On his website, Arminian Perspectives, Ben Henshaw has a questions page at which he answers questions about Arminianism and Calvinism that visitors to his site pose in the comment section of the page. Here is a question and answer discussion, edited for clarity and understanding, between Ben and a man named Gene, though another commenter named Matt is mentioned in their conversation:
Gene/”Now Dimly”: The questions I’m working through are, When/how does regeneration occur and in what order compared to other things (faith, repentance, etc)? I agree that faith indicates a choice and that it’s the Spirit who convicts. Matt said,
“faith would be null and pointless if God simply regenerated us at His discretion, and did not give us a choice in the matter.”
This makes God’s regenerating us sound whimsical and void of human choice, something Calvinism would deny. God does not say in the Word that He regenerates men at some arbitrary moment and then forces us to believe, for I think all Christians believe willingly when we understand gospel truths.
I think the first question is, Did we want to believe (or could we) prior to the Spirit’s working? The next question would be, By what means could we repent/believe if regeneration precedes or follows faith and repentance? Ben made this clear regarding John 5:24, 25 that the dead will hear and live. But Jesus does not say there whether they are even able (understanding that sin has affected our whole being). Is it by regeneration or by prevenient grace? This probably brings us into the question of depravity and the freedom/bondage of the will. So far I see good points on both sides, and that’s what makes it confusing.
Ben: “God does not say in the Word that He regenerates men at some arbitrary moment and then forces us to believe, for I think all Christians believe willingly when we understand gospel truths.”
I’m not sure that is what Matt was saying. Calvinists do typically say that God would regenerate unto faith when the elect person hears the gospel, but it could be at anytime when someone hears the gospel. For example, someone who is “elect” could hear the gospel and reject it one day and then accept it another day because God then chooses to regenerate the person.
Calvinists would also not like the language of “force,” but it is not really accurate under Calvinist assumptions to say that it is a “choice” we make when regenerated. If regeneration guarantees a positive faith response, then there is no genuine choice, since there is only one course of action possible–faith. The post I linked to on the reality of choice and Scripture deals with that problem. There is real lack of clarity in the way that Calvinists describe how one comes to faith when regenerated. I wrote a short post addressing some problems with their language a while back. Here is the link if you want to check it out:
I think the first question is, Did we want to believe (or could we) prior to the Spirit’s working?
No, not according to Arminianism or Calvinism. The main difference is in describing that working. Both say it is an act of grace needed to enable faith, or any move towards God.
The Arminian says this act of grace that enables the depraved sinner to believe is resistible. It makes faith possible where it was previously impossible. However, it doesn’t guarantee a faith response, and it is not regeneration.
The Calvinist says this act of grace is regeneration and is irresistible. This irresistible regeneration doesn’t just make faith possible, but irresistibly causes faith (i.e. when one is regenerated, they cannot possibly avoid believing. Faith becomes irresistible for the one God chooses to regenerate).
The next question would be, By what means could we repent/believe if regeneration precedes or follows faith and repentance?
By the enabling power of the word and Spirit. Regeneration is the impartation of new Spiritual life which results from being joined to Christ (and His life), which is communicated to us through the indwelling Spirit. The Scriptures are clear that we receive the Holy Spirit by faith and are joined to Christ by faith. Therefore, the Bible is pretty clear that faith precedes regeneration.
In my opinion, Calvinism actually downplays the significance of regeneration (as a primary aspect of what it means to be saved), by nearly always referring to it as just the way that God causes faith in the “elect.” The Bible never does that. In my opinion, Calvinism also downplays the importance of the cross and the need for our sins to be removed in placing regeneration before faith (and therefore before justification). If God can impart spiritual life to us prior to forgiving us and justifying us on the merits of Christ’s death, then what need was there for Christ’s death?
But Jesus does not say there whether they are even able (understanding that sin has affected our whole being).
Right, Jesus doesn’t really address that directly in that passage. But what Jesus does say disqualifies the Calvinist claim that new spiritual life is what causes us to “hear.” Rather, hearing is what leads to life.
Is it by regeneration or by prevenient grace?
Resistible prevenient grace.
