Just as here has been misconception over the doctrine of the atonement due to the rise of Arminianism, there has also been misconceptions about regeneration. Because of Arminianism, most have been taught that regeneration (being born again) happens after one repents and believes. Now, to be fair, there are some who would label themselves as Reformed or Calvinistic who would also believe this as well. However, the issue that is at hand is in regards to the freedom of the will. If man is dead in his transgressions and sins, and if his heart is corrupt and his mind darkened, how can he turn himself to God in repentance and faith? The denial that a work of God is needed first to free the person from the bondage of sin and give them a change of desire is basically to deny the doctrine of pervasive or total depravity that we discussed earlier in this series.
Rather, what we see is that because depravity has broken us in all areas, there needs to be an act of God that institutes a change in desire and the making of a new heart, which enables His elect to respond to the gospel in repentance and faith. This change of heart is called regeneration (or being born again) and the means is effectual calling.
First, let's look at the biblical teaching on regeneration.
Regeneration
1. Regeneration- The Greek word for regeneration is only found in Matt. 19:28 and Titus 3:5, and only in this last passage does it refer to the beginning of new life. The idea more commonly connected to regeneration is “born again”. The derivatives of this Greek word are found in John’s gospel, 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1,4,18. The term “made alive” is also used in connection with the concept of regeneration (Eph. 2:5).
2. In the context, the implication of these terms is - a) regeneration is a creative work of God, and is therefore a work in which man is purely passive, and which, because of total depravity, there is no place for human cooperation. This is called monergisn. Synergism teaches that man and God cooperate in regeneration. b) the creative work of God produces new life. c) the distinction between generation and bringing forth. Generation implants the principle of new life, and new birth causes this principle to begin to assert itself in action.
A few verse that speak very clearly on the matter are John 1:12-13 and John 3:3. John 1:12-13 reads "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
This verse is often glossed over and used to teach that the believing (vs 12) happens before the being born of God (vs 13). However, when we look at the Greek, this is not the case. Also, the way it reads in English, should give us some indication. John is saying that those who believe where those who were born of God. It was not dependent upon their willing. the Greek makes this point more emphatic:
"as received Him"- this is a verb that indicates a summary action. Indeed, those that have received Christ are given the rights to become children of God.
"those who believe in His name"- like John 3:16, this literally reads, "the believing ones."
"who were born...of God." In the Greek, it literally reads "those not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of men, but were born of God." The phrase "were born of God" is used in a way that it is meant to take us to an action that takes place prior to the main action of this sentence, which is "received Him." In essence, the being "born of God" precedes the receiving of Christ. John's gospel is very predestinarian in concept, and he opens his letter with the statement that only those who are born of God can receive Christ and become God's children.
In John 3:3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that one cannot even see the kingdom of God without first being born again. Thus, being regenerated, or born again, must happen before the things of the kingdom can even be understood.
3. Defining it- Summing up everything above, Regeneration is the act of God by which he implants the principle of new life in man, and the disposition of man is made holy, thus the first exercise of this holy disposition towards God is made secure
Now, let's turn our attention to effectual calling.
Effectual Calling
Effectual calling has to do with the “ effectiveness” of God’s call on a person’s life for salvation. Effectual calling is manifested in two ways.
1. External calling- this refers to when the proclamation of the gospel is heard. In order for someone to be effectually called, they must hear the gospel
2. Internal calling- the Word that is heard externally, is made effective internally. Thus, not everyone who hears the external word will have the internal call. The internal call has to do with the fact that the Spirit applies savingly the message preached. This type of effectual call is seen in Paul’s use of the word “the called”. We also see this in John.
Let's look at the biblical evidence for effectual calling:
Repeatedly in his letters, Paul refers to Christians as "the called." This is not the type of calling that people refer to as to why they chose one job over another, or one church over another. Rather, as Romans 8:30 presents it, it is something that is related to those who were "predestined' and became "justified." In other words, this calling came specifically to those who believed in Jesus (the elect).
The kind of calling referred to here (and elsewhere in Paul) is a kind of divine summonings from the King of the Universe. It is a summoning that cannot be denied. This summoning brings about an effectual change in the heart of God's elect (regeneration), thus bringing about the desired response in their new heart. This act is an act of God the FAther, speaking through the proclamation of the gospel, in which He draws His elect to Himself in such a way that they respond in repentance and faith.
When God calls His elect, He calls them "out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9); into His own kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2:12; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Peter 1:3)
Relationship Between Effectual Calling and Regeneration
1. Regeneration is the begetting again, and takes place at the sub-conscious level. Effectual calling addresses itself to the conscious level. Regeneration flows from within, while calling flows from without. Regeneration is an operation of the Holy Spirit in which man is brought from one condition into another. Effectual calling is teleological. It draws out the new life and points it in a God-ward direction. Effectual calling is what secures the exercises of the new disposition and brings new life into action.
2. The order- the external preaching of the word comes first, by which the Holy Spirit then imparts new life. Then, by a creative word, God generates the new life, thus changing the inner disposition, illuminating the mind, changing the will, etc. This act of regeneration enables one to hear the call and the gospel is now brought effectively into the heart of man. The desire to resist has been changed to a desire to obey, and the sinner yields to the influence of the Word through the operation of the Spirit. This is the effectual call through the instrumentality of the word of preaching effectively applied by the Spirit. Effectual calling secure the first holy exercise of the new will and disposition that is born in the soul. Thus effectual calling can be seen as the final step in the work of regeneration, which then turns into conversion. Effectual calling is God the Father speaking powerfully to us, and regeneration is God the Father and God the Holy Spirit working powerfull in us to make us alive. These two things happen at the same time.
Historically, this has been referred to as irresistible grace, meaning that the call of God and His grace change the sinner's resistance to the gospel. In the next post we will look at some objections to the doctrine of irresistible grace.