Lessons for the Salvation Seminar Bible Doctrine of Salvation Soteriology Lessons: Salvation, Regeneration, Repentance, Faith, Justification, How to Be Born Again, Sanctification. II. Regeneration Regeneration: again procreate or produce, born again. In regeneration, spiritual life is imparted to the spiritually dead--those who have not yet received spiritual life (John 3:7). It is the genesis or beginning of the new life in Christ. We are begotten by God with the word of truth (James 1:18; John 1:13). Jesus is the LIFE and the LIFEGIVER. Consider Genesis 2:7; John 14:6; 1 John 5:11, 12. Ezekiel 37 can also serve to illustrate this. God initiates or begins our new life by the word (as it is received) and the Holy Spirit (as he first convicts and then effects conversion). It is His will and by His will that we are saved (John 1:13) when we choose, repent, and believe. God is the only source of regeneration or spiritual life. Regeneration is not: 1.The reshaping of a life style, as in reformation or reorientation. However, reformation and reorientation are accomplished more perfectly by regeneration than by any other means. 2.(Not) experienced by ritual as in water baptism. 3.(Not) church membership, doing good deeds, or "trying" to be a Christian. The sense in which a person is "begotten" in the new birth is a different sense from that in John 3:16, in which Jesus is called the "only begotten Son." Old Testament, New Covenant A study of the Old Testament background of how mankind lost this spiritual life (Genesis 2:17) and of the Old Testament promise of the New Covenant under which the new birth is experienced (Jeremiah 31:31-33 and repeated in Hebrews 10:16, 17; 12:24) will help in understanding regeneration. The Washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5) Regeneration includes a "washing" or cleansing as well as receipt of new life. Regeneration includes a "renewing" of the Holy Ghost. The "washing" is not water baptism. Water baptism does not bring salvation, for we see in Acts 10:47, 48, that these people had not only received salvation but also the Holy Spirit baptism before they were baptized in water. The "renewing" means to "make new" and is accomplished by the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. The "water" is "the Word" - a symbol of the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 1:23). The Results of Regeneration 1. "All things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). 2. The person does what is right (righteousness - 1 John 2:29). 3. The person doesn't continue to practice sin (1 John 3:9). He is prevented or restrained from practicing sin. He keeps His commandments (1 John 2:4). 4. The person loves others, especially God's people (1 John 4; John 15:12-17). 5. "...he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (1 John 5:18). 6. Even if he doesn't know the law, he does by nature (the new nature in him) the things contained in the law (Romans 2:14, 15). 7. A new relationship is established with God and with the family of God. He is "reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20). A Father-son relationship with God has been established (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18). A brother-sister relationship is established with others who are saved (Revelation 1:9; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 6:6; 1 John 3:10,14). --- The Missing Link, Inc. P. O. Box 40031 Cleveland, Ohio 44140 USA Tel. 440-201-6046 http://misslink.org/cover Copyright © 2018 - Swiss Valley Web Design