Chat with Arminians II

Stephen,

"Well . . . all I know is that the Calvinist professors and students on campus at Southeastern BAPTIST Theological Seminary also believe that regeneration precedes faith. Whether or not that has been held by Baptists historically is one matter, but many more are adhering to it today.

The BF&M states, "Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace."

Did you catch that phrase, "to which the sinner RESPONDS in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ"? And this happened as a result of being Regenerated.

Did you also catch that they called Regeneration grace? That is the typical Reformed view of grace: it is tantamount to regeneration.

Though I certainly admire your stance that faith precedes regeneration and agree with you wholeheartedly, you must admit that Baptists are divided over the issue, and that in modern times Baptists are siding with the Presbyterians on this issue.

God's blessings,

Billy

Dear Billy:

You said:

"...you must admit that Baptists are divided over the issue, and that in modern times Baptists are siding with the Presbyterians on this issue."

I do admit that and that is why my baptist gadfly blog, together with others, like calvinistflyswatter.blogspot.com, fight this erroneous view and the idea that this is historic calvinist baptist thinking. These men like White are almost Hardshells, which I know much about. Edwards, did not hold this view. The great Baptists like B.H. Carroll, Dagg, Boyce, Broaddus, and many others, repudiate the born again before faith heresy.As far as the interpretation of the BF&M statement, the Hypers misread what that confession is saying. The calvinist flyswatter has some writings showing what is meant by that statement. That statement was never meant to imply that men can be regenerated without or apart from faith.

God bless

Stephen