Is pre-faith regeneration the teaching of Hyper-Calvinism? Correct me if I’m wrong, but is it not the Reformed view that regeneration is concurrent with faith, instead of antecedent to it.

The following excerpt is from Arthur W. Pink’s article on ‘Saving Faith’. I think I read somewhere that he was tainted with Hyper-Calvinism early in his ministry, but migrated away from it eventually. He argues here that a prior work from God had already been wrought in the jailor prior to his gospel response. This idea, I suppose, is pre-faith regeneration teaching. Do you guys agree with this? Take a superficial glance at it and his reasoning sounds plausible. But what I want to know is if it's biblical! So what I would like to know is if you feel there was a prior work within the jailor, or not.

“No doubt some readers are ready to object to our "harsh" and "sarcastic" statements above by asking, When the question was put "What must I do to be saved?" did not an inspired apostle expressly say "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved?" Can we err, then, if we tell sinners the same thing today? Have we not Divine warrant for so doing? True, those words are found in Holy Writ, and because they are, many superficial and untrained people conclude they are justified in repeating them to all and sundry. But let it be pointed out that Acts 16:31 was not addressed to a promiscuous multitude, but to a particular individual, which at once intimates that it is not a message to be indiscriminately sounded forth, but rather a special word, to those whose characters correspond to the one to whom it was first spoken.

Verses of Scripture must not be wrenched from their setting, but weighed, interpreted, and applied in accord with their context; and that calls for prayerful consideration, careful meditation, and prolonged study; and it is failure at this point which accounts for these shoddy and worthless "messages" of this rush-ahead age. Look at the context of Acts 16:3 1, and what do we find? What was the occasion, and to whom was it that the apostle and his companions said "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?" A sevenfold answer is there furnished, which supplies a striking and complete delineation of the character of those to whom we are warranted in giving this truly evangelistic word. As we briefly name these seven details, let the reader carefully ponder them.

First, the man to whom those words were spoken had just witnessed the miracle-working power of God. "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed" (Acts 16:26). Second, in consequence thereof the man was deeply stirred, even to the point of self-despair: "He drew his sword and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled" (v. 27). Third, he felt the need of illumination: "Then he called for a light" (v. 29). Fourth, his self-complacency was utterly shattered, for he "came trembling" (v. 29). Fifth, he took his proper place (before God)—in the dust, for he "fell down before Paul and Silas" (v. 29). Sixth, he showed respect and consideration for God’s servants, for he "brought them out" (v. 30). Seventh, then, with a deep concern for his soul, he asked, "What must I do to be saved?"

Here, then, is something definite for our guidance—if we are willing to be guided. It was no giddy, careless, unconcerned person, who was exhorted to "simply" believe; but instead, one who gave clear evidence that a mighty work of God had already been wrought within him. He was an awakened soul (v. 27). In his case there was no need to press upon him his lost condition, for obviously he felt it; nor were the apostles required to urge upon him the duty of repentance, for his entire demeanor betokened his contrition. But to apply the words spoken to him unto those who are totally blind to their depraved state and completely dead toward God, would be more foolish than placing a bottle of smelling-salts to the nose of one who had just been dragged unconscious out of the water. Let the critic of this article read carefully through the Acts and see if he can find a single instance of the apostles addressing a promiscuous audience or a company of idolatrous heathen and "simply" telling them to believe in Christ.”


Look forward to your thoughts. God Bless.

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Kevin
Pastor
Primitive Baptist
Pensacola, FL

The Reformed view is that regeneration is the cause of faith (cf. WCF 14.1) and thus logically prior to faith -- though in time they essentially occur simultaneously. I don't think the Bible teaches that we may have people running around regenerate yet without faith, however, faith results from regeneration.

I equate the opening of Lydia's heart (Acts 16:14) with regeneration and nothing less.

See also, R.C. Sproul here: Regeneration Preceeds Faith by R.C. Sproul and Tom Schreiner here: Does regeneration necessarily precede conversion? - 9Marks

Edit: Having said this, I am not necessarily in agreement with Pink's exegesis and conclusions in your quote above.

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Jim
1689 LBCF
Independent Bible Church
North Texas, USA

One of the men from my former session likened it to a bullet and the hole it makes whenever it hits whatever it is. Regeneration is the bullet hitting the surface and faith is the whole resulting from it, but arguably they both "happen" at the same time; however, the hole wouldn't be there without the bullet's impact.

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Dad
Christ Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, RPCGA
Facebook - The Calvinist Vent
Board Rules - Signature Rules - Suggestion Box

It is God that multiplies our sorrows.... God, as a righteous Judge, does it, which ought to silence us under all our sorrows; as many as they are, we have deserved them all, and more: nay, God, as a tender Father, does it for our necessary correction, that we may be humbled for sin, and weaned from the world by all our sorrows; and the good we get by them, with the comfort we have under them, will abundantly balance our sorrows, how greatly soever they are multiplied. - Matthew Henry

Can I recommend you read Redemption Accomplished and Applied by Murray

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Jonathan
Deacon (full time)
Independent Reformed Baptist (BCF 1689)
Tinshill Free Church, Leeds, UK.

Thanks for the recommendation Jonathan. I have read Murray but not that one. I'll check it out.

This sounds like hyper-Calvinism. Try and identify the elect or possible elect and then preach the Gospel to them.

According to hyper-Calvinists it's wrong to preach the Good News indiscriminately because you may be preaching it to the reprobate and therefore going against God's will.

Therefore they try to identify the elect or those who show signs they may be elect, like conviction of sin, and speak to them about the Gospel.

The problem is, apart from the fact that this is erroneous teaching, is that things like conviction of sin don't necessarily mean that the person is regenerated, going to be regenerated, or is elect.

These hyper-Calvinists, some English Baptists, are trying to peer into God's decretive will before it has revealed itself in Providence.

I must say that parts of Pink's exposition are laughable and specious spiritualisation: ' Third, he felt the need of illumination: "Then he called for a light" (v. 29). ' Does that mean when someone asks for the lights to be switched on, that they're ready to be evangelised?

Another problem is that people can be regenerated by the Spirit sometimes with no apparent conviction of sin. I've heard of cases of people e.g. picking up a Bible and reading it, maybe for the first time in their lives, and being regenerated as they read or heard God's Word. Sometimes the Spirit gives conviction of sin after regeneration and conversion, not before. Sometimes there may be e.g. conviction by the Spirit but the individual is not fully aware of it until later.

This is why elders and ministers must also be careful in demanding too particular a pattern of conversion from those who are professing faith or those professing faith for the first time.

See Spurgeon's tackling of such men in:-

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Richard
communicant member, FCoS
Perth, Scotland UK

His Name forever shall endure;
last like the sun it shall:
Men shall be blessed in Him,
and blessed all nations shall Him call (Ps. 72:17)

"You are only to preach to God's dear people, if you go into that pulpit," said a deacon once to a minister. Said the minister, "Have you marked them all on the back, that I may know them?" What is the good of this large chapel if I am only to preach to God's dear people? They are few enough. God's dear people might be held in the vestry. We have many more here besides God's dear people, and how am I to be sure, if I am told to preach only to God's dear people, that somebody else wont take it to himself?

Sermon (No. 34)

Delivered on Sabbath Morning, August 5, 1855, by the
REV. C. H. Spurgeon
At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.

This is slightly off topic. Spurgeon is often seen as the one to turn to with regards to Hyper Calvinism.

Anyone who's ever heard of Spurgeon's "yellow stripe" story quotation should be interested in this. Pyromaniacs: Spurgeon searching for stripes ? apocryphal? Sourcable?

Read the comments and see them attempt to find a primary source for the story. There are a few nice citations on resources dealing with hyper calvinism in there too.

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Ewen
1689 LBCF
Assemblies of God Bible College
Singapore