Calvinists make a big deal out of the need for regeneration before one can believe. For them this is the primary function of regeneration. Regeneration irresistibly causes a faith response, and without this regeneration, faith would be impossible. I have explained in numerous posts why I disagree with this Calvinist ordo salutis, but I am wondering why, if God controls the will, that regeneration would even be needed before one could turn to God in faith?
Calvinists like to cite Prov. 21:1, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will”, as a proof text for God’s exhaustive control over the human will. God can (and does) turn the will wherever he wants, according to the Calvinist use of this passage. So why must God regenerate a sinner in order to create faith in him? Why can’t God just control the will from unbelief to belief without regard to regeneration? And isn’t God controlling the will to unbelief prior to regeneration? If not, does this mean that God is not “sovereign” over unbelief according to the Calvinist accounting of sovereignty?
I am not suggesting that I have found a fatal flaw in Calvinism. I am just expressing confusion. I welcome any Calvinists to explain this to me.
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