Faith before Regeneration or Regeneration before Faith?

Years ago, I participated in an ordination council that happened to be combined with a pastors’ fellowship. Because I was an evangelist, the moderator suggested that I ask the candidate something centered on salvation. I agreed and asked what I thought was an important but straightforward question, “Does faith precede regeneration, or does regeneration precede faith?” The candidate’s answer, offered that day in the presence of so many pastors, would cause no small stir among the brethren.

But why would this spark controversy? Given a quick check of Scripture, the order becomes apparent. The classic passage on the new birth, regeneration, is John chapter 3. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” While the language plainly indicates that one who believes in Jesus has everlasting life, the text does not support the notion that eternal life is given first to enable subsequent belief in the Son. To understand why something as uncomplicated as this can become a point of contention, we need to look back five centuries.

Spiritually, the Dark Ages were truly dark. The dawning of the Reformation would bring hope and light, but its illumination fell short of turning the darkness of night into sun-drenched day. The early reformers rightly understood that salvation was by grace through faith, and, given the times, this was a great awakening. However, they also got something wrong. Since faith is something man does, the reformers viewed faith as a human work. Paul, on the other hand, was inspired to separate faith from works, writing, “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:27-28).

Paul would go on to maintain in Romans 4:5 that faith (believing) is quite the opposite of works:

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Clearly, faith is not a human work; it stands in opposition to works. The possessor of faith says, “I cannot . . . but God can! Therefore, I trust in God.” Far from being a work of man, faith is responding to and depending on another to work. It is depending on God.

Now, a dilemma faces all who adopt the positions of the early reformers regarding faith being a human work and salvation being by grace through faith. How does one harmonize Paul’s clear writing with a view that considers faith a human work? And it would seem human effort (faith) is necessary to usher in the power of God (grace)—but such an idea could only lead to more trouble. To rescue their argument, the early reformers concluded that regeneration must precede faith, and this, in their minds, kept faith from being a saving work.

So, change the order of events and everything falls into place, right? In a word, no. An overwhelming number of Scripture passages plainly depicts the order we must recognize. (1) Believe in Jesus, and (2) receive eternal life—and not the other way around. Faith precedes regeneration.

• • John 3:15 – That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
  • John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
  • John 3:36 – He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
  • John 5:24 – 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.
  • John 6:47 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

In spite of these, some are still inclined to argue from John 1:12-13 for regeneration before faith. Those verses read:

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons 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.

It is true that the phrase “becoming the sons of God” preceding “them that believe” would lend support to regeneration before faith but only if we convince ourselves to overlook the verse’s introduction. “But as many as received him” establishes the object of God’s grace as those individuals who first exercise faith. Verse thirteen continues the narrative, detailing how believers become sons of God not by physical birth, will power (self-dependence), or priestly decree. It is God who bestows the new birth when an individual believes on Jesus.

Remembering that the Holy Spirit must convict people who otherwise would not believe, it is important to recognize that the Spirit’s initial convicting work is distinct from His follow-up regenerating work. And sandwiched between the convincing of sin, righteousness, and judgment and man’s regeneration is man’s faith-response. When faith responds to the conviction of the Spirit, the Spirit regenerates.

Faith is not an inevitability; it’s a responsibility. Faith is not a work; it’s depending on God to work. The Spirit convicts and the Spirit regenerates, thus, all is of grace. And faith is the necessary response to the Spirit’s conviction, lest one miss out on regeneration. On this basis Jesus urged people to respond:

John 12:36 – While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.

The order is clear. “While ye have light [illuminating/convincing work of the Spirit], believe in the light [human faith-response], that ye may be the children of light [regenerating work of the Spirit].