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speratus said:
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Who exercises faith?

Those to whom the Holy Spirit comes through the external Word and Sacrament. Age is no barrier (e.g., John the Baptist who was called in the womb by the salutation of Mary exercised his faith in joy, Luke 1:41-44; the child whom Jesus called believed in Him, Matthew 18:2-6; children who are called through baptism repent, Acts 2: 38, 39).

We know that faith is what justifies, and faith is necessarily exercised by the subject (the regenerated elect person) toward the object of faith (Christ). On the other hand, the subject which regenerates is the Holy Spirit, and the object of regeneration is the elect person. It is necessary for the elect person to be regenerated in order to exercise faith. This being the case, how is it that you say that regeneration is the same thing as justification, when it is clear that regeneration PRECEDES the exercise of faith?


Kyle

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.