Quote:
It's obvious the new birth has to occur before we can believe , because faith is a fruit of the Spirit.
...The new birth has to come before we believe.
|
Nothing like contradicting the Bible! If your foundation is off, the rest of your structure will be as well.
The Bible teaches faith comes first, then regeneration:
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
That passage says when we receive Christ we are born again.
1 Peter 1:23-25 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Being born again through the Word of God (ie. the Gospel) - that makes our new birth dependent upon our belief in the Saviour.