Regeneration

The Scripture asserts the absolute necessity of regeneration. We read in the Gospel of John chapter 3 verses 3 and 5,

“Joh 3:3, Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” and

“Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

Man is unable to regenerate or make himself “born again” because of the flesh; man by nature (caused by the fall in the garden of Eden) is carnally minded. Here are other verses that testify to the inability of mankind to regenerate itself,

Joh 3:6 “what is born of the flesh is flesh”

Eph 2:3 “fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind”…

Rom 8:6,7  “For to be carnally minded is death;…7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God”

1 Cor 2:14 “The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God”

As a sinner and the corruption of our human nature, regeneration is necessary if we are to be delivered from the righteous wrath of God. Rom 2:5

Man by nature is “dead”.

Eph 2:1  And you has he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, He has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)

Eph 4:17-19  “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18  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: 19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” This is what it means to be dead. They are alienated from God because of the hardness of their heart.

Eph 5:14  “Wherefore he says, Awake you that sleep and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.”

Mat 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Joh 5:21  For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

Rom 3:10-11  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. 

This regeneration is the sole work of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That is the reason for the Trinity that few understand.

The word regeneration means “new creation”. God makes a new creation in the called sinner and gives him a new spirit, a new heart, and sends His Holy Spirit to dwell therein.

There are scriptural terms by which this work of God is designated:

Creating: Eph 4:24 And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Begetting: 1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God, and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God.

Quickening: Joh 5:21  For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them; even so the Son quickens whom he will.

Regeneration is to be called out of darkness into the marvelous light of God, 1 Peter 2:9

The subjects of God’s work of regeneration are said:

1. To be alive from the dead: John 5:24, Romans 6:13, 1John 3:14. We have passed from death to life.
2. To have experienced the first resurrection: Revelation 20:6
3. To be new creatures – A new creation: 2Cor 5:17-18; Gal 6:15-16
4. To be washed and cleansed from all sins: Titus 3:5; 1John 3:9 We are holy, blameless and irreproachable.
5. To be God’s workmanship: Eph 2:8-10;

Note in verse 10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus”, a new creation, this is regeneration.