[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I'm looking for some advice/opinions from fellow Calvinists regarding a situation I'm in. I won't go into detail because it's unnecessary. The main issue is pretty simple. I'm a 5-Point Calvinist. As a Calvinist, I wouldn't sign a Statement of Faith that included the statements (#6 and #8) at the end of this post, because I think that they're theologically inaccurate. [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Some people who consider themselves Calvinists have told me that the statements are not inconsistent with Calvinism. I haven't been able to convince them that they're wrong. [/font]
I think #6 implies that saving faith is logically prior to regeneration. I believe that, in terms of logical priority, regeneration precedes saving faith.
I think #8 also implies that saving faith is logically prior to regeneration. The Bible states that we are justified through faith (Romans 5:1) and that we are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8), but I don't think that it states (or implies) that we are regenerated through faith, which is what #8 states. If regeneration precedes saving faith in terms of logical priority (see Acts 16:14), I don't think regeneration can be through saving faith.
Any advice/opinions would be appreciated.
Soli Deo Gloria.
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6. That salvation is by grace alone, through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised according to the Scriptures. Those who thus receive Jesus Christ by faith have their sins forgiven and their consciences cleansed, are born of the Spirit, become children of God, are made a new creation in Christ, and are reconciled to God. (John 1:12-13, 3:5,6,8; Rom. 3:25; I Cor. 15:3-4; II Cor. 5:17,20; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-9; Heb. 9:14; I John 1:9).[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]8. That the Universal Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and have been united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head; and that a local church is to reflect the truth of the Universal Church, particularly in the areas of unity, service, witnessing, and discipleship. (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:23, 2:11-22, 4:1-6).[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Some people who consider themselves Calvinists have told me that the statements are not inconsistent with Calvinism. I haven't been able to convince them that they're wrong. [/font]
I think #6 implies that saving faith is logically prior to regeneration. I believe that, in terms of logical priority, regeneration precedes saving faith.
I think #8 also implies that saving faith is logically prior to regeneration. The Bible states that we are justified through faith (Romans 5:1) and that we are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8), but I don't think that it states (or implies) that we are regenerated through faith, which is what #8 states. If regeneration precedes saving faith in terms of logical priority (see Acts 16:14), I don't think regeneration can be through saving faith.
Any advice/opinions would be appreciated.
Soli Deo Gloria.
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]6. That salvation is by grace alone, through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised according to the Scriptures. Those who thus receive Jesus Christ by faith have their sins forgiven and their consciences cleansed, are born of the Spirit, become children of God, are made a new creation in Christ, and are reconciled to God. (John 1:12-13, 3:5,6,8; Rom. 3:25; I Cor. 15:3-4; II Cor. 5:17,20; Eph. 1:7, 2:8-9; Heb. 9:14; I John 1:9).[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]8. That the Universal Church is composed of all such persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and have been united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head; and that a local church is to reflect the truth of the Universal Church, particularly in the areas of unity, service, witnessing, and discipleship. (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:23, 2:11-22, 4:1-6).[/font]
