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Regeneration
By Loren M. Chamberlain
It is common knowledge that many Christians believe that they have been “born again,” but have they really? Can a person that has repented of his past life, been baptized, and is considered to have received the Holy Spirit really be born again? Jesus said, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.” Just what is Jesus telling us?
What is meant by “regeneration?” The scriptures indicate that Regeneration is a spiritual change that takes place by the power of the Holy Spirit in the heart of man in which his inherently sinful nature is changed so he can respond to God in faith and live in obedience according to His will. It will extend to the entire nature of man including the altering of his governing disposition, illumining his mind, freeing his will, and renewing his nature. “The Lord thy God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God, with all your heart, and with all thy soul, that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30: 6).
For a full understanding of the Biblical concept of regeneration we must first come to an understanding of the distinction between justification and sanctification and how these doctrines relate to the doctrine of regeneration.
In the New Testament we will find numerous statements joining justification with sanctification in a perfect whole. Notice the following scriptures: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [justification], and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [sanctification]” (1 John 1:9). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus [justification], who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit [sanctification]” (Romans 8:1).
Regeneration [Greek palingensia-‘rebirth, regeneration’] (Titus 3:5): The RSV of Matthew 19:28 gives us the Greek translation of the word “regeneration” as palingenesia meaning “new world”, which is synonymous with apokatastasis panton “establishing all” (Acts 3:21; the verb occurs in Matthew 17:11, apokatasstesei panta, “is to restore all things”), and with anapsyxis, “refreshing” (Acts 3:19; Greek text, verse 20). It is supposed that regeneration in this sense denotes the final stage of development of all creation, when God’s purposes are fully realized and “all things are put in subjection under Him” (1 Corinthians 15:27).
This is a “regeneration” in the proper meaning of the word, for it signifies a renovation of all visible things; the old has passed away, and heaven and earth have become new (cf. Revelation 21:1). When Jesus told His disciples they would sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, this could not occur until Jesus returns and establishes the Kingdom of God. It will be at that time He will sit on the throne of His glory.
To the Jew the regeneration prophesied was inseparably connected with the reign of the Messiah. The born again statement Jesus made to Nicodemus in John 3:3—8 does not take place until the first resurrection when Jesus Christ returns and establishes the Kingdom on earth. In verse 3 Jesus said, “except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Even though we are now “new creatures in Christ” because of the Holy Spirits work of regeneration and renewal, while we are still in the flesh, we are not pure, we are not perfect, and most apparent of all we are not “Spirit Beings.”
Paul said in Titus 3:5 that it is “not by works of righteousness (deeds prescribed by the law of Moses) that we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Man cannot earn his salvation by good deeds. After this Paul added the means of this salvation: “By the washing of regeneration, and the renewing by the Holy Spirit.” This is what Jesus taught Nicodemus. Within the great challenge of Christ to Nicodemus, there is clearly implied the unity of justification and sanctification: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [justification] and of the Spirit [sanctification], he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
In the Bible, the water clearly encompasses justification (Acts 19:4), whereas being born of the Spirit encompasses sanctification (1 Peter 1:22). It is of great importance to understand that justification and sanctification are characteristics of those of the last generation who will be redeemed into the Kingdom of God. “And He that is righteous [justified], let him be righteous still: and he that is holy [sanctified], let him be holy still.”
When Jesus instructed Nicodemus, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit,” He was explaining a complete miraculous event must happen and that event is the “First Resurrection” that takes place when Jesus returns in glory. By accepting Jesus as our Lord, King and Savior now in this physical life, our hearts can be regenerated and renewed assuring our resurrection and being given a completely new spiritual body when Jesus Christ returns.
Regeneration is the imparting of a new nature, God’s nature. “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” (2 Peter 1:4). Note clearly that it is the Holy Spirit that imparts the new nature, making us partakers of the divine nature. However we still cannot see the Kingdom of God, nor in our present humanly fleshly state enter into it.
We might look at this wonderful event that has happened to us in this way. Paul said, “for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15). The human heart is the soil, Paul the father type of teacher or preacher is the sower, the word of God is the seed, the Spirit of God quickens the seed and the Divine nature is the result! i
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