Exposing The "Regeneration Before Faith" Myth

Faith is required for salvation through the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5).

No one gets born again then afterwards comes to have faith that leads to salvation. That's backwards and illogical. Someone who has experienced the new birth the Bible speaks of cannot not know that, just like a woman cannot not know that she had been pregnant (whether she was aware of it or not), before giving birth to a child!

You get the point, but this analogy is far from silly.

1 Peter 1:23

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). The word of God is a seed (Luke 8:11) and when planted in a good and honest heart (Luke 8:15) it bears the fruit of a new life in Christ standing on the pillars of righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24), not ongoing sin.

Romans 10:13-17

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14 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? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And keep these in mind about calling on the name of the Lord to be saved:

Isaiah 55:6-7

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts;* Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

2 Timothy 2:19

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from unrighteousness.”*

*That's repentance.

Reminder:

2 Timothy 4:3-4

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

A tree is known by it's fruit as Jesus taught (Matthew 7:15-20, Luke 6:43-45, Matthew 12:33). So, on the tree that you find this myth of regeneration happening before faith, you also find salvation by faith alone excluding works or deeds of faith (James 2:14-26), no repentance with deeds worthy of repentance (Acts 26:20) being the square one for a relationship with God, or possibly repentance (some unbiblical definition) coming after regeneration also, living a sin / repent / sin / repent lifestyle forever and claiming eternal security or Once Saved Always Saved, with a dubious "Once Saved" part to begin with, and speaking of sanctification while willful sin goes on. These are teachings of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).


See also: 

Faith Implies Obedience

Romans 10:9 Salvation

Jesus vs False Teachers

How Do We Know That We Love God?

You Cannot Be Unborn

Can You Lose Your Salvation?

Who is Hebrews 10:26 speaking to?

Is There No One Righteous (Romans 3:10)?

Anyone who is tempted to say "There is no one righteous; no, not one" (Romans 3:10) should know that this word does not apply to born again Christians who are new creatures in Christ. Saying "there is none righteous" out of context wipes the righteous off the map.

So, a person who believes in "There is no one righteous; no, not one" is true for him/herself should also agree with the following declarations:

Romans 3:11
--->I understand nothing. I do not seek after God.

Romans 3:12
--->I have turned aside. I am an unprofitable servant who will be cast into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (cf. Matthew 25:30). I do not do good.

Romans 3:13
--->My throat is an open tomb. With my tongue I have used deceit and still do. Viper's poison is under my lips. It was like that before I got saved and it's still like that after I became a "born again Christian." I am deceiving everybody.

Romans 3:14
--->My mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. It was like that before I got saved and it's still like that after I became a "born again Christian." I am deceiving everybody.

Romans 3:15
--->My feet are swift to shed blood. It was like that before I got saved and it's still like that after I became a "born again Christian." I am deceiving everybody.

Romans 3:16
--->Destruction and calamity are in my path. I am walking on the broad way that leads to destruction (cf. Matthew 7:14); I have never entered in by the narrow door to the constricted/narrow way that leads to eternal life (cf. Matthew 7:13).

Romans 3:17
--->I have not known the way of peace. So, when Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God" (cf. Matthew 5:9), He is not talking about me.

Romans 3:18
--->There is no fear of God before my eyes. So, I am not wise because God has said, "The fear of the LORD--that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding" (Job 28:28).

___

Romans 3:10-18
10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one." 11 "There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, there is not even one." 13 "Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit." "Viper's poison is under their lips;" 14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood. 16 Destruction and calamity are in their paths. 17 The way of peace, they have not known." 18"There is no fear of God before their eyes."

That passage in Romans 3 is a quote from Psalm 14 (it's talking about fools who say in their heart that there is no God):
1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt. They do abominable works. There is none who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned away. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one. 4 Have all evildoers no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread? They do not call on the LORD. 5 There THEY ARE UTTERLY TERRIFIED, FOR GOD IS IN THE GENERATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS. 6 You would frustrate the plans of the lowly, but the LORD is his refuge. 7 Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion. When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be glad.

If you are inclined to, make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15), and don't mind challenging things that you have believed that are false.


May God be with you!




See also:
Are We All Sinners?

"Our (own) righteousness is as filthy rags"

Faith Implies Obedience

Distinction Between the Righteous (Saints) and the Wicked (Sinners)

1 John 3:7
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 

Call to Repentance - video

 

 

 

Total Dedication To God vs The Sinless Perfection Straw Man Argument