By Mark W. Christy, PhD
Robert Wilkin in his book, Is Calvinism Biblical?,[i] offers an argument against the idea that regeneration precedes faith based on Christ’s words in John 6:35: “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst[ii].” From the verse that follows, it is clear that Jesus is speaking to non-believers. In John 6:35, he clearly tells non-believers to come first so that they may be saved eternally. With this in view, Wilkin boldly argues that faith precedes regeneration as opposed to the Calvinistic view that regeneration occurs first (27).
Before considering this further, it is essential that regeneration be defined. The doctrine of regeneration is often referred to as the new birth or being born again. More specifically, it is God’s enabling of person who is dead in their sins (and therefore unsaved) to respond to the gospel so as to receive salvation. It is sometimes referring to as saving grace, empowering (unto faith and repentance) grace, and the Father’s drawing. This regenerative work, according to the doctrine of regeneration, occurs in the inner person and affects their will and desires.
After reviewing the definition of regeneration, it should be painfully obvious that John 6:35 fails to reprove this doctrine. While this verse does discuss a person’s coming to Christ to receive salvation, it does not offer any details on how (or if) they were enabled to come by God. As if this were not enough, John 6:44 essentially adds content that supports the idea of divine enabling unto salvation: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day” (cf. James 1:18).
[i]Robert Wilkin, Is Calvinism Biblical?: Let the Scriptures Decide (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2017).
[ii]All Scripture references are taken from NASB1995.