The debate over whether or not a "dead man" can believe the Gospel and be saved, seems a bit ludicrous when those who say no, believe that same "dead man" can sin, plot, covet, lust, etc.! Here is what one student of God's Word, Douglas K. Kutilek, had to say on this topic.
While the unsaved man is described by Paul as "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1), I believe that this is a metaphor that is vastly overstressed by some of the Calvinistic writers of my acquaintance. Their typical justification for their "regeneration before faith" view (albeit, immediately before, which results inevitably and immediately in saving faith) is that "a dead man cannot respond to anything--he cannot hear, see, feel, think, touch, taste, act, OR BELIEVE. and therefore, God MUST regenerate him/make him alive before he can believe."
I see what to me is an insuperable problem with this view--these very Calvinists have no problem with a man being convicted of sin before regeneration, in some cases conviction enduring for many days, months, even years--yet how can a "dead" man (as they understand the term) anymore come under conviction, feel guilt, sense a drawing to Christ, than he can believe? To be consistent, they would have to also teach regeneration before conviction--but then there would be no need for conviction!
Paul uses a metaphor when he says that the sinner is "dead"--man is separated from God by his sin, guilt, etc., and is corrupted and tainted in all parts of his being by sin--his body, emotions, intellect, will, etc. are all corrupted. This is not to say that he is as evil in all his thoughts and acts as he might in practice be, nor that unregenerate man is incapable of acts of love, self-sacrifice, kindness, morality, etc. But like Adam, he is separated from God by sin, and is not capable of reconciling himself/restoring himself to God's favor, and unaided by God, cannot believe either.
Before regeneration, there must be the work of the Holy Spirit in conviction (the Father's essential drawing is carried out through the agency of the Holy Spirit). Saving faith is not the gift of God (I agree with A.T. Robertson, and John Calvin on Eph. 2:8,9, that it is salvation, not faith, which is described as "the gift of God" there; cf. Romans 6:23, where the same thing is taught); rather, it is the response of a sinner, enlightened and convicted by the Holy Spirit who employs the message of the Gospel as His tool, to the offer of the Gospel. This work of the Holy Spirit is essential to and prior to the sinner coming to the place where he may respond in faith--believe--the Gospel. That saving faith necessarily precedes regeneration seems to me to be absolutely required by John 1:12 where faith clearly precedes regeneration.
I see what to me is an insuperable problem with this view--these very Calvinists have no problem with a man being convicted of sin before regeneration, in some cases conviction enduring for many days, months, even years--yet how can a "dead" man (as they understand the term) anymore come under conviction, feel guilt, sense a drawing to Christ, than he can believe? To be consistent, they would have to also teach regeneration before conviction--but then there would be no need for conviction!
Paul uses a metaphor when he says that the sinner is "dead"--man is separated from God by his sin, guilt, etc., and is corrupted and tainted in all parts of his being by sin--his body, emotions, intellect, will, etc. are all corrupted. This is not to say that he is as evil in all his thoughts and acts as he might in practice be, nor that unregenerate man is incapable of acts of love, self-sacrifice, kindness, morality, etc. But like Adam, he is separated from God by sin, and is not capable of reconciling himself/restoring himself to God's favor, and unaided by God, cannot believe either.
Before regeneration, there must be the work of the Holy Spirit in conviction (the Father's essential drawing is carried out through the agency of the Holy Spirit). Saving faith is not the gift of God (I agree with A.T. Robertson, and John Calvin on Eph. 2:8,9, that it is salvation, not faith, which is described as "the gift of God" there; cf. Romans 6:23, where the same thing is taught); rather, it is the response of a sinner, enlightened and convicted by the Holy Spirit who employs the message of the Gospel as His tool, to the offer of the Gospel. This work of the Holy Spirit is essential to and prior to the sinner coming to the place where he may respond in faith--believe--the Gospel. That saving faith necessarily precedes regeneration seems to me to be absolutely required by John 1:12 where faith clearly precedes regeneration.
Why offer salvation to those who cannot respond?
Because they can!
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