Can One Be Saved Before Having Faith in Christ?
John Calvin was a French Theologian and reformer during the days of the Protestant Reformation. Although John Calvin, who lived in the sixteenth century, did not originate the system of doctrine known as “Calvinism,” he popularized it. One component of this doctrine suggests that babies are born totally depraved because they inherit a sinful nature from their parents. This sinful nature can be traced all the way back to Adam, the first man.
According to the doctrine, since one is born “depraved,” he/she will not and even cannot move himself in the direction of salvation. This means that God, not the sinner, must make the first move and “enable” the sinner to overcome his depravity so that he can believe on Christ. Unless and until God performs a miracle upon the depraved heart of the sinner, thereby enabling him to overcome his alleged depraved nature, the sinner will remain lost. If one dies lost, it is simply because God did not enable that person to overcome his sinful nature so that he could believe and be saved. In other words, that person was not one of “the elect.”
The doctrine further suggests that since sinners are so depraved, if one believes on Christ, this is proof that the sinner has been saved already, that is, before believing on Christ. Think about that. According to some preachers of the day, salvation actually occurs “before” one believes, and belief is proof that one is “already saved.”
The problem with this doctrine is that it is simply false. The Bible teaches that man has a free will so that we may choose to believe on Christ (Matthew 11:28-30; John 3:16; Revelation 22:17). A baby may grow up and “become” depraved because of the choices he/she makes, but babies are not born in this condition (cf. Ezekiel 18:20; Matthew 18:1-4; 19:14). Sin is committed, not inherited (I John 3:4).
Further, is it true that one can be saved before believing on Christ? Jesus said, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). Paul wrote that man believes “unto righteousness” (Roman 10:10) and that we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1). One is not righteous or justified before he believes. If he is, then one is saved and condemned at the same time because Jesus said the unbeliever is condemned “already.” Jesus said that those who do not believe in him will die in sin (John 8:24). Language could not be clearer.
Even when nice, sincere preachers preach false doctrine, it is still false. Sincerity does not change false doctrine into the truth. The truth about this subject is this: belief comes before salvation. Do not fall for the false doctrines of Calvinism. Even a casual reading of the Bible shows this system of doctrine to be erroneous and false.
