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How do we know regeneration precedes faith is true?

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Regeneration must precede faith because the Holy Spirit enables the dead heart to respond to the gospel.

The teaching that regeneration precedes faith is a cornerstone of Reformed theology. In Ephesians 2:1, Paul explicitly states that we were dead in our sins, which denotes that a spiritually dead person lacks the capacity to respond positively to God without first being made alive. This divine initiative by the Holy Spirit is vital, as it reorients our disposition towards God, allowing us to exercise faith. John 6:44 also underscores this truth, where Jesus states that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them. This is consistent with the overarching narrative of Scripture that attributes our ability to respond to God's call as a result of His sovereign action in our lives.

Moreover, the ancient Church Fathers and Reformers have historically affirmed this doctrine. They made clear that the efficacy of faith comes from the prior work of regeneration—God must act first to enable us. Genuine faith, thus, is the response of a heart that has been transformed by the Spirit, not the cause of that transformation. Since a spiritually dead person is unable to exercise true faith, it follows that regeneration, being made alive by the Holy Spirit, must happen first. This is what makes responding to God's call not only possible but also the only appropriate reaction of a heart that has been renewed in Christ.
Scripture References: Ephesians 2:1, John 6:44

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