The Armianists believe a person out of their own dead sinful position have the ability to have faith before God regenerates their heart. The Calvinists believe that God first regenerates the heart because people are dead in their sins, so then and only then is the person is able to exercise faith in their new position.
2006-09-04 13:21:27 · 8 answers · asked by nobodiesinc 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
One can have faith prior to a regenerated heart... it is the essence of the gospel... we are able to understand enough to have faith so that we needn't be regenerated first...
the faith of a child can save... faith smaller than a mustard seed... etc.
2006-09-04 13:56:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming faith is an act of free will, I'd have to say faith comes before regeneration. Regeneration is the product of faith.
Cool question!
Peace
2006-09-04 13:26:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God puts it into peoples hearts to be convicted of sin, then by faith they can become regenerated, once by faith they have put away all sin.
2006-09-04 13:29:51 · answer #3 · answered by Sky_blue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith before anything else. You become saved when you have faith. Changing of the heart is a slow process.
2006-09-04 13:27:06 · answer #4 · answered by niaflower 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith is first, because without faith it is impossible to please God. We have to first believe that God is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. We don't need to be perfect in order to have faith. The act of having faith makes us perfect (i.e. the woman with the issue of blood who's faith alone healed her-- she was imperfect, she was sick, but she believed, and then she became well.)
2006-09-04 13:35:07 · answer #5 · answered by retro 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith belongs to the understanding and charity belongs to the will. The cup and the platter
2006-09-04 13:50:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Christ, the living and life-
giving true God, by His beneficent will became the healer of souls and
bodies and Himself first suffered tortures and pains to cure the entire human
race. …He granted us second birth in health without pains and
afflications." http://www.sain.org/Armenian.Church/intro.txt
Me thinks the question needs documentation.
2006-09-04 13:30:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
now you know baptising is the shortcut to all of this!
2006-09-04 13:24:14 · answer #8 · answered by wise 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋