The relationship between regeneration and faith is one of the most critical and debated issues in Christian theology. This question asks whether a person must be regenerated (born again) by the Holy Spirit before they can place their faith in Christ, or if faith precedes regeneration. The Protestant Reformers, who sought to return to the Bible’s teaching and correct the errors they saw in the medieval church, had much to say on this topic.
This article explores their perspective, supported by relevant Scripture and memorable quotes from key figures of the Reformation.
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The Case for Regeneration Preceding Faith
The Reformers largely agreed that regeneration precedes faith. This view is rooted in their understanding of total depravity, the belief that humanity is so corrupted by sin that apart from divine intervention, no one can turn to God on their own. Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others emphasized that because of the fallen nature of humanity, the Holy Spirit must first regenerate the heart before an individual can exercise true saving faith.
John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, argues that faith itself is a gift from God and that it is the Holy Spirit who first brings a person to spiritual life: “For the seed of the Word is not cast into the hearts of men, in order that it may lie idle, but in order that it may bring forth fruit. And it is plain enough that it cannot produce fruit unless the Spirit, the internal teacher, shall by his light illuminate the mind and open up the heart and seal the Word in it.” (Institutes, Book 3, Chapter 2, Section 34). Here, Calvin underscores that the Spirit must regenerate the heart, enabling it to respond to the Word of God in faith.
Similarly, Martin Luther in his famous work *The Bondage of the Will* asserts that human will is in bondage to sin and incapable of turning to God without the Holy Spirit’s prior work of regeneration. Luther contends, “Man’s will is like a beast standing between two riders. If God rides, it wills and goes where God wills; if Satan rides, it wills and goes where Satan wills; nor can it choose to run to either of the two riders, but the riders themselves contend for the possession and control of it” (The Bondage of the Will, 1525). Luther’s analogy illustrates that the will is enslaved and can only be freed by God’s regenerating power.
Scriptural Support
The Reformers anchored their views on regeneration and faith in Scripture. Key passages include:
– Ephesians 2:1-5: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins… But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” This passage emphasizes that spiritual deadness precedes being made alive by God, indicating that regeneration comes before faith.
– John 1:12-13: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” This suggests that the new birth (regeneration) is not a result of human will, but rather the sovereign work of God, making faith a response to the regenerative work of the Spirit.
– 1 Corinthians 2:14: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” The inability of the natural (unregenerate) person to accept the things of God points to the necessity of the Spirit’s work in regeneration before faith can occur.
Conclusion
The Protestant Reformers, grounded in their understanding of human depravity and the sovereignty of God, concluded that regeneration must precede faith. They saw the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration as essential to breaking the chains of sin that bound human will, enabling a person to respond to the Gospel in faith. Their teachings, rooted deeply in Scripture, continue to influence Protestant theology and underscore the profound grace involved in the salvation of sinners.
In the words of John Calvin, “We shall never be clothed with the righteousness of Christ except we first know assuredly that we have no righteousness of our own” (Institutes, Book 3, Chapter 11, Section 4). It is only by God’s regenerating grace that one can come to such knowledge and, consequently, to saving faith in Christ.
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