The Doctrine of Regeneration

THE DOCTRINE OF REGENERATION

Titus 3:3-5

INTRODUCTION:

The Bible is clear that there is a real change when a person is converted. The Bible outlines the characteristics that defined us before salvation, then states that those who have been regenerated by the mercy of God will be changed and converted by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, will be characterized by a life that is a contrast to the past way of living. It would be impossible for such a transformation not to impact every aspect of our lives. The world around us should immediately recognize a difference in the life of a Christian because of regeneration.

I. THE MEANING OF REGENERATION

A. To become a new creature. (2 Cor. 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

At one time, Paul looked upon Christ merely from a human point of view. Because of what the Lord did in his life, he looked upon Christ in a different way. He was no longer the man from Nazareth. He no longer looked at Christ as a false messiah or a rebel against Judaism that was worthy of death. He looked at Christ as the Savior of men.

Therefore … because of what Christ has done for mankind, dying on the cross and rising from the grave, if any man puts his faith in Christ, he is a new creature or creation. The word “new” here, means “new in quality, not in sequence.” We are truly a new person in Christ. The grip of a great God molds us into new creations in Christ.

B. To receive a Divine nature. (2 Pet. 1:4)

2 Peter 1:4 KJV 1900

4 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.

When the sinner believes on Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to impart the life and nature of God within. A baby shares the nature of its parents, and a person born of God shares the divine nature of God. The lost sinner is dead, but the Christian is alive because he shares the divine nature. The lost sinner is decaying because of his corrupt nature, but the Christian can experience a dynamic life of godliness because he has God’s divine nature within. Mankind is under the bondage of corruption (Rom. 8:21), but the believer shares the freedom and growth that is a part of possessing the divine nature.

Because we possess this divine nature, we have “completely escaped” the defilement and decay in this present evil world. If we feed the new nature the nourishment of the Word, then we will have little interest in the garbage of the world. But if we “make provision for the flesh” (Rom. 13:14), our sinful nature will lust after the “old sins” (2 Peter 1:9) and we will disobey God.

Godly living is the result of cultivating the regenerated nature within.

C. To be made alive spiritually. (Eph. 2:1)

Ephesians 2:1 KJV 1900

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

The word “dead” here is referring to a corpse. This verse tells us that before we were saved or quickened, we were literally walking corpses. The world is big on zombies and the world is filled with “walking dead men”...

The unbeliever is dead, he has no spiritual vitality, and he is destitute of spiritual life.

We were dead men walking, but God quickened us with Christ. The life of Christ was breathed into us just as God breathed life into Adam. The word “quickened” means that we have been made “alive” or electrified in Christ.

II. THE MEANS OF REGENERATION

A. By the word of God (I Pet. 1:23)

1 Peter 1:23 KJV 1900

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

The only way to enter God’s spiritual family is by a spiritual birth, through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:1–16). Just as there are two parents in physical birth, so there are two parents in spiritual birth: the Spirit of God (John 3:5–6) and the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23).

You cannot be saved, you cannot be born again, or regenerated apart from the Word of God. This Book is the miracle that is in the world today.

The Word of God is full of life, and it is life-giving! I’ve already got ahead of myself and mentioned this, but the means of Regeneration is also:

B. By the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-6)

John 3:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

If a nation passed a law that said no one could live there except those who were born in that nation, and someone wanted to live there who was not born there.

· It wouldn’t matter if he took a name that was common in that nation.

· It wouldn’t matter if he spoke the language.

· It wouldn’t matter if he observed some of the customs.

· It wouldn’t matter if he dressed like those in that nation.

· It wouldn’t matter if he practiced some of the religious traditions of that nation.

· It wouldn’t matter if his parents were born in that nation.

· It wouldn’t matter if his children were born there.

· It wouldn’t matter if he had many friends in that nation.

· All that would matter was if he was actually born there.

Spurgeon wrote: “A man may cast away many vices, forsake many lusts in which he indulged, and conquer evil habits, but no man in the world can make himself to be born of God; though he should struggle never so much, he could never accomplish what is beyond his power. And, mark you, if he could make himself to be born again, still he would not enter heaven, because there is another point in the condition which he would have violated — ‘unless a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

C. By faith in Jesus (Gal. 3:26)

Galatians 3:26 KJV 1900

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

The Law never could give a believer the nature of a son of God. Christ can do that. Only faith in Christ can make us sons of God.

In this verse the word children is from the Greek word meaning “sons.” Only faith in Christ can make us legitimate sons of God. I use the word legitimate for emphasis, because the only sons God has are legitimate sons. You are made a true son of God by faith in Christ, and that is all it takes. Not faith plus something equals salvation, but faith plus nothing makes you a son of God. Nothing else can make you a son of God. “For ye are all children of God.” How? “By faith in Christ Jesus.”

III. THE MANIFESTATION OF REGENERATION

A. The Indwelling of the Holy Ghost. (1 Cor. 3:16)

1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV 1900

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Paul emphasizes that we are the “temple” of God and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. There are two different Greek words that are translated as “temple.” One word means the building itself, the other word means “the sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, where the glory of God dwelt.” This is the word used here. The Christian is God’s sanctuary, the place of His holy, awesome presence. - Ya’ll go home and ponder that...

B. The Transforming of the mind. (Romans 12:2)

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Literally, right here, a Christian who is regenerated thinks differently...

This is a call for a transfigured life. The Greek word translated “transformed” in this passage occurs in only three other places in the New Testament. It is used to describe the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus (Matt. 17:2; Mark 9:2) and it is used to describe the glorious change wrought in the believer when he steadfastly contemplates the Lord Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18).

The Greek word is metamorphoomai from which our word “metamorphosis” is derived. The dictionary defines metamorphosis as “change of form or change of character.” An example is the caterpillar which undergoes metamorphosis in its chrysalis and emerges a glorious butterfly. The same creature which enters the filmy tomb eventually emerges, but the change is so remarkable that it cannot be recognized as the same. It is this kind of change the Holy Spirit wishes to work in the life of the believer, but to do it He must have control of the body and free access to the mind.

C. The Assurance of everlasting life. (Rom. 6:22)

Romans 6:22 KJV 1900

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

They are freed from sin which leads to death, and they can have fruit which will abide into eternity. Life eternal is in contrast to death.

Regeneration brings about assurance that the end is everlasting life for the believer who has been transformed or regenerated by God!

CONCLUSION:

When we were saved, we were cleansed of our sin, the decay, the filth that was produced by spiritual deadness. The Bible tells us literally that we were brought to life. Regeneration carries the idea that we have received new life, we have been born again, or born from above. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” This change comes from the inside out, if there is no change whatsoever, then there is probably no new birth. We need to ask ourselves, “Am I regenerate?” If so, why doesn’t it show more?