E-mail: bk-oyen@hotmail.com
Are we born again by faith in Jesus Christ? Or, do we need to be born again in order to have faith in him? Unfortunately, some 5-point Calvinists say the new birth precedes faith. Their view means we are passive when it comes to being born again. Their view means God causes us to be born again, the inevitable result of which is faith in the Savior. This means the choice is not ours, but God's.
But I am in agreement with John MacArthur's view on the new birth, as found in his 1-volume commentary on the Bible. In his comments on John 3:3 he wrote, "New birth is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the believer (2Cor. 5;17; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5;1,4,18). John 1:12, 13 indicates that 'born again' also carries the idea 'to become children of God' through trust in the name of the incarnate Word." In his comments on John 3:11- 21 he wrote, " The key word in these verses is 'believe,' used seven times. The new birth must be appropriated by an act of faith."
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