The New Birth or Regeneration
The New Birth or Regeneration
INTRODUCTION
Conversion and regeneration are inseparable; conversion is the act of turning from sin to Christ; regeneration is being made a new creature by the Spirit’s power.
Regeneration or the new birth is the instrument that brings us into the family of God; into the kingdom of the Son of God. The only way to become a Christian is by being born again; born by the power of the Holy Spirit. The new birth is the door to salvation and consequently to heaven.
DEFINITION
What is regeneration?
It means a rebirth or a re-creation-a new birth, a second birth, a new creation.
Regeneration is the creation by the Holy Spirit of a new life in man called the "new creation", or the "new man."
Like the first birth it is an event and not a process, though from the first conviction of sin to regeneration may cover many days, weeks, months or even years.
Yet,the actual birth takes place in a second, as one passes from darkness to light. The person has a second birthday and begins a new life.
NECESSITY OF REGENERATION
Who needs to be born again? Only the very good like Nicodemus? Only the very bad like the persecutor Paul? Is it a matter of opinion and choice? The Scriptures plainly teach that all need to be born again; the language of the Saviour is imperative.
John 3:3, "Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:7, "Ye must be born again. "
There are no exceptions to this rule (outside of the Saviour); neither sex, age, position or condition exempts anyone from the necessity of the new birth.
There is no substitute for the new birth; to fail to be born again is to be lost.
Galatians 6:15, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." To become a new creature is to be born again.
Jeremiah 13:23, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil"; it is impossible without a re-birth.
Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can ,know it?" Only God can give a new, clean pure heart; this is the new birth. The universal sinful condition of man demands a change, the new birth for salvation. The holiness of God demands that men be born again. Hebrews 12:14, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
Holiness is foreign to natural man; it can only be obtained through the new birth. To live the life of God we must have the nature of God-God’s own holy nature.
NATURE OF REGENERATION
It is not baptism. Baptism is a Church ordinance signifying that one is a Christian and has died with Christ, been buried, risen and is now living with Christ, daily.
It is not reformation. Reformation is the act of the old nature of turning from certain evils while regeneration is the supernatural act of God; it is a spiritual crisis; it is a revolution; it is a complete right-about-face.
Regeneration is a spiritual quickening, a new birth, a new creation.
From creation everything has brought forth "after his kind"-sinners beget sinners.
We cannot alter the old nature, or reform it or re-invigorate it but we need a new birth, the impartation of a different "kind"-God’s holy nature.
1Cor. 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."
Ephesians 2:1, "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." A change from death to life; this is not reformation-this is a spiritual resurrection.
We were born the first time physically and the second birth is a spiritual birth.
THE AGENTS USED IN THE NEW BIRTH
The Word of God. James 1:18, "Of His own will begat He us with the Word of Truth. "
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. " One reason that so few people are born again today through modern preaching is that there isn’t enough of the Word of God in modern sermons. Galatians 3:2, "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? "
It is faith generated by the hearing of the Word of God that saves a soul.
The Spirit of God-the Holy Spirit.
John 3:5, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter. . ."
John 3:6, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Spiritual life is begotten by the Holy Spirit.
John 3:8, "... so is every one that is born of the Spirit." The ministry of the Holy Spirit is first to convict the sinner and then to convert him-to do the actual work of bringing him into the kingdom of God.
THE METHOD OF REGENERATION
The Divine side. John 1:13, "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God "
We were begotten by the will of God-James 1:18, quoted in IV., above.
Regeneration is a creative act on the part of God-not reformation by man.
The human side. John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."
The human part is to believe and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour.
1 Corinthians 4:15, "... for in Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the Gospel." The Gospel is the power of God (Romans 1:16) that is capable of changing men’s lives. To be born again, believe and receive the Gospel, the Word of God. 1 Peter 1:25, "And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you. " The author of regeneration is God; the channel of regeneration is Christ; the executive of regeneration is the Holy Spirit; the medium of regeneration is through receiving Christ by believing the Word of God
THE EVIDENCE OF REGENERATION
The one who is born again lives a righteous life.
1 John 2:29, "If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him."
The born again one does not live a life of sin. 1 John 3:9, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." The new nature of God in us cannot sin.
1 John 5:18, "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not."
The born again one will fulfill the command to love. Luke 10:27; 1 John 4:7, ". . . and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." .
The born again individual lives an overcoming life. 1 John 5:4, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world."
The born again one believes that Jesus is the Christ., 1 John 5:1, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God."
THE RESULTS OF REGENERATION
The heart is changed; sin is hated; Christ is loved; the life is changed.
New and holy desires spring up like a well of living water, John 4:14. The new life overflows in love and good works to others.
John 7:38, "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his inmost being shall flow rivers of living water. "
CONCLUSION The new birth is a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, for, "The Spirit bloweth where He listeth." R. V. The new birth is a secret work, for man, ". . . canst not tell," John 3:8, but evidences will come later and manifest themselves in many ways to their fellowman.
Pray that each one of us will manifest these evidences daily in our lives.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Define regeneration.
List 3 possible exceptions to the rule of John 3:3.
What is the difference between baptism and the new birth?
Explain 2 Corinthians 5:17, in the light of John 3:3.
Give 4 Scriptures (two each) to show that there are two agents at work in regeneration.
From John 1:12-13, show the two sides of the new birth.
Give 5 evidences of a changed life.
Give 5 results of regeneration.
Why did Jesus use the symbol of wind to explain the new birth in John 3:8?
On a separate sheet of paper write a paragraph of 50-100 words on John 3:3. (To be handed in)