Recently I came across a quote by a Calvinist theologian (whom I will not name) who is credited with making the following statement:

A man is not saved because he believes in Christ, he believes in Christ because he because he is saved.

It did not take long to find out that this sentiment is held by many Calvinists leaders and ministers, who evidently need it to be true to support their theology, but it’s not true, and they ought to know better.

When a Calvinist preacher stands and condemns others of false teachings and heresies while they teach this doctrine, that is indeed hypocrisy. According to this view, people are actually born again before they believe the gospel. In other words, they are arbitrarily chosen by God and given eternal life without having faith in Jesus. This flies in the face of everything the New Testament teaches about salvation, and how salvation is received.

In this article, I invite you to consider with me what the New Testament has to say about regeneration and faith in Christ.  To begin, let’s take a look at the two places where the word, regeneration appears in the New Testament.

And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ~ Matthew 19:28

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour… ~ Titus 3:4-6 

Notice that neither of these texts implies anything about being given eternal life apart from belief in Jesus. To come to any such conclusion would be to read into the texts something that isn’t there. Now the Greek word from which regeneration is translated in the texts above, is παλιγγενεσία, ας, ἡ, and it’s meaning is that of regeneration, and renewal. In usage it has to do with a new birth, regeneration, renewal.

The renewing of the Holy Spirit in the Titus text is a different Greek word (ἀνακαίνωσις, εως, ἡ,) which simply means renewal. It is used one other time in the NT (Romans 12:2) where we are instructed to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Its use in Titus is in the context of the new birth by the Spirit of God.

Now before we look at what the Bible teaches doctrinally, about how the new birth, conversion, regeneration, eternal life, and salvation are received, I want to look at a real person’s conversion experience in the book of Acts that disproves that regeneration precedes faith, and that is the conversion of Cornelius.

Cornelius was a Gentile centurion from Caesarea. The Bible says he was a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always (Acts 10:1-2). Not only did Cornelius fear God, but those of his household did as well. When the apostle Peter was sent to testify of Jesus to Cornelius and his house, Peter said, “of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. ~ Acts 10:34-35

Now if the belief that regeneration precedes faith were true, then Cornelius would be the strongest biblical example to support this position, for he was a devout man who feared God, who gave much alms to the poor, and constantly prayed to God. In fact Cornelius’s prayers and alms giving to the poor came up as a memorial to God.

Cornelius is indeed the strongest NT example if one wishes to make  the case that regeneration precedes faith. This would then mean that Cornelius was already saved with eternal life by the Spirit of God before Peter shared the gospel with him and his house.

Does the narrative of Cornelius’s salvation experience as given in the book of Acts support the view that regeneration precedes faith? No it does not, and when we examine the story of Cornelius closely it leaves us with no doubt that regeneration does not precede faith.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Cornelius, he said the following to him:

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. ~ Acts 10:5-6

After Peter’s arrival Cornelius told him what the angel of the Lord had said to him.

And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. ~ Acts 10:30-31

Later, when Peter was questioned by the Jews at Jerusalem because he had eaten with Gentiles (at the house of Cornelius), Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them (Acts 11:4). Notice what Peter tells them regarding what the angel of the Lord had said to Cornelius.

And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. ~ Acts 11:13-15 

From Peter’s own testimony we can conclude that Cornelius and his house were not yet saved, because Peter was sent to tell them words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. Though Cornelius was a devout man, who feared God, prayed continually, and gave much alms to the poor, he wasn’t regenerated (born again) until after Peter began to speak speak to him and his house the words of the gospel.

While Peter spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. ~ Acts 10:44

There is no mention of the Holy Spirit in Cornelius’s life until he heard the gospel. Cornelius’s experience matches perfectly, Paul’s description of how salvation comes through hearing the gospel.

Yet the scriptures declare, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ~ Romans 10:13-17

Cornelius’s experience raises the question, if regeneration precedes faith, why wasn’t Cornelius, or even those of his house regenerated before Peter preached the gospel to them? According to the apostle Paul, faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and according to the narrative, Cornelius and his house were already of a disposition to believe whatever Peter said to them.

Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. ~ Acts 10:33

The moment Peter declared the gospel to them, they believed and the Holy Spirit fell on them. If Cornelius and his house were regenerated at the time of hearing the gospel (by which faith comes), and this is exactly what happened according to the scriptures, then the theological view that regeneration precedes faith is discredited and proven false. If this theology is proven false, it strikes at the heart of multiple doctrines within Calvinism.

You cannot fit Cornelius into the Calvinist view of total depravity, for Cornelius was a devout man, who feared God, prayed to God, and gave much alms to the poor before his salvation.

You can not fit Cornelius into the Calvinist doctrine of unconditional election because the scripture reveals that it was Cornelius who was seeking God, and God responded. According to the scripture, God sent his angel and his servant Peter to him because Cornelius’s prayers and alms had come up as a memorial to God.

You cannot fit Cornelius into the Calvinist doctrine of limited atonement because after hearing Cornelius’s testimony, Peter reached the conclusion, God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. ~ Acts 10: 34-35

Cornelius is a standing witness against much of the false doctrines taught within Calvinisms!

I have more to say in refuting the false doctrine that regeneration precedes faith. I hope to write about it sooner rather than later. There is much ground I want to cover about what the Bible teaches doctrinally, about how the new birth, conversion, regeneration, eternal life, and salvation are received as I made mentioned at the outset of this article. However, I do want to write at least one more article showing how the theology that regeneration precedes faith is wrong when examining the real life experiences of people in the Bible, such as Cornelius.

I will end this article here and I would appreciate any feedback if you have found it helpful.