Regeneration

Article 14: Regeneration

Regeneration, or the New Birth,1 is an instantaneous creative act of God through the agency of the Holy Spirit,2 whereby divine life is imparted to those dead in sin, making them members of the family of God.3

The Description

The new birth

John 3:1-7.

John 3:1–7 (ESV)

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered 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? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter 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 marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Nicodemus, the Pharisee is interested in Jesus, but not particularly open to the truth. He does however come to side with Jesus (see Jn 7:45-52).

Notice how Jesus responds to Nicodemus. Nicodemus has not asked a question, but Jesus responds to his comments about how clear it is to him that God is with Him as if he had asked a question. Verse 3:

John 3:3 ESV

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Perhaps the implied question(s) Jesus is answering:

We know your are a teacher but are you more?

Are you a prophet?

Are you the Messiah?

Nicodemus may have wanted to assess Jesus and attempt to understand Him better. He may have wanted, ultimately, to know if He was the Messiah. But Nicodemus wanted to use his own criteria to make this assessment. And it appears the criteria were the signs Jesus had performed. Somehow, Nicodemus believed that the signs were the key to identifying the Messiah.

Jesus’ response to Nicodemus makes clear that no one can have a right relationship with God by being witness to the miraculous signs that Nicodemus referenced.

What is needed is rebirth. Unless one is born again he cannot be the kingdom of God.

If Nicodemus understood who Jesus was, he would have been asking if he was ready for Jesus. Nicodemus would have had the same kind of response that Peter did after Jesus filled his boat with fish:

Luke 5:8 ESV

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Jesus answers this question: am I ready? You must be born again.

The need for the new birth

Original Sin

Original Sin is a term that defines the nature of mankind’s sinful condition because of Adam’s fall. It teaches that all people are corrupted by Adam’s sin through natural generation, by which—together with Adam’s imputed condemnation—we all enter the world guilty before God. Original Sin shows that we sin because we are sinners, entering this world with a corrupt nature and without hope apart from the saving grace of God in the gospel.

Eph 2:1.

Ephesians 2:1 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

The Means

an instantaneous act of God

this places the emphasis on the sovereignty of God in regeneration. God regenerates people. God resurrects spiritually dead people.

John 3:5–6 ESV

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The to understanding what Jesus means in v. 5 is what He says in v. 6.

There are two births mentioned:

flesh to flesh (natural)

spirit to spirit (supernatural)

born of water and the Spirit is a reference to the spiritual birth. The expression in v. 5 is parallel to v. 3 (from above). Also, the preposition of governs both water and Spirit, which makes the natural way of understanding Jesus’ argument that there is a water-spirit source to the rebirth.

Bottom line, rebirth is an act of God. It would also necessarily follow that regeneration precedes faith since spiritually dead people are unable to respond to God in faith.

through the agency of the Holy Spirit

Titus 3:5.

Titus 3:5 ESV

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

God expressed His mercy in His act of regeneration.

Regeneration is not God’s response to man, but the expression of love for His people.

Similar to what Jesus taught in John 3, Paul teaches here that regeneration is accomplished through the renewing work of the Holy Spirit.

The Result

divine life is imparted to those dead in sin

2 Cor 4:4-6.

2 Corinthians 4:4–6 ESV

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

light of the gospel in v. 4 & light of knowledge in v. 6 are parallel. It seems to me what Paul is saying is that the divine light necessary for darkened (blind) minds to from seeing the truth of the gospel is Jesus and His work of redemption.

In shining the light of the gospel on darkened, blinded minds, God applies His salvation upon His people. This is life.

making us members of the family of God

John 1:11-13.

John 1:11–13 ESV

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

born of God - regeneration

This is the description of people who God gave the right to become the children of God.