No one is REGENERATED with the Holy Spirit before they have faith.
[1Co 2:14 NASB] 14 But
a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for
they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
[2Co 4:3-6 NASB] 3 And even if
our gospel is veiled,
it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has
blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For
God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness,"
is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Only those with spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear CAN have faith ... otherwise the Gospel is just foolishness to them.
No one is given faith to make them believe and obey.
[Jhn 6:44-45 NASB] 44 "
No one can come to Me
unless the Father who sent Me
draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.'
Everyone who has
heard and learned from the Father,
comes to Me.
[Phl 2:12-13 NASB] 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is
God who is at work in you,
both to will and to work for [His] good pleasure.
God draws, teaches and is at work in us both to “will and to work”.
No one is given the Holy Spirit until they have faith with obedience.
[Act 10:44-48 NASB] 44
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we [did,] can he?" 48
And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
Holy Spirit first, THEN obedience.
Faith comes from hearing, being taught, persuaded, and convinced.
[Eph 2:8 NASB] 8 For by grace you have been saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is]
the gift of God;
[Rom 12:3 NASB] 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as
God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Faith is a gift from God.
...
liar, liar. Pants on fire.
