How To Study The Holy Bible?

 

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible tells us all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God. This means that the Holy Bible is God-breathed. Every single word is from God. 2 Peter 1:21 says, “for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” The Bible teaches us that man is not the creator of the Bible. However, man was involved in penning of God’s Word. Man was the tool God used to pen His Word. God did not need to use man, but He chose to do so.

Paul tells us four key things about the Word of God.

Firstly, “profitable for teaching.” Scripture is useful for teaching godliness. We should only get our teaching from the Bible, not traditions, nor of man. The Bible is the only authority that is trustworthy and inspired by God.

The Bible is not a collection of stories, fables, myths, or the ideas of man. The Bible is not a man-made book. In the MacArthur Commentary John MacArthur writes, “The Scripture provides the comprehensive and complete body of divine truth necessary for life and godliness.” Matthew Henry in his commentary on the whole Bible writes, “If we consult the Scriptures, which was given by inspiration of God, and follow its directions, we shall be made men of God, perfect, and thoroughly furnished to every good work.”

Secondly, “for reproof”. Scripture is useful for rebuking those in sin. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Ephesians 6:17 is an important verse regarding this second point. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

The Word of God is living, operative and has the power to reach and touch the heart of man. The Word of God pierces the depths of the soul and spirit of man. The Word of God never returns void (Isaiah 55:11). Ephesians 6:17 teaches us that the Word of God will guard and protect our mind. The sword, that Word of God, that will break through our sinful hearts and aid us in our battles against Satan. The sword is the only offensive weapon mention in Ephesians 6. We need to trust in the truth of God’s Word to fight against evil.

Many times, during the Christian life we come against those who wish to attack our doctrine and faith. The Word of God contains all the answers we need to defend our faith. The Bible provides us with the truth so we can answer questions. Peter said, always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you. Therefore, all believers should be students of the Bible. If you have the Bible in your native tongue then read it, study it, memorize it and live it.

Thirdly, “for correction”.  The Word of God is useful for those in error. Just like our second point of rebuke. The Bible is useful for correcting those who are wrong. For example, if we come across a person who thinks they are a Christian and does not believe in Hell, a works-based salvation and praying for the dead. We can use Scripture to show the error and to show the correct doctrine in the light of the Bible. When we use Scripture, we are not giving our view or opinion, but God’s view on the matter. It is very important that we preach God’s view and not what “I think”.

Fourthly, for “training in righteousness.” The last point that Paul makes is that the word of God is profitable for teaching in godliness. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” We ought to study the Word of God and prepare to defend our faith. Psalm 119:11 says, “Thy word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee.” This is why we ought to read and commit to memory the Holy Scriptures. The best weapon and defence against spiritual attack is the Word of God.

Paul tells us to be diligent students of Scripture. God’s Word was given for a reason, to be read and acted upon. So, with this in mind, how do you study the Bible? The short answer is exactly how God tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16. Without the Bible all that you know about Christ would not be possible. You would not know the Gospel, and we all know that no Gospel means no salvation. No salvation means, no forgiveness of sin and no heaven.

God’s will for you is to grow in Him. Spiritual growth is God’s desire for His children. As we grow in Him our relationship with Him will deepen and thus be profitable for both us and the Lord.

Some helpful points to consider.

Read a book through - When you read a letter, you start with the first page and end with the last page. You can only grasp the Bible if you read a whole book. This is how I read the Bible. I start chapter 1 of a book and read it all the way through. If you are new to reading the Bible, I suggest you start with the Gospel of John.

Do not read fast or too much - I recommend you read what you can manage to take in at a time. If you have the ability to take in 10 chapters a day, then do so. If you can only take in 2 chapters a day, then do so. Also do not read the Bible like a newspaper. Don’t scan over the passage but read it carefully and prayerfully. Study the passage also.

Learn to feed your soul daily – Most people eat every day. Food for our physical bodies is something we never forget to do. We should have the attitude toward food for our souls. Our motto when we wake up should be, “No Bible, No Breakfast.” We also need to find the best time of day for reading our Bibles. For some it will be morning before the day starts, for others it will be evenings. For many, evenings is the best time to relax and sit down with the Scriptures. Whenever we read our Bible, we should read it as often as we can. I do my reading mainly in the evenings, but always start the day with prayer.

Christian resources and books - Read a good commentary about the passage you have just read. Listen to a sermon on the topic or passage you are reading. Click on a few of the links in the “Recommended Websites” that you can find on the sidebar, towards the end of the page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts on Repentance

Is your sin causing you to live with a burden of guilt? Repentance and turning to God is the answer to our sorrows. By getting right with God your life will be more peaceful. 1 John 1:9-10 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

Repentance is when your mind is changed about sin, yourself, and how you view God. Repentance is a command of God. He commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 11:30). Repentance is also a gift from God. The Lord grants repentance to sinners (2 Timothy 2:25).

Humble yourself

You cannot lie to God because He knows all things. Every word, thought, and deed God knows about already. So do not start making excuses for your sin and try to justify your wrongs before God. That is not humility. God is against the proud in heart, but He gives grace to the humble. James 4:10 reminds us, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 continues, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” We are to put things right if a wrong has been committed. If something has been stolen, give it back. If you have lied about something, tell the truth.

Trust God

You must believe that God can and will forgive you of your sin. If you distrust God’s mercy and grace, you will soon lose faith in God’s attributes and His power over sin. Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” 1 Peter 2:24 reminds us of Jesus’s finished work on the cross, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”

Evaluate your sin

Examine your heart. Who was hurt and who did you sin against? How has your sin impacted your Christian walk and other people?

Ultimately all sins are against God as you are accountable to Him. The Psalmist David said, “Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge” (Psalm 51:4). David expressed true repentance in Psalm 51. The lesson in Psalm 51 is sin has an effect. Sin is damaging to your heart, mind, soul, friends, family, church, and society. Romans 12:3 says, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” Pride is a root of sinfulness. Proudness of heart is the opposite of humbleness. Do not repent in a hypocritical manner. For example, some might try to repent to get something in return. In fact, this belief is not repentance at all. We repent not for ourselves but for God.

Repentance is given to us to bring glory to God. Here are seven Scripture verses and thoughts for you to consider and pray about when dealing with the topic of repentance.

·       Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.”

 

·       Leviticus 5:5 says, “‘So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned.”

·       Matthew 4:17 says, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

·       Mark 6:12 says, “They went out and preached that men should repent.”

·       Acts 2:38 says, “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

·       Acts 3:19 says, “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

·       Luke 24:47 says, “and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

 

 

 

 

The Seven Dispensations

Dispensationalism teaches that God deals with mankind in different ways in different periods of time. Normally there are seven dispensations of God throughout history. Some people believe there are 5 or 9 dispensations. However, there are at least seven clear dispensations found in Scripture from a Classic Dispensational viewpoint. In this short article, I aim to set out what the seven dispensations are. I am merely writing this as an academic study and not from my personal viewpoint on the topic.

1. Innocence (Gen 1-3)

The first dispensation found in Scripture covers the period of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God made commands in this dispensation. They were to fill the earth with children, subdue the earth, have dominion over the animals, care for the garden and not eat from the tree of knowledge. God told Adam and Eve that the consequences of breaking his commandment would be physical and spiritual death. This dispensation ended when Adam and Eve sinned and were kicked out of the Garden of Eden.

2. Conscience (Gen 4-8)

This dispensation lasted for about 1,600 years from the time of Adam and Eve until the flood. In this dispensation, God teaches us that left to our own conscience and will mankind will choose sin over holiness. There are five major points in this dispensation. They are as follows a curse on the serpent, pains in childbearing, a curse on nature, the hardship of work and the promise of God to send the Messiah who will bruise Satan’s head.

3. Human Government (Gen 9-11)

Under this dispensation, God had already destroyed life on earth with a flood saving just 8 people to replenish the earth. God made promises to Noah and his family under this dispensation. God promised to never curse the earth again with a worldwide flood and the rainbow is a sign of this promise. God allowed the eating of meat and the establishment of capital punishment under this dispensation. Noah and his family had dominion over the animal kingdom also. Under this dispensation, Noah and his family had the responsibility of replenishing and filling the earth. About 325 years after the flood the inhabitants began to build a tower of human pride (Gen 11:7-9). God brought this to an end and confused the languages of the world. The reason why we have so many different languages and cultures is because of the Tower of Babel. From this point on human government has been part of the world.

4. Promise (Gen 12 – Exod 11)

The fourth dispensation began with the call of Abraham and ended with the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt. This period of time covers about 430 years. During this time period, God made a great nation that he chose to be His people (Genesis 12:1-Exodus 19:25). The main point in this dispensation is the Abrahamic Covenant. Here are some key points under this covenant. From Abraham, a great nation would arise and God would bless that nation. God would make the name of Abraham great and would bless those who blessed Abraham and curse those who cursed Abraham. God promised that in Abraham all the families of the world would be blessed which is fulfilled in Christ’s death on the cross. The sign of this covenant is circumcision.

5. Law (Exod 12-Acts 1)

The next dispensation lasted almost 1500 years from the time of the Exodus until after the death of Christ. It is believed that this dispensation of law will continue during the millennial reign of Christ. During this dispensation, God deals specifically with the nation of Israel and the Jewish people by what is called the Mosaic Covenant (Exd 19-23). As a result of continual rejection of God the tribes of Israel lost the promised land and were scattered over the earth.

6. Church/Grace (Acts 2-Rev)

This dispensation is where we are now. We are currently living in the “Church Age” or “Age of Grace.” It is clear to see that we do live in a time of grace. God is not pouring out his wrath and judgment on the world like he did in Genesis, for example. The Church Age began with the New Covenant in Christ’s blood (Luke 22:20). It is a matter of debate when the Church Age started. However, the most likely and clearest view from Scripture is the day the Lord poured out his spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The Church Age of God’s grace will end with the Rapture of the church (1 Thess 4). Our responsibility in this dispensation is to repent and believe the Gospel. This dispensation has lasted for over 2000 years and the time it will end is known only unto God.

7. Kingdom (Rev 20)

The seventh and last dispensation is called the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. This dispensation will last for 1000 years when Christ shall reign as Judge on earth. This is often called the Second Coming of Christ. The only people that will be allowed to enter this Kingdom of Christ will be those who are born-again believers from the Church Age and all the Old Testament saints that were saved by faith in God. This dispensation will end with the final judgment (Rev 20:11-14). The world will be destroyed by fire and a New Heaven and a New Earth will be established (Rev 21-22).

Conclusion

In closing, I would just like to say the following. If you disagree with dispensationalism then you must acknowledge that there are at least two distinct dispensations in the Bible, Old Testament and New Testament. You must acknowledge that there is a difference between how God is working through the Old Testament law and how He works in the New Testament Church. There are laws in the Old Testament that are not for us today, but for a time in history for Israel.

It’s a common misunderstanding that dispensationalism teaches different ways of salvation. Salvation in the Old Testament is the same in the New Testament. Salvation has and will always be by faith. In the Old Testament people were saved by believing in the promises of God and that He would send the Messiah through the line of David. In the Old Testament salvation was by looking forward to the cross and in the New Testament we look backwards to the cross. Salvation has never been by works.

Those who believe in dispensationalism are often accused of rejecting the teaching of covenants. This is not true. Dispensational Christians do believe in covenants. They typically believe in five Biblical covenants they are Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic and Messianic. However, this is not to be confused with Covenant Theology which Dispensationalists do not believe in. Covenant Theology teaches three covenants of God. They are the Covenant of Redemption, Covenant of Works and Covenant of Grace. Covenant Theology does not make a clear distinction between Israel and the Church, unlike Dispensationalism does. The other major difference between the two is the literal 1000-year reign of Christ on earth. Dispensationalism teaches that Christ will reign on earth for a literal thousand years as Covenant Theology does not promote a literal thousand-year reign.

It is also worth mentioning the topic of Replacement Theology. Those who believe in Covenant Theology believe that God has finished with the Nation of Israel and that the Church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people. Dispensationalism teaches that the Nation of Israel has been set aside for now in this current dispensation of the Church Age, but God is not finished with the Nation of Israel and there will be a time of national repentance and revival in Israel among the Jewish people.

 

The Dark Legacy of John Calvin: Biblical Justification for Executing Heretics

John Calvin’s understanding of the Bible legitimized the execution of his theological rivals. While he did not personally execute anyone or ignite any fires that burned heretics, Calvin’s interpretations of both the Old and New Testaments asserted that such capital punishments were in accordance with divine will.

How was that justified? Calvin held that not all Old Covenant laws were negated by the New Covenant introduced by Jesus. He rejected the straightforward interpretation of Hebrews, which claims, “God has made the first covenant obsolete” (Hebrews 8:13). He also sidestepped Paul’s assertion: “the Law became a tutor to lead us to Christ and now that faith has come we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:24-25; cf. Rom 10:4). Calvin dismissed these New Testament teachings and maintained that the moral laws from the Old Covenant, particularly those in the Torah, still held relevance. Consequently, he perceived it as a moral imperative to execute anyone who distorted his “pristine doctrine.”

Calvin explicitly invoked Leviticus 24:16 to support the execution of heretics, stating, “The one who blasphemes the name of the Lord should be put to death; all the congregation must stone him. Any foreigner or native who blasphemes the Name should be put to death.” Despite Jesus’ command to “love your enemies,” Calvin endorsed and advocated the execution of his theological adversaries. He also ignored Paul’s guidance regarding how to interact with those who hold differing theological views: “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24-25). Rather than engaging in patient dialogue, Calvin solicited executions, issued death threats, and expressed gratitude to God for the suffering inflicted upon heretics. He articulated his theologically motivated vengeance in a personal letter. “I am persuaded that it is not without the special will of God that, apart from any verdict of the judges, the criminals have endured protracted torment at the hands of the executioner.” (Calvin’s letter to Farel on 24 July).

Calvin believed that God ensured criminals experienced prolonged suffering during torture. His vengeful mindset and support for antiquated Old Covenant laws, which advocated capital punishment against theological rivals, resemble actions more aligned with ISIS than those of Jesus.

John Calvin’s Conflict with Heretics

Personal letters and documents from the city council reveal John Calvin’s significant influence in Geneva. Although he was expelled in 1538 for imposing his strict moral codes and advocating the church’s authority to excommunicate individuals, officials in Geneva invited him back in 1541 to help resolve church discord. After his return, the city council approved his Ecclesiastical Ordinances, which established the Consistory, a church tribunal that governed the moral conduct of Geneva’s citizens. This body convened weekly to examine cases, and although the Consistory lacked the authority to imprison, exile, or execute offenders, Calvin could persuade city magistrates to exercise such powers against those who opposed him theologically.

When Jacques Gruet, a theologian with differing opinions, placed a note in Calvin’s pulpit labeling him a hypocrite, he was arrested, tortured for a month, and executed by beheading on July 26, 1547. Gruet’s theological writings were subsequently destroyed, and his home was burned down, while his wife was forced into the street to witness the devastation.

 

Michael Servetus, a Spanish physician and biblical scholar, faced a more horrific fate. He was a longstanding acquaintance of Calvin who resisted Roman Catholic Church authority. However, upon returning a copy of Calvin’s Institutes with critical annotations, he angered Calvin. Calvin’s response, revealed in a letter to a friend, was: “Servetus offers to come hither, if it be agreeable to me. But I am unwilling to pledge my word for his safety, for if he shall come, I shall never permit him to depart alive, provided my authority be of any avail.” (Letter to Farel, 13 February 1546).

On Servetus’s next visit to Calvin’s Sunday service, he was arrested and charged with heresy, facing 38 official accusations, including the denial of the Trinity and infant baptism. The city magistrates sentenced him to death. Calvin advocated for a beheading rather than burning at the stake, but his plea was disregarded. While some may interpret this as a sign of Calvin’s compassion for a less brutal method of execution, it ultimately reveals his support for the death of Servetus and all heretics.

On October 27, 1553, Servetus was subjected to a fire made of green wood, which made his execution a slow and torturous process as he was baked alive from his feet upward. For half an hour, he cried out for mercy and prayed to Jesus while the flames ascended his body, consuming the theological book strapped to him as a representation of his heresy. Calvin later summarized Servetus’s execution as follows: “Servetus . . . suffered the penalty due to his heresies, but was it by my will? Certainly, his arrogance destroyed him no less than his impiety. And what crime was it of mine if our Council, at my exhortation, indeed, but in conformity with the opinion of several Churches, took vengeance on his execrable blasphemies?” – Calvin.

How could such cruelty be justified? In November 1552, the Geneva Council declared Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion to be a, “holy doctrine which no man might speak against.” Disagreement with Calvin’s understanding of God was considered a crime worthy of death under his interpretation of Leviticus 24:16. The records from Geneva’s city council describe an incident where a man who publicly opposed Calvin’s doctrine of predestination was whipped in all the major intersections of the city and then expelled (“The Minutes Book of the Geneva City Council, 1541-59,” translated by Stefan Zweig, Erasmus: The Right to Heresy). Disagreeing with Calvin was not tolerated in Geneva.

Flawed Biblical Interpretation Can Lead to Death

John Calvin asserted, “Whoever shall now contend that it is unjust to put heretics and blasphemers to death, knowingly and willingly incur their guilt. It is not human authority that speaks, it is God who speaks and prescribes a perpetual rule for His Church.”

While most poor biblical interpretation results in disappointment in a non-biblical concept of God, anxiety over His demands, or a false sense of security based on biased beliefs, it can also lead to death. John Calvin used his flawed biblical interpretation to justify murder. This does not define his entire life or his contributions to the Protestant church, but it serves as a lesson from a grave misstep. It is my view that culture ought not to distort our obedience to Scripture. I want my values to be shaped by Scripture, not the other way around.

John Calvin followed Augustine’s biblical rationale for executing heretics. Augustine defended extreme measures through his interpretation of Jesus’ Great Banquet parable found in Luke 14:16-24. In the narrative, when the master could not fill his banquet, he instructed his servants in Luke 14:23 “to compel people to come so that my house will be filled.” Both Augustine and Calvin believed that executing heretics would “compel” more individuals to join their faith community. Interpreting “compulsion” as justification for killing, without recognizing Jesus’ other teaching to “love your enemies,” signifies a profound hermeneutical error. Every aspect of Jesus’ teachings should be understood in the context of the entirety of his message.

 

Regeneration, Calvinism, and Biblical Truth

The Holmon Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines regeneration as a “special act of God in which the recipient is passive. God alone awakens the person spiritually through the power of His Holy Spirit. Both the OT and NT also speak of the renewing of the individual. In a technical sense the act of regeneration takes place at the moment of conversion as the individual is spiritually awakened.”

The definition above is a good description of the new birth in Christ that all believers experience. The term “regeneration” comes from the Greek word palingenesia and is used only twice in the Bible. Firstly, in Matthew 19:28 and secondly in Titus 3:5. Regeneration means, “born again”, or “new creation” (“palin” = again; “genesia” = birth). The term “new birth” does not appear in the Bible. However, the teaching of the new birth does. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “So if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”

What is Regeneration?

Regeneration is a one-time experience of receiving new life through faith in Christ. A change sets in the heart, mind, and soul of a sinner at the point of regeneration. When a soul has been regenerated the work of sanctification begins. Sanctification is the work of God’s grace in the life of the Christian to make him/her more like Christ. The life of the Christian is one of sanctification as we live to bring glory to God by living according to his design and purpose. When we become a Christian our desires, affections, and interests change. We once lived according to our own desires, affections, and interests. However, now as a regenerate person in Christ we seek to live according to the will of God and his desires, affections, and interests. The old nature remains within the believer, and this is why believers are encouraged to walk in the spirit of God and to seek Him daily.

Regeneration and Reformed Theology

Reformed Theology (Calvinism) teaches that regeneration precedes faith. Since the natural man is dead and unable to respond to the gospel, he must first be regenerated so that he can receive the gift of faith. This work of regeneration according to Reformed theology will only happen in the soul of the elect of God. This takes place as God calls the sinner by irresistible grace.

American Reformed theologian and founder of Ligonier Ministries, Dr. R. C. Sproul (1939-2017) said this regarding regeneration.  “In regeneration, God changes our hearts. He gives us a new disposition, a new inclination. He plants a desire for Christ in our hearts. We can never trust Christ for our salvation unless we first desire Him. This is why we said earlier that regeneration precedes faith” (R. C. Sproul, Chosen by God, Tyndale Publishers, p. 118).

Jay E. Adams (1929 – 2020) a leading American Reformed author wrote in his book, Competent To Counsel, “Only God can bring life to dead souls to enable them to believe. He does this when and where and how He pleases by His Spirit, who regenerates, or gives life leading to faith...As a reformed Christian, the writer believes that counselors must not tell any unsaved counselee that Christ died for him, for they cannot say that. No man knows except Christ Himself who are His elect for whom He died” (Jay E. Adams, Competent To Counsel, p. 70).

Contrary to what the Reformed position teaches the Bible on the other hand teaches that new birth happens after an unregenerate sinner expresses and embraces faith in Christ. Upon our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit enters our soul and regenerates us. This is taught in 2 Corinthians 5:17. The Bible encourages sinners to place their trust in Christ. In Acts 16:31 the Bible calls on sinners to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. If people are unable to believe without God first regenerating them, the biblical calls to believe are pointless.

The unregenerate sinner is called by the preaching of the gospel. The Bible says, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). It is the gospel that draws all men unto the Saviour. It is the gospel that convicts hearts to believe. It is the gospel that encourages faith in Christ. Although the unregenerate man is dead in his sins and trespasses against God this does not mean to say he is unable to express faith in the Saviour. The Bible places a lot of emphasis on the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God poured out on sinners. We are only able to accept the gift of salvation if we exercise faith and receive that gift.

Calvin, Regeneration and Salvation

Reformed theology teaches that an unborn infant can be regenerated, even though they have no understanding of Christ or the gospel. Upon birth, infant baptism is to be performed as a sign that the child is regenerate. If Reformed believers are faithful to the teachings of John Calvin, then they would believe that all the children born to believing parents are regenerated in the womb. Calvin believed that God grants faith to infants in the womb.

John Calvin wrote in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, “But how, they ask, are infants regenerated, when not possessing a knowledge of either good or evil? We answer, that the work of God, though beyond the reach of our capacity, is not therefore null. Infants who are to be saved (and that some are saved at this age is certain) must, without question, be regenerated by the Lord.”

Calvin also wrote in the Institutes of the Christian Religion on the same topic. “Many He certainly has called and endued with true knowledge of Himself, by internal means, by the illumination of the Spirit, without the intervention of preaching.”

How can the Calvinist know that one day his children will come to Christ? Is there any way of knowing if children are elect? John Calvin suggested that all the children of the elect will be saved. Calvin writes, “Our children, before they are born, God declares that He adopts for His own when He promises He will be a God to us, and to our seed after us. In this promise their salvation is included.”

Again, this is problematic for many leading Calvinists today. For example, take John Piper’s son, Abraham Piper. At age 19, he was excommunicated from his father's church after he rejected the faith. He was restored to membership four years later, but later rejected the faith again.

The view that the children of elect parents are also elect is mere speculation. If it is true then we do not need to concern ourselves with the spiritual condition of our children, as they are going to be saved at some point on the bases that their parents are elect. A Calvinist may find hope and comfort in this doctrine, but they must consider the possibility of their children never coming to a saving knowledge of Christ, and what that means for them and their children. If it is true that all children born to elect parents will come to the Saviour, what does it mean if they never do? Does it mean that the parents were never elect?

Scripture teaches that salvation is a matter of personal faith and a personal relationship with the living God. Salvation is not based on the family you are born to. We are not saved because our parents are saved, but because we ourselves possess faith in Christ. It is important that we teach our children from a young age the truths of the Bible because, “the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).

What Does Scripture Say

The Reformed view on regeneration is not in keeping with the teaching of the Bible. The Holy Scriptures say that the gift of salvation, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, eternal life, and regeneration never precede faith, but is the result, the evidence of faith.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.” The Bible says in this verse that belief comes before salvation.

Faith in Christ is the condition of salvation. In Acts 16:31 the Bible says, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Again, the order of salvation is clear; believe comes first then salvation. Regeneration is not a condition for salvation, faith is (Rom. 5:1 & Eph. 1:13).

Bible teacher Samuel Ridout, wrote about the great importance of faith prior to new life. He wrote, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (I Peter 1:23). New birth is by the word of God. That it is a sovereign act of God, by His Spirit, none can question. But this verse forbids us from separating, as has sometimes been done, new birth from faith in the gospel. It has been taught that new birth precedes faith; here we are told that the Word of God is the instrument in new birth. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”; “the word which by the gospel is preached.” Thus while we can distinguish between faith and new birth, we cannot separate them. John 3:3 and 3:16 must ever go together. There is no such anomaly possible as a man born again, but who has not yet believed the gospel” (Samuel Ridout, Numerical Bible).

Dr. John Walvoord, former president of Dallas Theological Seminary, also wrote on the necessity of faith before eternal life or regeneration is received. He said, “Eternal life is not possessed until faith in Christ is exercised. Eternal life is not to be confused with efficacious grace, or that bestowal of grace which is antecedent to faith. Eternal life is to be identified with regeneration and is received in the new birth. It is resultant rather than causative of salvation, but is related to conversion or the manifestation of the new life in Christ” (Wycliffe Dictionary of Theology, p. 195).

Calvinist will use Ezekiel 36:26 as a proof text for their view that regeneration precedes faith. Ezekiel 36:26 says, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” However, the Calvinist viewpoint is not supported by this verse. This verse is not about believers and their salvation, but rather about the prophetic “house of Israel” which is found in verse 17. The context here is what God will do to restore Israel to her land.

Earlier in the Book of Ezekiel the Bible says, “Cast away from you all your transgressions wherewith ye have transgressed, and make you a new heart and a new spirit: why then will ye die, house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 18:31). Here the emphasis is placed on man’s responsibility for a new heart. The condition of the new heart here is repentance.

C. H. Spurgeon’s View and Logic on Regeneration

The Baptist Preacher C. H. Spurgeon is a well-known and respected figure throughout Christianity. Mr. Spurgeon is known as the “prince of preachers”. He is also a Calvinist. C. H. Spurgeon saw the difficulty with the Reformed view of regeneration. Even though he held on to his Calvinist school of thought he also spoke against the classic Reformed view on the subject of regeneration. In his sermon, Warrant of Faith, preached in 1863 he said, “If I am to preach faith in Christ to a man who is regenerated, then the man, being regenerated, is saved already, and it is an unnecessary and ridiculous thing for me to preach Christ to him, and bid him to believe in order to be saved when he is saved already, being regenerate. Am! only to preach faith to those who have it? Absurd, indeed! Is not this waiting till the man is cured and then bringing him the medicine? This is preaching Christ to the righteous and not to sinners.”

Spurgeon saw a few problems with the typical Reformed view. Firstly, regeneration prior to faith will be a stumbling block to the preaching of the gospel. This is because if someone is already regenerated then preaching the gospel of faith and repentance would be pointless. Secondly, it eliminates the fact of the spiritual battle in soul-winning for Christ. Spurgeon said, “...and bid him to believe in order to be saved when he is saved already...Am I only to preach faith to those who have it?” Spurgeon also said, “Is not this waiting till the man is cured and then bringing him the medicine?”

Consequences of the Reformed View of Regeneration

We must state the fact that some great Reformed men have been used by God in the proclamation of the gospel and the saving of souls. Men such as C.H. Spurgeon, George Whitefield, William Carey, and others have been used by God to bring many to Christ. This was despite the inconsistency between their theological stance and the gospel message they preached.

To the Calvinist, the preaching of the gospel is a pointless exercise if the person you are witnessing to has not been regenerate. According to the Reformed tradition the natural man must first be regenerate before he can receive the gift of faith, which is sovereignly and irresistibly granted by God alone. According to the Calvinist viewpoint there is nothing an unsaved person can do to produce regeneration because he is spiritually dead and has no desire to believe. The Calvinist doctrine of total depravity teaches the utter inability, desire, and will of man to learn the truths of God revealed in Holy Scripture. The Calvinist hold the view that faith is wholly of God and is one of the effects of regeneration.

There is not a single example or text in the New Testament that teaches the unbeliever to pray for regeneration. The Bible teaches that Christ has paid the penalty of sin and purchased salvation for all those who by faith receive the gift of salvation.

Conclusion

Our Lord and Saviour said in John 17:3, “And this is the eternal life, that they should know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” It is a strange doctrine to believe that someone is “regenerated” by God, but does not know Christ by faith. Lewis Sperry Chafer in his Systematic Theology explains regeneration and the relationship to Christ. Chafer writes, “The important fact, never to be forgotten in the doctrine of regeneration, is that the believer in Christ has received eternal life. This fact must be kept free from all confusion of thought arising from the concept of regeneration which makes it merely an antecedent of salvation, or a preliminary quickening to enable the soul to believe. It is rather the very heart of salvation” (L S. Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. VI, (Dallas, TX: Dallas Seminary Press, 1948), p. 117).

The Word of God teaches that sinners receive eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Our Lord said that he is “the way, the truth, and the life” in John 14:6. Since Christ is “the life” the Holy Spirit must bring us to union with Him. He that has Christ has his life, and he that does not have Christ does not have life (1 John 5:12).

The work of regeneration is conditioned on faith. Faith must precede new birth. The spiritual order of God’s work of regeneration is best summarized by theologian and writer, Sir Robert Anderson, “It is by the Word that the sinner is born again to God. As Scripture declares, ‘We are born again by the word of God”— living and eternally abiding word of God.” And to bar all error, it is added: “And this is the word by which the gospel is preached unto you “— preached, as the Apostle has already said, “with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.” Not the Spirit without the Word, nor the Word without the Spirit, but the Word preached in the power of the Spirit. God is never arbitrary; but He is always sovereign. Men preach; the Spirit breathes; and dry bones live. Thus sinners are born again to God” (Sir Robert Anderson, Redemption Truths, (Kilmarnock, GB: Ritchie, 1940), p. 152).

Credits: Although I have written this paper the main bulk of the article is the work of David Dunlap. It is taken from his work entitled Limiting Omnipotence--The Consequences of Calvinism.

See this link for more information. https://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/reformed/ddregen.htm