Proof of Regeneration

Chris West #84998

LCCF

6900 W. Millen Dr.

Hobbs, NM 88244

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Last week the message was centered on the text of Scripture where Jesus had a conversation with one of the religious leaders named Nicodemus. It is one of the foundational texts supporting the doctrine of regeneration.

In that conversation Jesus made it clear that nobody would see God unless they were spiritually born again. (John 3:3)

One day every person will stand before the Lord in judgment and will either be regenerated in Christ or not.

Those who are regenerated enter into eternal rest with God; those who are not go to eternal damnation where there is unquenchable fire and constant torment.

There is a lot on the line for humanity here. Every person ever created will face this judgment.

We learned that it is God alone who can cause a person to be spiritually regenerated.

We learned it is the Spirit of God alone that leads a person to repentance and regeneration.

Can we know we are saved? Born again? Regenerated?

How can I be sure of salvation?

Is there a way to be assured of salvation?

Should we even try to know if we are regenerated?

Recap John 3

2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV

5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

The Corinthian Church was putting Paul on trial

How can I know that I am truly regenerated in Christ?

1. YOU CAN KNOW YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE YOU BEAR GOOD FRUIT.

Jesus said:

Matthew 7:18–20 NIV

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Galatians 5:22–23 NIV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Throughout the New Testament, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit is one of the signs that we are attached to Jesus by faith (Jn. 15:5).

John 15:5 NIV

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Healthy fruit–good works–aren’t the cause of our salvation, but they are one of the signs we’re truly born again. John said, “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death”

1 John 3:14 NIV

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

Did you catch that? Love for the church is one of the ways we can know we’re spiritually alive. There are many people who say, “I love God, but I don’t really care for his people,”

or “I have a personal relationship with God; I don’t need an organized church.”

According to the apostles, our spiritual life and love for Christ are demonstrated in our love for Christ’s bride, the church!

In the midst of doubts, ask yourself, “Do I love the believers God has placed in my life?”

This love is one of the Spirit-produced fruits of a redeemed individual.

2. YOU CAN KNOW YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE THE SPIRIT TESTIFIES TO YOU THAT YOU ARE.

Believers in Jesus Christ are filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit reminds us that we belong to God. The apostle Paul wrote,

Romans 8:15–16 NIV

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Not only do our external works of love toward others demonstrate God’s presence in our lives, but there’s an internal work of the Spirit that gives us confidence we’re truly his children. This isn’t an audible voice we hear from heaven, but an inner conviction produced by the Holy Spirit that God is indeed our Father and Jesus is our savior.

John 10:27–28 NIV

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Ask yourself, “When I approach God, do I approach him as “Abba, Father”?

Through Jesus’ death on the cross, we have been given peace with God

Romans 5:1 NIV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

We no longer need to fear his judgement and wrath but have been welcomed into his presence. The Spirit proclaims this peace to you in Christ, giving you a supernatural sense of your adoption.

Here again we have to recognize that even true believers won’t always have this confidence. Especially after we’ve sinned and grieved the Holy Spirit, we might really question if we are God’s children.

Remember that the Bible makes it clear that Christians will always battle with sin

1 John 1:8 NIV

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

and therefore we shouldn’t give way to despair. Remember also that the Father–your Father–is good and receives you when, through Christ, you look up to him in faith.

3. YOU CAN KNOW YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE OF GOD’S WORD.

This is the most important but least understood proof of assurance. It’s the most important because, of all the proofs, it’s the most objective. It focuses less on what has been wrought in you(like the first two) and more on what has been done for you. It’s an external proof rooted in the promises of God’s word which belong to you as a part of the church.

Hebrews 6:19–20 NIV

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

When we look to our personal works of holiness, it’s easy to get discouraged. “Shouldn’t I have grown more in my walk with the Lord by now?”

But according to the Scriptures, the anchor of your soul–what keeps you steady–isn’t found inside of you but outside of you.

When you look to God’s promise to you in the gospel that through Jesus your sins are forgiven and you are made a part of God’s family, you can receive strong encouragement.

Hebrews 6:18 NIV

18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.

“Yes,” you might be thinking, “But how do I know that promise is for me?”

Great question!

God doesn’t just give us his promise through his Word; he stamps it on us personally in Baptism and Communion. These “seals of salvation” are like the seat atop the three legs of assurance. We can look to them and rest, remembering by faith that Jesus really belongs to us, and we belong to him!

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper serve as tangible tokens of God’s grace in your life.

When you were baptized, it was God objectively showering you with his promise (Rom. 6:1-11).

When you take the Lord’s Supper, it’s God saying, “The gospel, Jesus’ body and blood, isn’t just for people out there, it’s for you right here and now!”

Luke 22:19 NIV

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

1 Corinthians 11:24 NIV

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

We as God’s people have the sure Word of the gospel to hold onto every time we’re plagued with doubts. We remember that the washing of baptism and the nourishment of Christ’s body and blood belong to us personally. Every time you’re doubting God’s promise of salvation for you, remember that the Triune God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–has placed his name on you. By faith you can feed upon his grace and know (even after you’ve failed for the 100th time) that it’s yours.