Regeneration

Regeneration - The Universal Need

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6

Study text: John 3:1-21; Romans 2:1-12

Man is a sinner. The Bible declares it. He is a sinner, not because he was created this way, but because he disobeyed a plain command of God. Man was created in the image and likeness of God. The Bible tells us that God made him upright. His remaining in this sinless state, however, depended upon one thing--obedience.

When God created our first parents, Adman and Eve, they were the crowning work of His creation. When He created them, He had everything ready for them. Their creation was no afterthought. Their hearts were pure. Their bodies were perfect. Their home was no less than Eden, the Garden of God. In other words, they had an ideal environment in which to maintain their innocence and purity. Continuing in their created perfections depended upon their obeying the Creator. Obedience was the one virtue of what they were and where they lived.

God's feelings toward the holy pair is expressed in these words: "Of the fruit of every tree in the garden thou mayest freely eat." While opening many doors to them, He closed only one. The fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they were not to eat. Yet, while entering these other doors, they refused to let this one remain closed. Satan, though the medium of the serpent, approached Eve and led her to believe that God was unfair to them--that if they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree they would become angelic. This, Satan would have them believe, was God's reason for prohibiting them from partaking of the fruit of this tree.

The truth of the matter was, God wanted them to be like Him. But this depended upon their listening to God rather than to the Devil. Eve, deceived y the subtlety of Satan, speaking through the serpent, plucked the fruit of the forbidden tree, She ate it and gave it also to Adam. They both expected to become suddenly like God, or to be transformed into gods.

Instead, a different kind of change took place. A sense of guilt, shame and fear possessed them. This feeling was so acute that they went and hid themselves and made fig-leaf garments for clothing. They were not painfully aware that they had lost the inherent righteousness with which they were formerly clothed. The expected God to come to them in the Garden as He had previously done. This time, though, they feared His presence.

He came to them in the Garden. Not finding them at the accustomed meeting place, He searched for them. He called out. "Where are you?" Not because He did not know where they were nor what they had done, but to encourage them to come from hiding, to repent, and to receive forgiveness. Though they were reluctant to admit responsibility for their sin, God brought them to the place of repentance and restoration, as evidenced by the skins of animals with which He clothed them.

God gave them the plan of salvation. The provision of these skin garments necessitated the shedding of blood. Our first parents look at these animal sacrifices and saw the perfect sacrifice. Being clothed with the skins of these animals indicates that they had lost their created righteousness, but were not clothed or covered with the righteousness of another. These skins of animals with which their bodies were clothed were the visible representations of the righteousness of the perfect sacrifice that covered their bodies.

The Bible tells us that by one man (Adman) sin entered the world and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5:12). And before this, in Romans 3:23, it is stated, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." As Adam's offspring, we have inherited his guilt, his fears, and his condemnation. "By one man's disobedience many were made sinners." (Romans 5:19).

Our plight is, therefore, nonetheless serious than was Adam's, but our redemption is nonetheless sure if we will accept it.

We see in God's conduct toward Adam and Eve a picture of His interest in the salvation of all men, and what He has done through Christ. The bodies of animals from which came skins to clothe Adam and Eve were offered as sacrifices. They were typical of the perfect sacrifice to come. The blood of those animals pointed to the blood of Christ shed for our salvation. The skins typified the righteousness of Christ with which the repentant sinner is clothed. In First John, chapter two and verse two we read that "He is the propitiation (covering) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Definitions

Several terms are used by Christians generally in speaking of the same experience. They are: Regeneration, Conversion and the New Birth, or being born again. The word 'conversion' means: a complete turning around by the power of God from sin to righteousness. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." (Acts 3:19).

The word "regeneration" means "new birth, new creation, born again, or a new beginning." "If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature (creation)." (II Corinthians 5:17). In spiritual experience, regeneration means to be quickened from a state of death in trespasses and sins to newness of life in Christ. It is the act by which we become partakers of the divine nature. It is the restoration in us of the lost image of God. It is the act by which the Holy Spirit as agent makes read to the heart the Word of God, the element. These two, the agent and the element, are the means of regeneration or the new birth. They never work separately nor independently of each other.

Let us look at John 3:16 in acrostic and see if it does not spell out the Gospel:

G-od so loved the world, that He gave His

O-nly begotten

S-on, that whosoever believeth in Him should not

P-erish, but have

E-verlasting

L-ife.

God has made provision for the salvation of the world by giving His Son. Then Jesus told Nicodemus that "God sent not His Son into the word to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved." Christ is not condemning the world. It is not His nature to condemn. The mission of Christ was not to condemn it, but to save it. God loved the world and wanted to save it, so He sent His Son for that purpose. To fail to enter the door of the kingdom of God by way of regeneration is to perish, to be irretrievably lost. The word "perish" is the tragic word of John 3:16. To accept God's provision of salvation, be born again, is to be saved and to enter the kingdom of God.

Regeneration - The Universal Provision

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Study text: Acts 16:25-34; Romans 10:1-17

What Regeneration Is Not

1. There are those who believe that regeneration comes with water baptism. We accept water baptism as a church ordinance and recognize its rightful place. Jesus included it in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Though a church ordinance, water baptism is not a means of grace. It possesses no power to regenerate a person. It is possible for one to receive water baptism and not be converted, as in the case of Simon Magus (Acts 8). If water baptism were a means of grace and possessed saving power Paul would never have written these words to the Corinthian Church (I Corinthians 1:17), "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel."

Of course as we just pointed out, water baptism has its place. It is the outward testimony of an inward work of grace. It is the formal initiation or introduction into the Christian life. If we are truly born again will have an appreciation for church ordinances. We will want to testify to the world through water baptism that we are children of God. But regeneration is separate and distinct from the visible and outward testimony of water baptism.

2. Some people feel that a moral or upright life will place one inside of the kingdom of God. To be sure, a person in the kingdom of God lives uprightly. But a good moral life is not the doorway. We can never be saved by going good neighbors or having generosities to our credit, as important as these things are. We are told (Titus 3:5) that regeneration is "not by works of righteousness." It is not reformation nor "turning over a new leaf."

3. Church membership is considered by some to be synonymous with regeneration. As valuable as this is it does not bring salvation. The Christian should have his name on the church roll. He should want fellowship with Christians in this way and unitedly with other promote the kingdom of God. But jigging a church does not make one a Christian. It is not a means of grace.

4. Still others are of the opinion that a good environment will produce regeneration. They feel that because they were brought up in a good home or in a religious atmosphere they are children of God. A good home or a good religious atmosphere is a great blessing and to be appreciated but can never save a person. No one is regenerated simply because he grew up in a godly home or environment.

5. Regeneration is not something we inherit. The new birth is not of blood (John 1:13). We may inherit characteristics such as physical feature, tendencies, temperaments, but we do not inherit the new birth. It is not of parentage. It does not come through the blood stream. The Jews felt that they were children of God because they had Abraham as their father (John 8:33). Jesus told them that it was not enough to have Abraham's blood, they needed Abraham's faith. The question of the Rich Young Ruler to Jesus (Mark 10:17) was not scripturally put. He asked what he should do to inherit eternal life. Regeneration is not something one can experience by doing; neither is it something one can inherit.

6. Further, the new birth is "...not of the will of the flesh" (John 1:13). That is to say, one cannot become a child of God by any method of self-determination. It is not a natural process of human development or determination. One is not born again simply by making up his mind. Regardless of how strong the will is in this direction it cannot in itself produce regeneration.

7. It is also stated (John 1:13) that regeneration is "...not of the will of man." There is no person so holy or so in touch with God that he can bring to us the new birth. Saints of God may help us obtain regeneration. They may instruct us and add their prayers. But holy hands upon our heads are no means of grace to put us within the kingdom of God.

Having considered regeneration negatively by looking at the more popular and current ideas regarding it, let us not go into the subject positively and in the light of Scripture see what it

WHAT REGENERATION IS

1. It is the gift of God's free grace. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). See also Romans 5:15-18.

2. It is the possessing the life of Christ which is eternal life. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (I John 5:11-12).

3. It is the forgiveness of sins. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sin" (Colossians 1:14; Ephesians 1:7). Regeneration involves a consciousness of sins forgiven. It is through His shed blood on Calvary.

4. It is having the peace of justification. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through out Lord Jesus Christ." Justification is a change in man's position before God. That position is no longer one of guilt and condemnation. The person justified before God is acquitted, accepted and put in a right relationship with God.

5. It is a crisis experience. It is being born again or born from above. Jesus used this term in His discourse with Nicodemus. It carries with it the idea of a crises. Nothing is said in the Bible about the extent or proportions of regeneration as a crisis experience. In one person it may be a very joyous or rapturous emotional experience, while in another it may be a quiet experience where the heart is simply filled with peace and calm. Whether regeneration comes mildly or ecstatically, it is a crisis experience. How the person reacts when the experience is received has nothing to do with the genuineness of the experience.

6. It is an experience effected by the two means of grace. By the two means of grace is meant the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. They never work separately. The cannot be divorced. They do not work independent of each other. They always work together. There is no such things as the Holy Spirit regenerating a person outside of the Word minus the Holy Spirit. "Except a many be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:5-6). Regeneration is a spiritual experience effected by the Holy Spirit through the instrument of the Word. Jesus refers to the two means of grace in His words to Nicodemus. The water is symbolic. It does not refer to water baptism as a means of grace. Here are some verses which shed light on this symbolism: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (I Peter 1:23). "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:25-26).

In the three references we have these expressions, "the washing of regeneration," "being born again...by the word of God," and "the washing of water by the word." Thus being "born of water and of the Spirit" is to be saved by the two means of grace, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

7. It is a definite and instantaneous experience. There is a moment when the person is not born again and there is a moment when knows that he is saved. The Holy Spirit and the Word (heard or read) may work in one's life over a period of time, bringing that one to a crisis point. But in the crisis of the new birth the experience is definite and instantaneous. We must insist on this scriptural position notwithstanding the testimony of some to the contrary. While we do not want to unchristianize one who cannot point to the time and place of the new birth, we do say that one who can tell the time and place has a decided scriptural advantage.

Saul of Tarsus appears to have been instantly converted on the Damascus road. Blinded by a light from heaven above the brightness of the noonday sun, he asked, "Who art thou, Lord?" He no sooner knows that he has been persecuting Jesus than "he, trembling and astonished" says, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Like a soldier taking orders from a superior, he, instantly converted, is ready to do what the Captain of his salvation desires.

The Ethiopian eunuch on his way home from Jerusalem, as heart-hungry as he was when he arrived, meets Philip the evangelist. As they ride together in the chariot, Philip preaches Christ and the eunuch believes. He is instantly converted. The Holy Spirit applies the preached Word to his believing heart and a transformation takes place. In a moment there is the witness of the new birth in his consciousness. He then desires to receive water baptism as the formal initiation into is experience of regeneration.

8. It is a spiritual quickening and the impartation of a new nature. "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). "Even when we were dead in sins, "(God) hath quickened us together with Christ, (By grace ye are saved") (Ephesians 2:5) . Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II Corinthians 5:17). "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (II Peter 1:4). "Seeing that ye put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Colossians 3:9-10). "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is crated in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24).

HOW REGENERATION IS RECEIVED

Now that we lave looked at regeneration negatively and positively, let us consider the steps necessary to receiving this experience.

1. There must be conviction of sin. The person must feel that he is lost and in need of salvation. This conviction may be the result of hearing or reading a sermon, hearing or reading a testimony, or by reading the Bible or a good religious book. If one is not convinced that he is lost he will feel no need to be saved.

2. This conviction of min must be deep and pungent so as to produce genuine godly sorrow. If conviction of sin be mild it will also be fleeting. The conscience must be so pricked by the truth that the person trembles and is greatly concerned over his lost condition.

3. This godly sorrow works repentance. The person is so disturbed at the fate that awaits him in his lost condition that he must do something. He cannot remain as he is. He wants peace in his soul and he wants to be at peace with God. Here is where repentance comes in. It is a change of mind. It affects the intellect, will, disposition and emotions. We are not told in the Bible how much emotion must be manifest in true repentance, but there will certainly be some heart movement. In his repentance the Publican "smote upon his breast" (Luke 18:13). The Philippian jailer "fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:29-30).

4. There may be the need of someone to instruct the penitent sinner on how to receive Christ. More people are converted in church than anywhere else. A great many receive Christ kneeling at an altar of prayer. However, place and posture may not be factors at all in regeneration. Someone to guide may be a very important factor. The Philippian jailer needed Paul to tell him what to do and the Ethiopian eunuch needed Philip to instruct him. The penitent three thousand on the Day of Pentecost needed those steps outlined by Peter.

5. There has to be appropriating faith. When one has repented of his sins and in his heart has determined to forsake them, then he needs only by faith to accept salvation. He may need someone to instruct him or he may be able to do this by himself. The Philippian jailer needed Paul to tell him to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). "The word is nigh thee, even in they mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:8-10). Faith involves three things: knowledge, assent and appropriation. It is not enough that one knows the truth and assents to it in his mind; he must appropriate with his heart. Before he can appropriate, the heart must be prepared and conditioned by genuine repentance.

6. Then comes assurance or the witness of the Holy Spirit. Because of this faith that appropriates, the Holy Spirit takes the Word of God (precious words of God's love and salvation) and makes it real to the soul. The seeker feels the witness of the Spirit in pardon in his consciousness. He has assurance of salvation. He knows that he is translated from the kingdom of wrath and darkness into the kingdom of love and light (Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18). This the Holy Spirit witnesses to in his heart.

7. "With the mouth confession is made unto salvation." The regenerated person will then be a witness to what Christ has done for him in his heart and life.