Calvinism says that because we are dead in sins and at enmity with God, we are unable to respond to God unless God first makes us alive. After all, a dead person isn’t able to respond to anything. A dead person can’t have faith, and therefore must be regenerated – made alive – before they can exercise faith.
This completely misses the point of where life is found. They say the Holy Spirit must act upon you personally to give you life. In this they are also saying that Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone – is not sufficient. God must act upon every person individually, and therefore scripture alone is unable to save.
But life is found in the scripture. The Holy Spirit has already acted and given us God’s Living Word.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God uses preaching to shed the light of His gospel on those that are dead. That gospel has life in it. It is the power of God to raise the dead (Rom. 1:16).
God calls us through the gospel that is preached (2 Thess. 2:14). Life is in that gospel and in the living Word of God. We are made alive by believing it.