Umm...No, that is the view of the vast majority of Calvinists. Just google "regeneration precedes faith" and find articles by your favorite Calvinists.
Chafer's systematic theology is one of the few exceptions, if memory serves me.
A mature discussion of Joh 3:3-12 would be fantisic. In fact, I agree with the bulk of modern Calvinist commentators, like D. A Carson (my old prof.) and Tenney, concerning the meaning of the passage. The passage does not help your cause, I must say.
We should also do John chapter 1, since that also seems to be a point of contention. Oh heck, let's do chapters 6 and 10 while we're at it.
Well BB I have found that debating those who believe they, not God, are responsible for their salvation is a useless task.
Those who believe in the big I will always reject the Biblical Doctrines of Grace.
Hardly. My only fear is to be on the wrong side of the issue.
It seems to me that the common theme here among the "Reformed" is that their perspective is the measuring stick.
My measuring stick is Scripture. Let the cards fall where they may. I'm always reforming.
WOW, are you ever wrong. Now you're saying that "the vast majority of Calvinists" claim that faith preceeds regeneration. You're totally wrong. You might as well claim that Calvinists are Arminian.
I googled the first two pages and found none of the sites claiming to be Calvinistic bought into your faith preceeds regeneration theory. Now there were plenty of synergistic sites who argued against regeneration
preceeding faith though.
Yet I see you did not condemn oldregular for this statement...
Well BB I have found that debating those who believe they, not God, are responsible for their salvation is a useless task. Those who believe in the big I will always reject the Biblical Doctrines of Grace.
God is the God of both space and time. He can order things so that all who would believe will hear the gospel.
That's something that nearly everyone can agree with, regardless of their theology.
Any explanations beyond that are certainly worth considering.
Old Regular, you are correct. Working for heaven is a popular doctrine but some will not submit to the Doctrines of Grace and that is a pitiful state to be in. Believing thay you have to manufacture your own self in order to become a child of GOD is a mighty task that goes nowhere.