Regeneration

Over the rest of the school year we will be talking about the gospel, and how it affects us. We’re going to talk about what salvation is, and specific parts of it. Today we will first unpack a word called regeneration.

To start with, what is the gospel?

Lexham Theological Wordbook Gospel

In particular, the gospel is the announcement that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have brought about salvation for Israel and the world.

Belief and trust in Jesus is the only thing that can possibly save us, thus the gospel is our one hope in life. Knowing and trusting in Jesus alone, is what saves a person.

We are told in the Bible that we believe the gospel and are saved because God has regenerated our hearts.

Who knows what it means to generate?

So what does it mean to regenerate?

It is in recreating our hearts by God’s Holy Spirit that we come to know and love Jesus and trust in Him.

So, to unpack this we are going to look at a story from the Old Testament.

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Verses 1-3

Ezekiel is surrounded by a field of random bones, these aren’t people who have just recently died, but these are dried up decrepit bones of people who been long dead.

Then God asks him, “can these bones live?”

Why do you think God asked Ezekiel if these bones could live?

How would you have responded?

Ezekiel answers knowing that it is really up to God. The creator of the universe could do as He pleases, so instead of saying yes or no, he turns the question back to God saying it is your decision Lord.

Verses 4-6

What does God tell Ezekiel to do?

And after Ezekiel prophesies what does God say he is going to do to these dried up bones?

Cause them to live, and and to know that He is truly God.

Verses 7-10

As promised when Ezekiel prophesied these bones came together and flesh started forming on them, and when he prophesied again breath entered their body and they lived.

Verses 11-14

In Ezekiel’s day the nation of Israel was in much turmoil, and this vision was meant to be an encouragement to them, because in it God was promising that one day He was going to gather all of His people.

What we see in God breathing into people is Him giving them His Spirit, and giving them new life.

So what does this have to do with us?

You and me are these dried up bones. We are lifeless and hopeless, but when the gospel is preached God comes and changes us. We are given new life and made new.

This is why salvation, being saved, going to heaven is so much more than just saying a little prayer, believing in God, or being baptized.

When you are saved, it means that God has supernaturally changed you from being spiritually dead, to alive.

This is why people who are genuinely saved are completely different people.

This is why we can say if you haven’t been changed by your belief, if you’re not actually seeking Jesus, and if you think any other way can get you to heaven, then you don’t really follow Jesus.

So where does this leave us?

If you don’t know Jesus, if you haven’t been truly changed by God, and trust Jesus and are seeking to follow Him, then its time for you to repent and trust Him for repentance.

If you are a believer, its time for you to take up this message. The dried bones when they were raised to life were referred to as an army. You are a soldier for Jesus, who has been been given a message that can and will change people. Tell others about Him, don’t worry about what they think, but joyfully tell them about what God has done in you!