Are we saved before we believe?

I just visited a site called something like “the state of theology dot com.”

Here is one of the survey questions they asked in 2020 and previous times:

“The Holy Spirit gives a spiritual new birth or new life before a person has faith in Jesus Christ.”

I believe this represents a strongly Calvinistic position.

I also believe that such a position is absolutely mistaken, so were I to take the survey, I would mark “strongly disagree.”

Perhaps some kind and informed Calvinist who stumbles across this site will take the time to upgrade my Bible education on this belief of theirs by supporting it with strictly biblical evidence.

Just leave a reply in the comment box below.

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4 Responses to Are we saved before we believe?

  1. ken sagely says:

    hello jerry good question. titus 3.5 is a good verse on the new birth,regeneration.ken

  2. Jerry says:

    Dear Ken,
    I have heard of this doctrine before, but I do not remember just how Calvinists support it from Scripture.

    In that same report I noticed that they were concerned that there has been a steady shift away from Calvinism to what they call Arminianism.

    My hope is that more Christians will carefully study their Bible to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11), the whole point of Real Bible Study.

    I look forward to hearing from informed Calvinists that might be able to inform me accurately as to the Bible basis of their position.

  3. Howard Clark says:

    Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
    This tells me that sins committed need to be dealt with before reconciliation can take place.

  4. Jerry says:

    Thank you, Howard Clark, for your comment. Romans 3:25 is a most important verse indeed. It helps to read it in more than one English translation. For general reading and Bible study I prefer the KJV. But other translations are often helpful for clearer understanding.

    Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (KJV)

    Rom 3:25 Whom, God, and no other, set forth an Atonement by means of His blood, through faith, to declare His righteousness because of passing over of the sins having previously occurred, (LNT, Lavender New Testament)

    In matters pertaining to the Atonement and the grammar of the original Greek text, the Lavender New Testament is by far the most accurate English translation available.

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