Correct, they were in a saved regenerated state when they heard the Gospel.
You know, I don't believe we can save ourselves. Most people who really examine Scriptures realize God had to
Initiate it. Simply because, as Eph 2, says, we are dead in our sin, and God makes us alive!
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this worldand of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." Eph 2:1-2
Dead men can't raise themselves. Salvation is an act of God!
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." Eph 2:4-5
But whether you believe you are part of the process, I.e. synergism- or believe God totally saves us, without help from us - monergism, in both cases, we are NOT saved when we believe and call upon the Lord. Although we may be predestined to be saved, as Paul says in Eph 1:4-5:
"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—"
But we are not saved before we believe and call upon him. This is not Calvinism, or Reformed doctrine at all! It is just some kind of made up, ignorant nonsense.
There is a point at which we are NOT saved. We are not born saved. God had to put that faith in our hearts, so we could believe and be saved. After that, we are saved. Whether eternally, or with the possibility of losing our salvation, (which would mean going back to bring a dead person!) doesn't matter. But God takes us from a place of not being saved, to being saved!
I'm kind of stunned anyone can believe they are saved before they believe and confess Christ and God saves them. How absurd! How illogical!