Many Calvinists believe that regeneration precedes faith because of their belief that the unregenerate are incapable of having faith since they are spiritually dead. Does the Bible support this view? The answer to that question is easily understood when we examine the real people in the Bible.

Before we look at examples of real people in the Bible,  let’s take a moment and review a couple of points from the first article on this topic. There are only two scriptures in the entire Bible that use the word regeneration. They are Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5.  In Matthew 19:28 Jesus speaks of regeneration as something which at the time, was still yet to come.

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

When we consider the ministry of Jesus we have many references in which real people came to him and received blessings because of their faith. Since no one was regenerated (born again, raised from spiritual death) until after the resurrection of Jesus, for Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection, why then did Jesus commend the faith of some and reprimand the lack of faith in others, if faith is not possible in the unregenerate? In fact, Jesus often emphasized faith in his teachings. Faith is a major theme in the gospels.

Now, let’s take some time and look at some of the passages in which Jesus commended the faith of those who trusted him, while keeping in mind that none of those who were commended for their faith were yet regenerated, because no one was made spiritually alive in Christ until after Jesus was raised from the dead.

In Matthew 8 Jesus commended the faith of a centurion.

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ~ Matthew 8:5- 10

According to Jesus, this centurion had great faith! We have many other examples as well throughout the gospels of people who were not yet regenerated, who had faith in Jesus. Why is it that so many Calvinists fail to consider these things, even their theologians? Maybe they need to put their focus on Jesus rather than TULIP.

In Luke 5,  a man who was a paralytic was brought to Jesus on a bed by his friends. Notice what happened.

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. ~ Luke 5:17-25

Because of the faith of his friends, this man was not only healed, but also forgiven. This happened before Jesus died on the cross, so the time of regeneration had not yet come, yet they had faith.

In Luke 7 we read of a woman whom the Bible refers to as a sinner, who came to Jesus and was forgiven because of her faith.

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. ~ Luke 7:37-50

Over and over again, we see real people coming to Jesus and having faith before the time of regeneration.

In Mark 5 we read of the woman with the issue of blood who came and touched the hem of Jesus’s garment and was healed. Jesus commended her faith saying, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. Mark 5:34

In Matthew 15 we read of a woman of Canaan who demonstrated great faith.

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. ~ Matthew 15:22-28

Again, I ask why is it that Calvinsist can’t see there things? Take note that not only did this woman have great faith according to Jesus, but she had a free will, for Jesus says, be it unto thee even as thou wilt!  She desired deliverance for her daughter and her faith was not denied, and again this happened before anyone was regenerated because Jesus had not yet died and risen again.

Dear Calvinists who may be reading this, get your eyes off of Calvin and Luther and get them on Jesus! Stop defending Tulip and get into the New Testament and learn of Jesus.

I have more to say along these lines, but it’s late where at the time of this writing and I need some sleep. I do plan to write more on this topic and I hope that what I have written here will provoke some, and stir others to get into God’s Word and find the truth, and stop fighting for the doctrines of men that make the Word of God ineffective. 

Go study everything you can find about faith in the gospels and keep in mind that no one was regenerated before Jesus’s death and resurrection. You will find that many real people who encountered Jesus had faith, had free wills, and were not all they totally depraved.

Jesus said of Nathanael, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Jesus would not have said such a thing to Nathanael if Nathanael had been totally depraved. In response to Jesus’s word, Nathanael declared, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. In response, Jesus acknowledges Nathanael’s faith! Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

Nathanael was not yet regenerated, but he had no guile in him, was a true Israelite according to Jesus, and had faith! Nathanael is yet another Biblical witness that much of Calvinistic doctrine is false.

I need sleep, good night…