Grudem's View: Regeneration Before Faith And Its Implications

Wayne Grudem is a New Testament scholar, theologian, seminary professor, and author. He is a Calvinist and believes that regeneration precedes faith in Christ. Grudem defines regeneration as the act of God awakening spiritual life within us, bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life. He argues that this work of God gives us the spiritual ability to respond to God in faith.

Grudem acknowledges that regeneration and faith are so close together that they seem to be happening at the same time. However, he points to several Bible passages, such as John 6:44 and 2 Corinthians 4:4, to support his view that regeneration comes before faith.

Grudem's perspective on the relationship between regeneration and faith is a subject of debate among theologians, with some arguing that faith precedes regeneration and others proposing that they may occur simultaneously.

Regeneration is a work of God

Wayne Grudem is an American New Testament scholar, theologian, seminary professor, and author. He is a professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona. Grudem is the author of multiple books, including Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, which advocates a Calvinistic soteriology.

In his book Systematic Theology, Grudem defines regeneration as a "secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us". He further states that regeneration is "totally a work of God", and that humans play no active role in it. Instead, it is God who imparts spiritual life to us, bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life. This is supported by the prophecy of Ezekiel, in which God promises to give new spiritual life to his people:

> "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances." (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

Grudem argues that regeneration comes before saving faith. In his view, it is the work of God that gives us the spiritual ability to respond to God in faith. He cites John 3:5 as evidence: "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God". Grudem interprets this to mean that we must be born "of the Spirit" before we can enter the kingdom of God, indicating that regeneration precedes faith.

Grudem's understanding of regeneration as a work of God is further supported by other passages in the Bible. For example, Ephesians 2:5 describes regeneration as God bringing people to new life, or being "born again". Additionally, James 1:18 and 1 Peter 1:3 refer to regeneration as being "born" or "born again", suggesting that humans are passive in this process.

In conclusion, Wayne Grudem's teachings on regeneration emphasise that it is solely a work of God, bringing individuals from spiritual death to spiritual life. This process of being "born again" is initiated by God and is distinct from an individual's response of faith.

Regeneration brings spiritual life

Regeneration is a spiritual concept in Christian theology that refers to God imparting new spiritual life to a person. This is also referred to as being "born again" in the Bible. In this process, God brings a person from a state of spiritual separation and death to spiritual life. This is often associated with baptism, especially in Lutheran and Roman Catholic theology, where baptism is seen as the means through which regeneration occurs.

Regeneration is a work solely of God, and humans play no active role in it. This is supported by Scripture, which states that those who are born of God are "born...of God" and not of human will or fleshly desire (John 1:13). The prophet Ezekiel also foretold this act of God, promising a time when God would give His people a new heart and spirit, taking away their heart of stone and giving them a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

The doctrine of regeneration is closely linked to the concept of total depravity, which asserts that humans are spiritually dead and unable to respond to God without His regenerating work. This idea is prominent in Calvinist theology, which teaches that regeneration precedes faith. According to this view, God's regenerating work is what enables individuals to have faith and respond to the gospel.

Wayne Grudem, a prominent theologian, defines regeneration as "the act of God awakening spiritual life within us, bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life." He argues that regeneration precedes faith, and that it is God's work of regeneration that gives individuals the spiritual ability to respond to Him in faith. Grudem's perspective aligns with the Calvinist understanding of the doctrine.

The Bible provides examples of regeneration preceding faith, such as in the case of Lydia, where God opened her heart to the gospel message, after which she responded in faith (Acts 16:14). Additionally, Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus highlights the necessity of being "born of the Spirit" before one can enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5).

Regeneration is a mysterious work of God, and its exact nature is not fully comprehensible to humans. However, it is evident that regeneration affects individuals as whole persons, bringing about a radical change in their moral character and desires. This transformation results in a life that reflects Christlike character traits, such as love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Regeneration precedes faith

Wayne Grudem, an American New Testament scholar, theologian, seminary professor, and author, teaches that regeneration precedes faith. Grudem defines regeneration as "the act of God awakening spiritual life within us, bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life".

Grudem's view is that regeneration is a work of God, and humans play no active role in it. He cites John 1:13, which says that those who are children of God are "born...of God", and not of human will. Grudem also refers to James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:3, and John 3:3–8, which refer to being "born" or "born again", as evidence that humans are passive in the process of regeneration.

Grudem acknowledges that the exact relationship between regeneration and faith is complex. While regeneration must come before faith, the two often occur so close together that they seem simultaneous from a human perspective. Grudem cites several Bible passages, including John 6:44 and 2 Corinthians 4:4, to support his view that regeneration is a necessary precursor to faith.

Grudem's interpretation of Ephesians 2:1–3 is that humans are spiritually dead without Christ and, therefore, require regeneration by God to be made spiritually alive before they can trust in Christ as their saviour.

Grudem's perspective aligns with Calvinist theology, which asserts that if regeneration does not precede faith, then salvation depends on humans rather than God. This belief is a key point of disagreement between Calvinists and Arminians.

Faith Precedes Regeneration

However, it is important to note that not all theologians agree with Grudem's position. Some, like John Walvoord and Charles Ryrie, argue that regeneration occurs simultaneously with or after faith. They believe that faith is the channel through which individuals receive the gift of eternal life from God, as stated in Ephesians 2:8–9.

While Wayne Grudem teaches that regeneration precedes faith, the matter remains a subject of ongoing debate among theologians, with some arguing for a different order or simultaneity.

Regeneration is a prerequisite for salvation

The concept of regeneration preceding salvation is a highly debated topic among theologians, with some arguing for a chronological order and others suggesting they occur simultaneously. Wayne Grudem, an American New Testament scholar, theologian, seminary professor, and author, asserts that regeneration, defined as "the act of God awakening spiritual life within us, bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life," precedes salvation. This notion is supported by the idea that God's regenerating work gives individuals the spiritual ability to respond to Him in faith.

Grudem's perspective aligns with the Calvinist viewpoint, which posits that God must regenerate individuals, making them spiritually alive, before they can place their trust in Christ as their Saviour. This belief stems from the understanding that spiritually dead people are incapable of taking any action, just as physically deceased individuals cannot climb out of their graves. Ephesians 2:1 is a key verse for Calvinists, stating, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins."

Grudem further elaborates on this idea by referring to John 3:8, which states, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." This verse highlights that regeneration, or being "born of the Spirit," is a prerequisite for entering God's kingdom. Additionally, Grudem cites Jesus' words in John 6:44, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him," and John 6:65, "No one can come to Me unless it is granted him by the Father," as evidence of the necessity of God's inward act of regeneration.

Grudem's interpretation of Scripture leads him to conclude that regeneration must come before individuals can respond to God's effective call with saving faith. He acknowledges that regeneration and faith often occur so closely together that they may seem simultaneous from a human perspective. However, Grudem emphasizes that regeneration is a hidden, spiritual work that we cannot perceive with our senses or fully comprehend with our minds.

Grudem's viewpoint on the priority of regeneration is not universally accepted, and other theologians, such as John Walvoord and Charles Ryrie, propose that regeneration occurs after or simultaneously with faith. They argue that regeneration is entirely the work of God, and faith is the channel through which individuals receive the gift of eternal life. This alternative perspective underscores the role of faith as the means of receiving salvation rather than its cause.

Regeneration is a gift from God

Wayne Grudem is an American New Testament scholar, theologian, seminary professor, and author. He is a professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary in Arizona. Grudem is a proponent of Calvinistic soteriology and has authored several books on the subject, including "Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine".

In his writings, Grudem defines regeneration as "the act of God awakening spiritual life within us, bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life". He asserts that this process is entirely a work of God, and that humans play no active role in it. This definition and assertion align with the concept of regeneration being a gift from God.

Grudem further elaborates that regeneration imparts new spiritual life to individuals, using the analogy of physical birth to illustrate this point. Just as individuals do not choose to be physically born, they also do not choose to be spiritually reborn. This rebirth is a result of God's grace, rich mercy, and abundant mercy, as stated in Ephesians 1:19-20.

Additionally, Grudem's understanding of regeneration preceding faith reinforces the idea of it being a gift from God. He explains that regeneration gives individuals the spiritual ability to respond to God in faith. This belief is supported by the prophecy of Ezekiel, where God promises to give His people new spiritual life (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

In conclusion, Wayne Grudem's teachings and writings affirm the concept of regeneration as a gift from God. He emphasizes that it is solely God's work, bringing individuals from spiritual death to spiritual life, and enabling them to have faith.

Frequently asked questions