Yet both are wrong ... both falsely believe that faith leads directly to salvation. However, this is not the case. Faith first qualifies one for human adoption. One doesn't need to be regenerated for human adoption. Once adopted as a descendant of Abraham, one is qualified to inherit the promise given to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the righteousness Abraham was given in Genesis 15:5. This promise is given in Genesis 17:7.
Gen 15:5-6 NASB
5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Gen 17:4-8 NASB
4 "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 "No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 "I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. 7 "I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
Galatians 3:7
Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:26
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 4:30
But what does the Scripture say? “CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”
Romans 9:6
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.”
8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
Hebrews 2:16
For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
Luke 19:9
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.”
Isaiah 54:1
“Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD.
Rom 8:15-17
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, ((synergism see Deut 30:19)) 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him] so that we may also be glorified with [Him.]
Both Calvinism and Armenians make the same false assumption - that faith directly qualifies one for righteousness. Calvinists can't see how a person being completely dead in their sin can have any affect on God. Armenians believe that God is beholden to human will. Both of these positions are incorrect. Calvinists are wrong because faith doesn't lead directly to regeneration but to human adoption. Human adoption doesn't require regeneration. But once adopted into the group known as chosen people of God, they inherit salvation.
Armenians are wrong because, in fact, it is God's promise to Abraham (and Christ) which motivates God to save, not man's will. God gives open enrollment into the group known as "the chosen people" or "the elect." Having the same faith as Abraham had in the gospel of Jesus Christ qualifies us as an adopted descendant of Abraham and an heir of the promise of everlasting life given to him. But it is God honoring his promise which motivates Him to save the chosen group, not the individuals in the group.
Galatians 3:19
Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
Begs the question doesn't it - why does God promise the salvation that comes through faith to Jesus Christ?