Calvinism and Confusion

An evangelist, several members of a city mission board, and various people in various places have
said to me that faith in Christ must precede regeneration. The evangelist in his sermon told the
audience that first they must put their faith in Christ, then they must repent, and then they must
be born again.
But this is so confusing. And if the people who hear this type of preaching are not confused, it
must be because they do not think about what they hear.
The Bible teaches that man is dead in sin. Before he can do anything spiritual he must be raised
from the dead, or, to use another figure of speech, he must be born again. A dead man cannot do
anything. Now, since faith is a spiritual activity, pleasing to God, a man must be spiritually alive
before he can show the evidences of a spiritual life. That is to say, a sinner must be regenerated
and given a new heart before he can believe in Christ. The carnal mind is enmity against God.
This Calvinistic message is not confusing. It makes sense and can be understood. But to put the
matter in still clearer terms, consider the confusion into which the evangelist throws the doctrine
of justification.
Faith is the sole means of justification. This theme was a major part of the Reformation doctrine.
Justification by faith was the message that swept away Romish superstition, idolatry and
dependence on works. But if faith precedes regeneration, it would be possible for a man to be
justified, to be clothed upon with the righteousness of Christ, and therefore to be saved, without
being born again. Yet the Scripture very definitely says, Ye must be born again. But of what use
would regeneration be, if one is already justified, accepted as guiltless before the throne of God,
pronounced righteous all without being born again? This just does not make sense. It is
confusion.
And it is a shame when evangelistic sermons are full of confusion. The message of redemption
should be made clear and plain. That is why evangelistic sermons should be strongly Calvinistic.
THE SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN JOURNAL. OCTOBER 10, 1956. P. 2-3.