John 3:3-5  "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old?  can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  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."

     The New Birth which our Lord Jesus speaks about is what we theologically know as "Regeneration".    Do we really understand this act in its fullest degree?  What is "New Birth", and what is it's effect on the believer?  Let's begin our study with a look at the history of the Doctrine of Regeneration:

The Pelagian View:  Pelagius taught that Regeneration was no more than a "moral transformation" brought about in man "by man".  In a way Pelagius ignored the power of God in Regeneration, for it is written:

Ephesians 2:10  "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

     Most "liberal theologians" hold the Pelagian view.  They teach that man is getting better and better, and by the power of our self improvement we will eventually bring the Millennial Reign of Christ to earth.  Not only do the Scriptures teach this view is "wrong," but human history also shows it to be a foolish doctrinal position.  If you don't agree try reading a newspaper sometime.  As the time rate goes up, the Pelagian view is shown to be more and more impossible.

Roman Catholic:  Roman Catholics have traditionally taught that Regeneration is brought on the believer through the sacraments of the Church (Water Baptism and the Lord's Supper).  The "specific act of Regeneration" is brought on the believer when he undergoes Water Baptism.  The believer may lose this act of cleansing by "willfully sinning".  Note that both Roman Catholic and Pelagian views fail to recognize the power of God the Holy Spirit in the work.  Regeneration is viewed as a "work of man in obedience to God", not a work of God on man.

Anglican Church:  The Anglicans hold two distinct and separate denominational views:

1. One view agrees "entirely" with the Roman Catholic view of Regeneration.  Regeneration is strictly a work of man in obedience to God.

2. The second view holds that there "two degrees" of Regeneration.

   1. The view holds that Regeneration is a rite, much like circumcision.  When you join the physical Church of God you are "Regenerated".

   2. The second view is that Regeneration is a New Birth in a higher sense.  It is a new change in the "moral character" of the believer that is "not" necessarily dependent on Water Baptism.  They recognize Regeneration as a work of the Spirit.

Lutherans:  The Lutheran view of Regeneration is that Water Baptism is the "usual means" to accomplish the act, yet not the "necessary means".  In other words, Baptism does not accomplish Regeneration yet "aids the act".  Regeneration occurs during Water Baptism, and the object of Regeneration is passive during the act.  Lutherans hold that man may "ruin" this act of cleansing by falling into willful sin.  They teach that Regeneration is a gift from God, yet man has "no assurance" of the permanence of this gift.

Arminian view:  The Arminian view holds that the act of Regeneration is "not exclusively" either God's or man's work.  They hold that "it is the fruit of a man's choice to cooperate with the Divine influence being exerted".  By this statement the Arminians raise the power of man to equal that of God.  If man's will is equal in power to God's will, then it is reasonable to say that man is equal in power to his Creator.  The Arminians also hold that Regeneration gained may become "Regeneration lost" by an act of willful sin.  There is "no guarantee" or assurance of salvation or Regeneration.  To the Arminian Regeneration is "not a Gift", but a "partnership" with God.

     In all these views of Regeneration where the free will of man is stressed we see several things:

1. There is "little or no" emphasis on the work the Holy Spirit in the act.  At the very most it is considered a work of the Spirit "in cooperation" with man.  At the very least it is "entirely" a work of man.  Man is, in effect, raised to the level of God.

2. In these inflated claims of the ability of human freewill there are several major Biblical doctrines that are ignored:

   1. The Bible emphasizes that man is "totally dead" in his sins before coming to Christ.  In this state of death can human free will have "any" real effect toward salvation?

   2. With an over-emphasis on the human freewill there is a de-emphasis on the power of God.  If man has "total" free will then can God really be all powerful.  Total free will cannot be "out guessed" for it is fluid, ever changing.  A total free will is "not subject" to any appetites, therefore it is totally unpredictable.  How can God foreknow all things if He does not, in His omnipotence, render some things certain?

   3. With over-emphasis on the human freewill we also, in some degree, make man out to be equal with God.  To quote another scholar, "Man permits while God submits".  "This is arrogance, and blasphemy!"

3. All of these views discount any personal assurance of the permanence of Regeneration.  Since man creates himself, he may certainly also destroy himself.

     The presupposed power of the human free will is illogical in the way that liberal Theologians present it, because:

• If man "along with God" are the authors of Regeneration, we are still "dead in our sins".  The Bible tells us that the unregenerate person is spiritually dead.  A corpse cannot create life of it's own dilution.

• If man along with God are the authors of Regeneration, they are therefore "in partnership".  The lesser partner (man) cannot destroy what is created in partnership unless the greater partner (God) agrees to the destruction.

     We can see on the basis of logic, the humanistic ideologies of Regeneration fall far short of the Biblical truth.  Let's look at Regeneration in the light of the Holy Scripture.

Matthew 19:28-29  "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."

Titus 3:4-7  "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

     Above we see the " only " two occurrences of the word "regeneration" found in the Bible, though the same concept is discussed in other terms such as "born again", or "new birth".  In the Matthew text the word "regeneration" refers to the "creative renewing" process of God "through the presence" of Christ on the earth.  When Jesus sits on His throne in Jerusalem during His Millennial Reign (Isaiah 11, Romans 8), His very presence will bring about the "renewal of creation".  In the Titus text "regeneration" refers to the "washing process performed by God the Holy Spirit" on the individual believer.  (see John 3:5 - "born of water" where our Lord spoke of this "washing - regeneration")

     In both texts the word carries the implication of re-creation, or to be newly created.  In both texts the Controller and Bringer of Regeneration is "God alone" (either God the Spirit or God the Son).  Nowhere is there "any" implication that we as frail humans are involved in Regeneration other than as "passive recipients".  Man is "not" a partner with God in the act of Regeneration, as the liberal theologian would have us to believe.

1. Since the act is done by God and God alone, then the act is "perfect".  God would not needlessly perform a perfect act on man if He knew man has the power to destroy it.

2. The act may "not be destroyed" by man because it is completed according to the plan of God.  God will not trust His plans to the hands of fallible man.  God foreknows all things because He renders certain things as "absolutes".  The act of "Regeneration is a absolute"!

3. Since the act is wholly ordered by God, then God's honor rests on the permanence of the act.  "He" has "made certain promises" that are legally binding in the Bible:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

     If a Christian could be condemned to Hell by falling into willful sin, God shows Himself to be "less than righteous".  Nowhere does is teach us in Scripture to believe in Christ AND do something else.  The road to salvation (and hence Regeneration) is an act of believing in Christ "alone".  Man has added the AND to the rear of God's covenant promise;  it was never added by the Almighty.

     Regeneration may be defined as the "Completely Divine act of communicating Spiritual life to a believer who was previously in Spiritual death.  This act is eternally permanent, and no act of sin may change its effect".

     The Biblical illustrations of Regeneration permit man to be passive only in its reception.  For instance:

John 3:3  "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

1 Peter 1:23  "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

1. Those who are Regenerate are those who are "born again".  If we did "not cause ourselves" to be physically born, then why should the Biblical concept of "new birth" be any different?

   2 Corinthians 5:17  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

   Galatians 6:14-15  "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature."

2. Those who are Regenerated are "new creations".  Did you call yourself into being from nothing?  Man "can not create himself", this is strictly an act of God.

   Ephesians 2:10  "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

   Isaiah 64:8  "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."

   Romans 9:21  "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"

3. Those who are Regenerated are recognized as the "handy work of God".  When you are working on a cabinet, did you build the cabinet or did the cabinet build itself?  Any person would answer "I built the cabinet".  The cabinet was entirely passive in the role of its building.  We are entirely passive in the role of our Regeneration.

Ephesians 2:5-6  "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

     The Bible teaches that we, prior to God's act of Regeneration, were "completely and irrevocably Spiritually dead".  The word "dead" in the above text is the same greek word, "nekros", used throughout the Bible in reference to those who are physically dead, corpses without life.  An object that is "nekros" is totally without animation, totally unable to function in the world around it.  As those who were Spiritually "nekros" we were unable to serve God, unable to do anything of worth for Him. We were "corpses".

Colossians 1:21-22  "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:"

     Not only were we "nekros", but we were at "war with God".  You cannot be a friend of God and reject the Son.  You cannot be a friend of God if you are unregenerate.  We could not be partners with God in Regeneration because we were "alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works".  You cannot be "nekros" and be His friend and partner!

Ephesians 4:18-20  "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  But ye have not so learned Christ;"

     Not only were we "nekros" and enemies of God, but "we were blind as well".  The unsaved unregenerate man is interested in his own life, in his own ways, not in the ways of God.  Our understanding was darkened.  The only time we ever actively sought out God was when we were in trouble, and as a last ditch effort cried out "God, help me".

Ephesians 2:13-14  "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;"

     Man in his unregenerate state has a "great void" between himself and God.  There is a great river of sin and death that stands between God and man, and Christ is the only bridge that will help us cross that void.

Romans 6:20  "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness."

     As unregenerate creatures we were slaves to our own lusts, our own desires.  Seeking to be free we actually enslaved ourselves to the death that separated us from the peace of God.  The unregenerate man, even if outwardly a "good man", is a slave to his own appetites, totally separated from God.

1 John 3:8-10  "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin;  for his seed remaineth in him:  and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:  whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."

     Wherever the infernal doctrine that "all men are brothers" came from is a mystery to me.  It certainly did not come from the Word of God.  The Bible teaches us that we are to care for our neighbor.  "Yet nowhere does it command that we accept an unregenerate person as a brother."  Those who are unregenerate are "the children of Satan", not of God.  Their father is heading toward hellfire, and the unregenerate are deftly following.

     Regeneration is necessary in order that man "become a Son" of the living God.  Regeneration cannot be a work of man, for we do not adopt God;  God adopts us.  If there is no act of Regeneration in the sinner, that person is "condemned to hell" following physical death.  Just like the song says:  "Sin shall not enter in there".  No child of Satan shall be received into Heaven with open arms.  It is not possible that the father of lies will enter Heaven, and is equally "not possible" for any of his followers to share in eternity with God.

2 Peter 2:9  "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:"

     Regeneration is necessary because of the literal truth of Heaven and Hell.  Those who have not received Regeneration by faith in Christ shall stand before the Great White Throne Judgment of God and be judged according to their own evil works.  "All men are sinners in the sight of God unless the blood of Christ is applied."  Those who have not accepted the finished work of the Cross shall go into eternity separated from God, in order that the justice of God may be satisfied.  The character of Heaven "demands" that there be a work of Regeneration by God on those who would enter in.

Revelation 21:27  "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

     The only way in which a man's name may enter the Book of Life is if that person has accepted Jesus Christ as his only Savior.  This acceptance is "not based on good works" but on faith alone.  Once we accept by faith the finished work of Christ, we are Regenerated by the Spirit of the living God.

1. Regeneration is solely a work of God:

   Ephesians 2:10  "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

   Ephesians 2:5-6  "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

   Regeneration is both an act of creation as well as an act "of resurrection". Only God can contribute to either act.

2. Man is totally passive in Regeneration.  The act is instantaneous at the point of salvation, below the level of human consciousness.

3. Regeneration is accomplished without any means or sacrament.  Water Baptism does not bring about Regeneration, neither does the Lord's Table.  These are all sacraments that the Regenerate believer enjoys "because" he is in union with Christ.

4. Regeneration resurrects the human spirit so we can once more have communion with God.

   Ephesians 1:18  "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;  that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,"

   1 Corinthians 2:12-13  "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;  that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

     The will of Regenerate man is "enlightened" so he can do works pleasing to God.  Man is no longer enslaved to his appetites to the degree he previously was, now having the power "through the Holy Ghost" to break the enslavement completely.

     Regeneration is not just a "mere correction" of our attitude toward God, it is much more than this.  Regeneration is a form of resurrection, but one which does not change the "ego" of its recipient.  Regeneration does not change the essence of man.  I was Russ prior to Regeneration, I am still Russ now.  The human is "still human" even after the work.  What generation does change is the "nature of man".

     Man in the Garden was created as "one unit" composed of three indivisible and yet distinct parts.  Man was Body (the outer shell of the person), soul (that which makes us who we are. Our personality), and human spirit.

     The human spirit was designed to receive orders from God and transmit these orders to the soul so we could serve God.  After man fell by disobeying God, the spirit of man died just as God so promised:

Genesis 2:16-17  "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:  for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

     After Adam brought spiritual death on man, man's soul became dominant in the place of the human spirit.  The soul was not equipped to handle the job of the human spirit, so the body of man stopped responding to and serving God.  The soul was like a child without parent, without guidance.  I'll equipped to do the will of God the soul developed a whole new set of negative emotions:  lust, anger, hatred, envy.  The soul grew farther and farther from God into new levels of sin.  Because of sin the life span of man shortened.  Rampant sin slowly killed the house of the soul.

     With the coming of Regeneration through the Holy Spirit the three-part harmony of man was re-established.  The human spirit is resurrected so it can discipline the soul and protect the body.  We now have a functioning line of communication with God, reunited with the One whom we were so long estranged from.

The logical order in man's lifetime leading to to his Regeneration by faith is:

1. First, we were dead because of sin:

        "As a dead body is incapable of any other act than inclined to dissolution, so is a dead soul inclined to all evil.  But this does not imply a dead soul is devoid of any activity any more than a dead body.  As the latter contains blood, carbon, and lime, so does the former produce will, feeling, intelligence, and imagination.  And these elements of a dead soul become equally more active with still more terrible effects that are sometimes fearful to behold.  But as the dead body by all it's activities can never produce anything to restore it's organism, so can the dead soul by all it's workings accomplish nothing to restore a harmony of utterance before God .." - Abraham Kiper

2. God bestows "Common Grace" on humanity to preserve them so that we might all hear the Gospel of Christ.  Through Common Grace the soon to be believer hears the message of salvation by an Evangelist, and in faith accepts Christ as Saviour.

3. The Holy Spirit brings the work of Regeneration to the new Believer, resurrecting the human spirit.

   1 Peter 1:23  "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

   1 John 3:9  "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin;  for his seed remaineth in him:  and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

     The "incorruptible" seed that brought our Regeneration is the Holy Spirit of God.  We are Regenerated by His actions alone.  The Word of God is an instrument that helps the Evangelist spread the Gospel of Regeneration, but does not actually Regenerate us.

     "The unenlightened understanding is unable to apprehend, and the unregenerate will is unable to believe.  Vital force is lacking in these two principle faculties.  What is needed at this point is the life and the force itself.  Consequently the Author of spiritual life Himself must operate directly without the use of means or instruments, and outright give spiritual life and power unto the dead.  The new life is not implanted because man perceives the truth, but he perceives the truth because the new life is implanted .." - Shedd

     All three members of the Godhead are active in Regeneration.  God the Father is the "Author" of the act, for He decreed it through His Plan of Salvation.  The Holy Spirit is the "Agent" in the act, for it is He who accomplishes it.  And Jesus Christ, by His atoning sacrifice, made the act "Possible".

     How can we, as believers, "know" that another person has been Regenerated?  Well, there is no substantial mark, no unerring flag that lets us know another person has been saved.  Yet there are "clues" that may lead us to conclude that a person is saved.

1 John 5:1-2  "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:  and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."

     If a person shows outward signs of godliness, if he "keep his commandments" this is a good indication that he has been Regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God.

1 John 2:19-20  "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us:  but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things."

     Also, the Regenerate have "staying power".  This is not to say that the believer will not fall into sin and out of fellowship:  this is entirely possible.  But if he does fall, a truly born again Christian will "not stay" in this state.  The Father will bring him back to fellowship, even if discipline is required.

Hebrews 12:8-9  "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:  shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

Yet who can truly know, but the man his own self.  That is why we end with this verse:

Philippians 2:12  "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

     If you are not "certain" of your own salvation today, then now is a great time to make certain. Accept Jesus Christ alone as your Lord and Saviour.  Please read "How do I get to Heaven" by clicking here!

     Please feel free to "E-mail" any questions, comments, and any difficulties you may have experienced using the webslave address below.

Next:
Spiritual Gifts - Click Here!

     If you have not already done so, please consider trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. For more information on Salvation "Click Here" to view ""How can I get to Heaven?"

                                                  

---

Basic Training Systematic Theology Statement of Faith Our Mission Link To Us Heaven?

---

Send E-mail to Pastor Russ:
webslave for Christ
( russ@cheswoldvfc.com )
with questions or comments about this web site and it's content.
Last modified: July 27, 2005