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
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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."
-
(1) A New Life. The old
life centered in self, displaying the marks of the fall in all its horrible
aspects: in passion and pride, in temper and intemperance [Colossians 3:5,
8]. It was fashioned according to the "deceitful lusts," and according
to the course of this world. The new life that possesses the soul brings
with it the "all things new" that St. Paul referred to. It gave him a new
vision, a new purpose, a new philosophy, a new message; new aspirations,
new associations and new life. Said Jesus: "He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and . . . is passed
from death unto life" [John 5:24]. The one who rejects Christ rejects life.
Our Lord said to the Jews: "I am the bread of life"; "Ye will not come
to me, that ye might have life"; "He that believeth not the Son, shall
not see life."
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(2) A New
Birth. Regeneration is starting life over again; it is comparable
to a new birth. The depravity of human nature necessitates it: "Ye must
be born anew" [John 3:7, R.V.]. Its absence debars from heaven [John 3:3].
Man in himself is in no way capable of effecting this new birth. "Which
were born," said Jesus, "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God" [John 1:13]. The new birth is unto righteousness.
Just as the physical birth is revealed by manifestation, so is the spiritual.
"Every one that doeth righteousness is born of him" [1 John 2:29]. It is
created in the heart by the miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit [John
3:6].
-
(3) A New Creature. Regeneration
should not be mistaken for reformation. It is transformation. By the power
of the Spirit of God he who is in Christ is morally and spiritually a new
man. As St. Paul puts it: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature,
[a new creation, marg.]" [2 Corinthians 5:17]. The "new wine" of the kingdom
must be contained in new vessels. This is foundational and fundamental
to the Christian life. "Neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision,
but a new creature" [Galatians 6:15]. The Christ-life in the soul, bringing
in a "new creation," will be manifested in deeds" "Created in Christ Jesus
unto good works" [Ephesians 2:10], even the nine-fold fruit
of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23]. [Top of
Page] [Down]
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(4) A New Heart. There
is no way by which a mortal being can love God, enjoy Him and delight in
His will, but by the regeneration of the heart -- the seat of the affections.
Naturally, the heart is bad [Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-22]. Study the first
chapter of Romans and see how degenerate man is apart from grace. The heart
of the unregenerate person is "enmity against God"; it is not subject to
God's law and never indeed can be, apart from the regenerating power of
the Holy Spirit. The effectiveness of regeneration in the heart establishes
it through the sanctifying power of the Spirit "unblameable in holiness"
[1 Thessalonians 3:13]. We yield up our sinful heart to God and He takes
away the "stony heart" and gives us a new heart, even a heart of
flesh [Jeremiah 24:7; Jeremiah 32:39; Ezekiel 11:19].
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(5) A New Spirit. The
spirit is that part of man which bears likeness to the "image of God" [Genesis
1:27]. This was lost in the fall; he is "dead in trespasses and sin" [Ephesians
2:1], and is restored through the redemption of Christ. "I will put a new
spirit within you" -- newness of spirit; not the "oldness of the letter"
[Romans 7:6]. The awakening of the human spirit comes through the influence
of the Holy Spirit. "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit" [John
3:6].
-
(6) A New Man. The "old
man," St. Paul informs us, is "corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,"
and is to be "put off" -- cast aside like a worn-out garment. The "new
man" that is to be "put on" is molded in the semblance of God; "created
in righteousness and true holiness" [Ephesians 4:22-24]. The putting away
of the old nature, or life, is comparable to burial, symbolized by baptism,
and the "new man" is likened to the resurrected life of Christ working
in us through the "operation of God" [Colossians 2:12]. The "new man" seeks
the things of God. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above" [Colossians 3:1].
How Regeneration
is Received
[Top
of Page]
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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