Regeneration (Born Again)

Work of God

Regeneration is that point in time when God brings the dead soul to life. It is the moment that a person becomes aware of their spiritual condition. This is God leading us to salvation

James 1:18 NASB95

In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

It is by God’s will that he brings us into salvation using His word and thew revelation of truth. The truth is that we are sinners that are lost and Jesus is our Savior.

1 Peter 1:3 NASB95

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

It is by the mercy of God that we are regenerated. There is nothing that we do or merit that would bring about the regeneration of our soul. God’s mercy causes us to be born again. It is in the resurrection of Jesus that we find hope for our dead soul. The regeneration of the soul is our dead soul is brought to life.

John 3:3–8 NASB95

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Just as the wind blows where it wishes, so does God bring about regeneration in peoples souls. Though you cannot see the actual event, you can see the evidence of the regeneration. This evidence is in the sanctification.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 NASB95

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

God is the One who puts His Spirit within us and causes us to walk in His statutes. When a person is regenerated they receive the Holy Spirit and can now be led by the Spirit of God. An unregenerate person cannot be led by the Spirit of God.

The Mystery of Regeneration

Ephesians 2:1–5 NASB95

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

The misconception of regeneration is that people can choose when they want to be born again. Often times people will not come when they are being called and will delay the calling assuming that they will finish sowing their wild oats and then come to faith in Christ. A person must come when they are called.

This is not to say that God only gives you one chance. What I am trying to say is that you don’t get to choose when God calls. He calls when He desires.

A person that rejects the call of God is living a dangerous life. They don’t know if or when God may call again.

John 6:44 NASB95

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

Regeneration is that call of God into salvation. Regeneration occurs before saving faith or repentance. Without regeneration we would not have the ability to repent or put our faith in Christ.

The writer of this says that they happen simultaneously. I disagree with this for two reasons. The first is the writer has no scripture to justify his presumption. Second is my experience. I believe I was regenerated at the age of 15 but was not saved until 19. My soul was aware of my lostness at 15, but I wrestled with faith and repentance until 19. I could not get away from my regeneration for four years.

Evidence of Regeneration

1 John 5:1 NASB95

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.

Regeneration leads to salvation. It causes one to become a child of God rather than an object of His wrath.

1 John 3:9 NASB95

No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

When a person is regenerate, they become sensitized to their sin of the past and the sin that they face every day. This will lead to an overwhelming burden of guilt and shame. It is when this sin and shame becomes so debilitating that they cannot bear it any longer that they come to faith in Jesus and repent.

1 John 5:18 NASB95

We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.

1 John 4:4 NASB95

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

We receive protection from Satan. A regenerated person will be protected from Satan’s attacks. This doesn’t mean Satan stops attacking. It does mean that we have the Holy Spirit in us who is greater than Satan’s attacks.

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

A regenerate person begins to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit.

Matthew 7:15–20 NASB95

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

A person’s life reflects if they are regenerate. They will have evidence of good fruit.