian is no longer in the condition of “children,” but in that of grown-up “sons.” The pre-Messianic period bears to the Messianic period the same relation that a childhood or minority bears to full age. The Christian, as such, has the privileges of an adult son in his Father’s house. He is released from pupilage, and has received his freedom."

In my writings on this in my series on "adoption" (Greek 'huiothesia') I have discussed what Paul says in the Galatian epistle about how "adoption" or (son placement) takes place at the time of "the redemption of the body" (Rom. 8: 23) and is the time when the fully grown and perfected sons (and daughters) are placed into their allotted inheritances. Faith is necessary to become full grown sons, perfected, fully conformed to the image of Christ the Son. But, it is also necessary for being born a son or daughter. 

Commented Matthew Henry in his commentary:

"Having accepted Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and relying on him alone for justification and salvation, they become the sons of God."

Many who are KJV onlyists believe that the KJV translators were inspired in their translation. But, if that is so, then we should accept their translation of Galatians 3: 26 which has "children" instead of "sons." This translation is more detrimental however to the born again before faith view. To become children of God involves being "born of God" (or 'begotten'). At least with the use of "sons" the born again before faith view may argue that becoming sons by birth is without faith, but becoming full grown sons is by faith. I do not agree with this, believing rather that becoming "sons" includes both ideas.

Actually, it is easy to see how Galatians 3: 26 is stating much the same thing as John 1: 12-13, verses we have already noticed. 

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." 

Here "children" is used and is the proper translation (Greek being tekna rather than huio). The Greek word "teknon" (child) denotes one who is such by a birth and denotes a physical relation, or natural union, with the parents. 

Thus both the apostle John and the apostle Paul both affirm that it is "by faith" that we become the children or sons of God. This overthrows the born again before faith view.

Thus far I have presented twelve affirmative arguments for the view that faith precedes spiritual life. In the next postings in this series I will begin to look at those texts of scripture that are offered in support of the regenerated before faith view. 

I invite all who hold to the born again before faith view to come and take the negative in respects to the twelve affirmative arguments I have presented. I would invite James White, John Piper, John MacArthur, or any Hardshell, to come and disprove our proofs. 

Regeneration Before Faith Proof Texts (VIII)

Eph. 3: 6-7 (Proof Text #11) 

"...that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power." (Eph. 3: 6-7 nkjv)

In order to become a "fellow heir," and a member of the "body" of Christ, and a "partaker of his promise in Christ," one must come to hear and believe the gospel. In order that a sinner "should be" such, he must come in contact with the gospel message. But, if becoming a partaker of Christ and God's "promise in Christ" is through the gospel, then one must believe that gospel. No one is partaker of salvation who is an unbeliever. Further, this "promise" is the promise of salvation, which must include regeneration or rebirth.

"These words are best taken as qualifying all the three former terms. The joint-heirship, membership, and participation had their objective ground and reason in Christ Jesus, and were made the actual possession of these Gentiles by the medium or agency of the Gospel that was preached to them." (Expositor's Greek Testament) 

The gospel presents Christ and the plan of salvation. When sinners hear this message and believe it, they become heirs, members of the body of Christ (union with Christ), and partakers of the promise of salvation. Said another commentary:

"in Christ] Only in vital union with Christ was the promise to be inherited. It was inextricably involved in Him." (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) 

Yes, salvation results from vital union with Christ. The preaching of the gospel is the means of bringing about this union. This is because it is the medium for producing faith.

Now, let us notice some other passages that are similar to the above verses from Ephesians, particularly from the Galatian epistle.

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal. 3: 13-14)

The "promise of the Spirit" is the supreme "blessing." The Abrahamic promise certainly included the promise of life eternal. To receive the Spirit is to receive Christ and "the spirit of Christ." This is when and how union with Christ is effected. So Paul asked in verse one of this chapter:

"This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Gal. 3: 2)

In both these passages we see the word "receive." Believers "receive the promise of the Spirit" and "receive the Spirit." The word is in the active voice in the Greek. Also, there are added the words "through faith." The Spirit of God and spiritual life are "received through faith." The Spirit of God and/or the spirit of Christ is the "spirit of life." There is no spiritual life apart from receiving the Spirit of life. Said the prophet Job: "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life." (Job. 33: 4) The Lord Jesus also said:

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6: 63)

When one receives the Spirit and "the words" of Christ he is quickened. By receiving the words of Christ one receives life. There can be no life to a sinner who has not received the Holy Spirit, and "the Spirit of Christ," and "the words which are spirit and life."

The apostle Paul spoke of "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," saying that it is such Spirit that makes believing sinners "free from the law of sin and death." (Rom. 8: 2) Deliverance or redemption from spiritual death comes through receiving the Spirit and the words of Christ. Till the moment of faith a sinner is held as a prisoner to "sin and death." 

In this same chapter Paul also states the following:

"But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." (Galatians 3: 22)

Whatever "the promise" is in this verse (and in this chapter) it is "by faith" and only given to "those who believe." What will the regenerated before faith advocates do with such verses? If they hold on to their man made propositions, they will force themselves into affirming that "the promise" or "the promises," of this epistle, exclude quickening (regeneration or rebirth). They have to do this, not because it is contextually warranted, but because they must so interpret it in order to preserve their proposition. But, what they should rather do is to discard their proposition (that says life comes before faith) and accept the plain statements of scripture instead. 

Even in the above singular verse, we see how spiritual life, yea, eternal life, is not excluded from being included in the promise. Before receiving the promise by faith, as a believer, the sinner is "shut up under sin." That is in keeping with what we just observed from Romans 8: 2. Sinners, before they believe and receive are held in bondage to spiritual death, under the power of "sin and death." Notice also these words of the apostle relative to receiving the promise of salvation.

"And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:29) 

So, how does one become a possession of Christ? When does he possess us and own us for his own? Is it not when one possesses Christ and takes Christ as his own? As the believer takes possession of Christ, Christ in return takes possession of the believer. Belonging to Christ is a term that speaks of union with Christ. That Christ takes possession of the believer when the believer receives Christ, the Spirit, and the words of Christ, is the clear teaching of this chapter and epistle. One passage that entails the act of Christ in taking possession of the believer concerns being "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." Wrote Paul:

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." (Eph. 1: 13)

The Good News Translation captures the idea of "taking ownership" in "sealing," giving us this free translation:

"And you also became God's people when you heard the true message, the Good News that brought you salvation. You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised."

We "belong" to the Lord through being "sealed with the Spirit." It is when we believe that we are marked as the Lord's property. It is then that we belong to Christ. In some passages we find the words "they who are Christ's." (I Cor. 15: 23) When does Christ own us and make us his "peculiar people" (or "special possession" - I Peter 2: 9 & Titus 2: 14)? It is when we are "sealed" upon believing. In regeneration God takes ownership of us, or seals us. Therefore, as sealing follows believing, so too does regeneration or rebirth. While in unbelief and spiritual death we do not belong to Christ, but rather are "slaves" or the property of, sin and Satan. We might also say that death owns us. But, when we are saved by faith we become Christ's property, his blood bought or redeemed slaves.

Notice also from the text that the sealing of the Spirit is connected with obtaining "the promise." He is received as "the Holy Spirit of promise." The promise of spiritual and eternal life is included and cannot be excluded.

Membership in the Body of Christ

The phrase “the Body of Christ” is a common New Testament metaphor for the Church or for all who are truly saved. The Church is called “one body in Christ” in Romans 12: 5, “one body” in 1 Corinthians 10: 17, “the body of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 12: 27 and Ephesians 4: 12, and “the body” in Hebrews 13: 3. The Church is clearly equated with “the body” of Christ in Ephesians 5: 23 and Colossians 1: 24.

One must become a member of the body of Christ, or his church, to be saved or born again. Membership in the body of Christ denotes vital union with Christ, "the head of the body." There is no life outside of the body, outside of union with Christ. When one is united to Christ by faith he is then incorporated into the body of Christ. This body is not the local church, although it is presumed that members of the visible church or body of Christ are also truly joined to Christ. If they are not, then, though they be in the visible body, they are not really in the body. 

As we cannot know for sure who is truly a saved member of the visible body, for there are many pretenders, so we cannot fully see the true body of which the local church is a type. Thus, we refer to the "mystical body of Christ" or "the invisible body." The visible body is the group of all professed baptized believers. The invisible body is the group of all those truly joined to Christ in heart and spirit, or by faith union. 

The union of the believer with Christ is not only symbolized by the metaphor of a human body, but also by the marriage union. (Rom. 7: 4; I Cor. 6: 17) It is in the marriage union that both the husband and wife take possession of each other, when they own each other as it were. Marital life and communion follow marital union.

So, in conclusion, we see how the promise of new life in Christ is the result of faith.

Regeneration Before Faith Proof Texts (VII)

Rom. 1: 16 (Proof Text #10) 

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." (Rom. 1: 16) 

"And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16: 30-31)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2: 8-10)

We cannot exclude being quickened from the salvation promised to the believer. Those who exclude regeneration from the salvation that is by faith do so because they have a proposition which they take to the bible and make all texts to agree with it. That proposition says that the salvation that results from faith must necessarily exclude regeneration. Is this proposition positively stated in scripture or was it a logical deduction that is made based upon a faulty understanding of spiritual death and inability? 

The power to believe is not within the sinner who believes. If it was, then it would take no power outside of himself to believe. But, the regenerated before faith view affirms that power to believe is given to the sinner and present in him before he believes. This power to believe is given in being regenerated or made alive, it is affirmed. But, the bible and our old Baptist and Calvinistic forefathers taught that the sinner had no power in himself to believe prior to believing. They also taught that the power to believe came from outside of the sinner, from the power of the word and Spirit of God. (See Eph. 1:18-19; Rom. 1: 16)

They also taught that man had natural ability to believe but had no moral or spiritual ability. When God commands dead sinners to hear, believe, and to repent, they have a natural or physical ability to do so. They have no moral or spiritual ability, however. Their cannot is their will not. They cannot because they will not. The will must be changed to change the sinner. The sinner has no "will power." But, the power of God is that which overcomes the impotence of the depraved will. In regeneration and conversion the Lord conquers, or subdues, the will. 

The sinner's inability is not physical. I have heard Calvinists so teach, however. They will say that a man can no more believe, repent, obey, etc., than a fish can fly. Thus, they depict the inability as physical. But, God is not, in calling men to faith and repentance, calling them to do what they are physically unable to do. God forbid that we would believe such a thing. Commands the fish to fly and then kills the fish for not flying! No, man's inability is a moral or spiritual inability. It is not because he lacks a physical faculty, such as hearing, seeing, thinking, etc. He has ears, but he closes them. It is not correct to say that the sinner does not have ears. If that were true, then to command such to hear would be wrong. It would be further wrong to condemn such for not hearing. But, sinners do have ears but they have closed them. They have eyes, but they too they have closed. Thus, their inability is due to the enslavement of their wills and not from any lack of faculties.

So many texts in the bible, like the ones at the heading of this article, say that salvation comes by faith. Are we to say that all of these texts are talking about a salvation that excludes regeneration? Where did that proposition come from? Do the scriptures give us this proposition? A proposition that governs us in how we interpret the salvation that comes by faith? Is it not another false proposition that such Hyper Calvinists bring to the text and make the text to square with it? Surely it is.

The Hardshells and Hyper Calvinists, when they see the word save, saved, deliver, salvation, etc., in the scriptures, they have a man made proposition that guides them in how they interpret those texts. If faith, repentance, confession, obedience, etc., are stated as conditions, then it must be a salvation that follows regeneration. If however the texts mention no such conditions, but simply mention being saved by the blood of Christ, the Spirit of God, etc., then it will not exclude regeneration. 

If such a proposition be the thing that guides interpretation of salvation texts, then it ought to be stated in scripture. But the fact is that many texts, like those cited above, show that the proposition is false. Many of the texts that speak of salvation that results from faith and repentance cannot be made to exclude regeneration. It certainly cannot exclude regeneration when the spiritually dead sinner is admonished and exhorted to believe for salvation. Paul spoke of "them that perish" and says that they perish "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (II Thess. 2: 10) This salvation must include regeneration or being born again. How can you admonish the unregenerate to be saved with a salvation that does not include regeneration? 

What Bible Preachers Said To The Dead

Those Calvinists who carry the doctrine of "total depravity" to extremes, such as the Hardshells and Hyper Calvinists, and those who teach the regenerated before faith view, tell us that it is foolish to preach to spiritually dead sinners because they are dead like corpses and therefore have no ability to hear, see, think, or do. The gospel and word of God, therefore, is not to be addressed to such characters. In a posting titled "Elder Sonny Pyle's Heresy" (here) I cited these words of Pyles (from a sermon):

"It would be just as ridiculous to go down in Virginia or Kentucky and start yelling at the rock and the mountains as it would be for me to preach the gospel to an alien sinner never born again of the Spirit of God."

"It would be just as foolish to go over to the shopping center, walk up to a brick wall and start saying "by grace are ye saved through faith" - and people would think I was a moron."

Well, by this standard, as we will see, Pyles makes the preachers of the bible (prophets, apostles, etc.), yea, even that of Christ himself, to be "ridiculous," and themselves to be "morons." Did Jesus, the prophets and apostles, think like Pyles? Did they do what he said was ridiculous? Did they preach the gospel to the dead or not? 

In another posting titled "Hardshells Declare Non Fellowship Against Gospel Preaching" (here) I cited these words from "Cayce's Editorials" for 1905. 

"The Forked Deer Association met with the church at Flowers Chapel, near Rutherford, Gibson county, Tenn., on Friday before the second Sunday in September, 1905. Elder John Grist, of Friendship, Tenn., was moderator, and L. J. Law, Trenton, Tenn., was clerk. The following appears in their minutes as the third and fourth items of their business on Saturday:

By motion and second, agreed that we adopt as the sense of this association the action of five of our churches as expressed in their letters, that we declare non-fellowship for the idea of a federal form of government, that the commission was given to the church and not to the apostles or ministry, that it is the duty of the ministry to admonish the alien sinner to repent and believe the gospel, and against affiliation in and with secret institutions."

So, if we can show how Christ and the preachers of the bible did admonish alien sinners to repent and believe the gospel, then the Forked Deer Association (one I attended but is now gone out of existence), and the Hardshells in general, have declared non fellowship with Christ and the prophets and apostles!

Dr. John Piper said (See here - emphasis mine):

"There is such a thing as hyper-Calvinism, which is not historic Calvinism. Hyper-Calvinism has always been a tiny group who have twisted the Bible by their unbiblical logic to say that the only people you should invite to Christ are those who give evidence of being among God’s elect. So if you are a hyper-Calvinist, you don’t share the gospel indiscriminately — like I do — but you wait and look for signs among unbelievers that they might be elect.

That’s absolutely wrong. It is not what Romans 9 teaches or implies. It is not what any other text in the Bible teaches or implies. The lover of God’s sovereignty who is saturated with a big, biblical view of God’s power in saving sinners says to every human being, without exception, words like these: 

 

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? (Isaiah 55:1–2) 

 

In other words, we are pleading with them, “Come to the water of life. Drink freely, everyone! If you will receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God — crucified for sinners, risen from the dead — and put your trust in him as your only and precious Savior, you will receive with him everything that God has done through him. Everything that God is for you in him — you will have it all. Nothing good will be withheld from you. If you will have the Lord Jesus Christ, you have everything that he achieved, climaxing in everlasting joy in the presence of God.”

In John chapter five we have one example among many that show that Christ preached the gospel to the spiritually dead alien sinner. First let us notice the opening words of this sermon message of our Lord.

"And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." (John 5: 16-18)

This whole sermon is addressed to those who are lost, who are alien sinners, dead in trespasses and sins. This is clear from the opening words of the sermon and, as we will see, in the body of the message. Who are the "them"? It is those Jews who persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him. Are these people spiritually alive? Surely not. Next, we have these words:

"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you" (vs. 19).

Again, who are the "them" and the "you"? It is the same dead sinners. In the rest of the sermon, given below, notice 1) the pronouns highlighted, and 2) what he says to these dead sinners. I have also highlighted some of those things he said to them.

"The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel (you) not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search (you) the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?"

This wonderful sermon was preached to spiritually dead sinners! Look at what he said to them, my Hardshell brothers! By the standard of Pyles and the Hardshells Jesus was "ridiculous" for preaching such a wonderful and spiritual sermon to them! A "moron"! Not only this, but they would have declared non fellowship with him. God help them for this indictment of gospel preaching.

Here is what God says to lost sinners via his word:

"Look unto me and be saved all the ends of the earth" (Isa. 45: 22)

"And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." (John 5: 40)

"These things I say unto you that you might be saved" (John 5: 34)

"Except you repent you will likewise perish" (Luke 13: 3)

"Awake you who are asleep and arise from the dead and Christ will give you light" (Eph. 5: 14)

We could list hundreds of such verses and sermons! They all show how utterly false is the Hardshell and Hyper Calvinist idea that it is against scripture to preach to the spiritually dead and say the things to them that our Lord did!

More Good Powerful Preaching

I have referred to the preaching of Charles Lawson previously (See here). A couple other good sermons are "Fake Christians" (here) and "Hell Fire" (here).

I like pastor Lawson's preaching. He teaches with enthusiasm. He speaks with authority and power. I also love hearing the liveliness of his congregation as he preaches. You certainly will not go to sleep listening to his preaching. He is mostly extempore, preaching directly from his heart. Lawson is my kind of preacher. This is the kind of preaching that is needed by so many churches. It is the kind of preaching needed to bring about revival. Young preachers would do well to preach in the same manner as this man of God.

Yes, he preaches some things that I do not agree with. But, he preaches so much that is right that I can eat the chicken and throw away the bones. 

On the "fake Christians" video there are 963 comments.

Our Old Baptist forefathers were "hell fire" preachers like brother Lawson. The first "Hardshells" were actually known as such. This is so contrary to today's Hardshells who rarely preach on Hell. In fact, many of them have become "No Hellers." But, preaching on Hell is needed today more than ever! See my post "Hardshells & Hell" (here).

Listen to these sermons and let me know what you think.

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.

Regeneration Before Faith Proof Texts (V)

John 3: 14, 16 & I Tim. 1: 16 (Proof Text #8)

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life...For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

"However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life." 

When do we obtain life that is unending? It is when we believe.

There is no life prior to faith in Christ. There is no life prior to union with Christ. Life comes to the dead sinner by his faith union with Christ. That is pervasively scriptural and solidly logical. "Whoever has the Son has life" and "whoever has not the Son has not life." (I John 5: 11-12) There can be no gaps in time between having the Son (by receiving the Son in faith) and having life. Once the sinner crosses the line from being an unbeliever (non receiver) to being a believer (receiver) he is alive from the dead. He does not have to wait to be baptized or confirmed or any other thing post his conversion to be risen from spiritual death. 

Both the above texts (and several others like it) teach that faith is the means or way in which spiritual and eternal life is received. Notice these words of our Lord:

"For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will...Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself." (John 5: 21, 24-26)

Who has life? Who has spiritual and eternal life? It is the one who believes. There is no life where there is no faith. Faith is necessary to be alive. Jesus is not saying that faith is a product of life, being an evidence of its preexistence, but rather that faith is that which lays hold of eternal life. This is because faith receives Christ and in receiving Christ life is received. No unbeliever has passed from death unto life.

The ones who are made alive are they who were dead when they heard the voice of the Son. They were not alive before they heard. The dead are the ones who hear. They did not have to be made alive before they could hear. Rather, they heard, though dead, in order to be made alive. But, it is not mere hearing, but it is a hearing AND believing. Those dead sinners who both hear and believe are the ones made alive.

Eternal and spiritual life is in Christ the Son of God. He "has life in himself." To obtain life one must obtain Christ and Christ is received by faith. When Christ is received, life is received. Christ is given and with Christ comes the gift of eternal life. Wrote Paul:

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 6.23) 

This gift is available to all who hear the voice of the Son of God in the preaching of the gospel and by faith receive Christ and life.

Are you dead to God? Dead to spiritual things? God offers you eternal life and says to you that this life is in his Son. If you would have life, you can have it in no other way than by receiving Christ. Will you hear his voice today and be reborn? Do you wish to be filled with joy and peace? That comes through believing in Christ. (Rom. 15: 13) Every spiritual blessing is in Christ. If you have Christ you have everything. Recall the words of John that was cited earlier in this series and noted above: "whoever has the Son has life." 

Turning Their Ears Away?

"For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths." (II Tim. 4: 3-4 NASB)

It saddens me that so many Hardshells "turn their ears away" from what we have written here in this blog. Many will not even give us a decent hearing. Those who do read, or have read, often go away with a desire never to read anything else. 

Having been a Hardshell for many years, and knowing their spirit and sentiments, I am surprised by this. I truly believe it is an example of what Paul is talking about in the above words. Hardshells want their ears tickled by preachers who will tickle them with their theological myths and fables, with their novel and heterodox ideas, with the propositions of "hardshellism." 

What are our Hardshell brothers afraid of? Why do they refuse to come forward and answer our writings against them? 

Thankfully, some Hardshells have read and been turned back to the true Old Baptist faith! I pray that others will come to see the truth and their Hardshell errors.