Why do I know regeneration is subsequent to faith? Two simple verses concerning our identification with Christ clearly spell it out:
Col 2:12-13 – “ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead”
Eph 2:5-6 – “we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ”
The following truths should be evident from these verses:
1) We went from a state of spiritual death to a state of quickening with Christ, which is also referred to as being "risen with Him".
2) This quickening from spiritual death was "through the faith of the operation of God"
One might ask, "is this quickening the same as being born again?" Of course it is. The exact language is used in 1 Peter 1:3 to tie it all together:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"
So there should be no question that being "begotten again" is tied to being resurrected with Christ, which is achieved through faith. This means that Faith precedes regeneration.