What the Bible Teaches--A Guide to Total Christian Commitment 
by Rev. James McRobbie    ©Pillar of Fire, International 
"The new life bestowed in regeneration is the beginning of the eternal life of God in the soul; it is the 'gift of God.'"
[Bottom of page] [The Living Word] [Back: Chapter 7] [Next: Chapter 9] [Index]
Chapter 8 Contents: [Definition] [Various Facts] [Various Aspects of Newness] [How Regeneration is Received]

[What the Bible Teaches refers to numerous passages from the Bible. Your study will be greatly
enhanced by looking up the verses as you go along. If you want to look up Bible verses online as you study, clicking here will open up "The Bible Gateway" in a new window. You may then use the title buttons on your browser screen to move back and forth between the Bible and this study. All quotations in What the Bible Teaches are from the King James Version [KJV] unless otherwise specified.]

Chapter 8: What the Bible Teaches ABOUT REGENERATION

    The word "regeneration" occurs only twice in the Bible: in Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5. This, however, does not minify [diminish] the great doctrine of regeneration, for its importance is revealed in the fact that it is a miraculous and divine operation in the human soul that radically changes the whole earthly life and is the inception and foundation of the eternal life of God in the soul.
    The reference in Titus is applicable to the soul in this present life; the other refers to all creation which shall experience a thorough-going renewal at the second coming of Christ: "When the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of his glory."
 

Definition

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    Regeneration [Greek, palingenesia] signifies new life, namely, divine life, eternal life -- the life of Christ imparted to the soul. Accompanied with it will be a change of moral conduct and character. "All things become new," because the very nature of God is implanted in the soul. Justification is what God does for us when He obliterates all the sinfulness of the past; regeneration is what He does in us when He imparts His own love and law and life in our hearts. In regeneration the dead soul comes to life; out of chaos comes order; out of insensibility springs emotion; out of repulsive selfishness there arise the graces of the Spirit adorning the soul with comeliness and beauty.
    While regeneration is concomitant with justification -- both take place at the same identical moment -- yet one takes place in heaven, the other in the human heart. Still, the experience of regeneration is often classed with the justified state, making it inclusive. Sanctification has to do with the dedication of the life, the cleansing of the heart, the anointing of the soul. Conversion means turning around -- a change of attitude -- and it may begin even prior to regeneration in conviction. Redemption means buying back; the redemption price is in the atoning sacrifice of Calvary -- the "precious blood of Christ," and it is all-inclusive. There is the redemption of the soul, the redemption of the body [Romans 8:23], and the redemption of all nature [Romans 8:19-24].
 

Various Facts

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    Regeneration is in Christ alone -- it is the impartation of the Christ-life to the dead soul; therefore regeneration can only be accomplished as one come to Him. In order for one to come, there must be conviction -- a need for it must be felt. The Holy Spirit applies this conviction. "When he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" [John 16:8]. A person is not likely to seek a Savior if he is not convicted that he is all wrong with God, that he is a judgment-deserving sinner, that he is a creature of destiny and eternity, and that his ways on earth, his mode of life here, his character and relationship with his Creator will determine what his future state will be. Some become alarmed and convicted of their need when in affliction and when facing death; some will awaken to a sense of their need of a Savior through the declaration of the full gospel message, and still others through the perusal of the Scriptures.
    Regeneration must be preceded by repentance -- a sorrow for sin that is accompanied by penitence, contrition, and a ceasing from wrongdoing. The objective purpose of God in His supreme goodness to wicked and unworthy man as seen in daily care and provision, in patience and longsuffering, but especially in the light of the sacrifice of Calvary, is repentance [Romans 2:4].
Did Christ o'er sinners weep
    And shall our cheeks be dry?
Let floods of penitential grief
    Burst forth from every eye.
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    A truly penitent heart will immediately be led to make confession of guilt to any and all who may have been wronged, as far as it is possible to do so, and to God. When the heart is melted to tears, when there is a humble spirit of contrition, one naturally wants the crooked places made straight, wrong deeds of the past acknowledged, and all human relationships rectified as far as possible. God will never fail the humble and sincere confessor. Here we have John's classical passage: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" [1 John 1:9].
    But still, healthful to the soul as confession may be, in many instances it is not enough; there must be, will be, whenever it is practical to do so, and wherever there is genuine repentance, restitution. The weeping, brokenhearted sinner will naturally seek to rectify all wrong deeds. Where this is not possible the willing heart attitude to do this will be acceptable in God's sight. That beautiful declaration of penitential grace as seen in Zaccheus fittingly illustrates this. He said, "Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore to him fourfold" [Luke 19:8].
    These things in themselves do not save; there still remains the vital element of faith. However, a truly penitent spirit places one on "believing ground," where it is easy and natural to believe. Faith links the soul with Christ. Through the medium of faith the regenerating, reviving forces in Christ begin to pulsate in the soul that heretofore had been estranged and dead. "This my son was dead, and is alive again," said the happy father when the prodigal returned. Weeping gives place to worship, sadness to gladness, when the freshness and floodtide of the love of Christ sweeps through the soul and it is echoed among the angels about the throne.

Various Aspects of Newness

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    The new forces that fill and flood the soul and that surge through the whole being in regeneration bring about such a radical change that, in the words of the apostle, "All things become new."

How Regeneration is Received

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    Regeneration is accomplished by a glorious power, delightful to contemplate, limitless in its scope, but scarcely conceivable to the finite mind: "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; even to them that believe on his name [John 1:12]. The exalted fellowship of sonship is the privilege or right [marg.] of all in Christ.
    The new life bestowed in regeneration is the beginning of the eternal life of God in the soul, and so it is the "gift of God" [Romans 6:23]. "According to his mercy he saved us," and no "works of righteousness" of ours has anything whatever to do in the creation or bestowal of the gift. Our part is the acknowledging and forsaking of our wicked ways and coming in penitence and faith to the Lord Jesus [Titus 3:5].
    The gift of regeneration is received as an instantaneous act of God. If there is delay the fault is with us. The moment I come to Him, the instant I believe, there and then when I take Him, the Holy Spirit imparts the life of God in regeneration within me.
    The evidence of the new life in the soul will be unmistakable. It will be expressed in righteousness [1 John 2:29]; in brotherly love [1 John 4:7]; in likeness to God [Ephesians 4:24]; in likeness to Christ [Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18]; in victory over the world [1 John 5:4]; in delight in God's law [Romans 7:22]; and in a completely victorious life over sin: "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin," as we read in 1 John 3:9 and 5:18, "Whosoever is born of God sinneth not' but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself" and so the
"wicked one toucheth him not."
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