Regeneration Precedes Faith
1 Min Read
Where does faith come from? In this brief clip, R.C. Sproul gives the answer that captures the essence of Reformed theology.
This Reformation Month, watch a short video every day on the history and insights of the Protestant Reformation. And don't forget that for this month only, you can request your free digital download of R.C. Sproul’s video teaching series Luther and the Reformation plus the ebook edition of The Legacy of Luther, edited by R.C. Sproul and Stephen Nichols at ligm.in/Reformation. Offer ends October 31, 2019.
Transcript:
Luther said, “justification is by faith alone, but not by faith that is alone,” and then he went on to say, “the faith that justifies,” Luther said, “is a fides viva;” a living faith, a faith that is alive. Where does that faith come from? And this question probably more than any other is what defines the essence of reformed theology. If there’s one phrase that captures the essence of reformed theology, it is the little phrase, regeneration precedes faith. That is the power of faith, the power of believing, is a result not of an act of our will independently, but it is the fruit of God’s sovereign act of changing the disposition of our hearts and giving to us the gift of faith.