Congratulations! In your post you are practicing systematic theology!
It teaches we must respond in faith, and if we do so truly, we are born again - a new creation.
Actually, it teaches we are born again, then we respond in faith. Grace proceeds faith.
When you say, Scripture clearly teaches that we can do nothing to save ourselves. You are 100% right. Grace proceeds faith. We add nothing to salvation but our sin.
Excellent observation, Gamecock! Ben, this entire thread is a good read. It highlights a number of places where Rome wandered off the path of the Book they claim to have given the world.
“Actually, it teaches we are born again, then we respond in faith. Grace proceeds faith.”
Not what scripture says.
“...these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
There is no scripture saying life is given before we respond in faith. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God...”
It doesn’t say we are given life so we can believe, but that by believing we may have life.
Grace precedes faith because we would have nothing to respond to if God hadn’t reached out to us. His grace, and his plan of salvation makes life possible, but we receive a new life by believing. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life...”, not, “Whoever I give eternal life to will believe....”
This is an explicit teaching found in scripture. Faith is the word that describes what we have when we believe the promises of God.
AMEN! Or else we would have reason to boast.
And we don't. Grace is free, unearned and accomplishes all God ordains.