"Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" -- Titus 3:5
The Land of Beginning Again
I wish that there were some wonderful
place
Called the Land of Beginning Again,
Where all our mistakes and all our
heartaches
And all our poor selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby old
coat at the door
And never be put on again.
-- Louise
Tarkington
Regeneration = New birth, the production
of a new life. The word is often used to denote the restoration of a thing
to its pristine state, its renovation.
Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work
of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus.
It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of
sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptist Faith and Message, 1963
Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought
by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth the dead in trespasses and sins enlightening
their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and
renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It
is a work of God's free and special grace alone. Abstract of Principles,
Charter, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1858
Jesus: "You must be born again" (John
3:3,8)
Paul: "A new creation" and "New man" (Galatians
6:15 & Ephesians 4:24)
Peter: "Begotten us again" (1st
Peter 1:3)
John: "Born of God" (1st
John 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1,4,18)
James: "Brought forth" (James 1:18)
1. The Need for Regeneration
Ephesians 2
Key word: Inability
1.1 Inability to Fellowship
with God vs. 1
1.2 Inability to Respond to God vs.
1
1.3 Inability to Escape the Power of
Evil Influences vs. 2
1.4 Inability to Change Our Sinful Nature
vs. 3
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or
the leopard its spots? Then may you do good who are accustomed to do evil"
Jeremiah 13:23
1.5 Inability to Understand the Things
of God 4:17-18
2. The Newness of Regeneration
2.1 New Life
Ephesians 2:4-5
2.2 A New Heart
"I will give you a new heart and put a
new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh
and give you a heart of flesh" Ezekiel 36:26
"Regeneration in Christ changes the disposition
from lawless, Godless, self-seeking (Rom. 3:9-18; 8:7) which dominates
the man in Adam into one of trust and love, of repentance for past rebelliousness
and unbelief, and loving compliance with God's law henceforth. It enlightens
the blinded mind to discern spiritual realities (I Cor. 2:14-15; II Cor.
4:6; Col. 3:10), and liberates and energizes the enslaved will for free
obedience to God (Rom. 6:14, 17-22; Phil. 2:13)."
J. I. Packer, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology
3. The Cause of Regeneration
3.1 Regeneration Is Not a Human
Achievement
". . .Born, not of blood, nor of the will
of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" John 1:13
3.2 Regeneration Is the Work of the
Holy Spirit
"Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, through the washing
of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:5
". . .Born of the Spirit" John 3:8
3.3 Regeneration Takes Place Through
the Instrument of God's Word
"He brought us forth by the word of truth"
James 1:18
"Having been born again, not of corruptible
seed, but incorruptible, through the word of God" 1st Peter
1:23
Carl Bruin, a Christian poet, re-wrote
that stanza by Louise Tarkington to read:
I have found in the Book, that wonderful
place,
Called the Land of Beginning Again,
Where the sins of the past are remembered
no more
And the years, locust-eaten, the Lord
doth restore.
All our filthy rags changed for a garment
of grace,
And the soul is begotten again!
Oh, I've found, yes, I've found, that
wonderful place
Called the Land of Beginning Again.
