Regeneration: life by divine initiative
Regeneration is the first stage in the process of spiritual renewal in which the regenerated soul shares in the life-giving renewal-resurrection which has been inaugurated in Christ's resurrection (Romans 4:17, Ephesians 2:5, Colossian 2:13). Regeneration is causally rooted in the resurrection of Christ (Ephesians 2:5, 1 Peter 1:3), and as such, our regeneration is the fruit of Christ's resurrection. The Holy Spirit effects in us new life and places us into our participation in the New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 1:23, James 1:18). Regeneration inaugurates union to Christ and new life, by the sovereign and secret activity of God, in which the Holy Spirit begins the transformation into the image of Christ which will be completed at Christ's appearing.
Regeneration is the fulfillment of God's promise to give us a new heart (Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:26). In regeneration, the Holy Spirit imparts the divine nature and divine life into the elect where he wills (Ezekiel 36:25,26, John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5). The activity of the Spirit in regeneration was foreshadowed in the original "generation" (Gen. 2:7). The divine breath that breathed life into Adam, regenerated dry bones (Ezekiel 37:5-14), wind-breathed life into the new creation, the church (Acts 2:2,33), breathed Christ to life (Rom. 8:11), and regenerates the sinner (John 3:3-8, Ephesians 2:5). The Spirit's hovering (Gen. 1:2) as a life-giving wind-breath (Gen. 2:7) is not the result of man's initiative but of God's (Ecc. 1:6, 11:5; Ezekiel 37:5-14, John 1:13, 3:8; 1 John 5:1).
Regeneration denotes transformation from without and from above (John 1:13, 3:3,7,8 1 John 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1,4,18), caused by participation in the power of the new age and more specifically by fellowship through the Spirit with the resurrected Christ as the second man, its firstfruits, the eschatological Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). Regeneration is the instantaneous change in the whole man, intellectually, emotionally, and morally, and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God (John 5:24). It causes the sinner to be repentant, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, to respond by God's gift of faith to trust solely in the divine provision of salvation (John 1:12,13, 3:3, 5, 1 John 4:7, 5:1). Regeneration preceding faith is pictured in the raising of Lazarus (John 11). Christ's call infuses life into the dead (regeneration) through his Spirit so that they may walk out of the tomb (faith).
Genuine regeneration is manifested by fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works will be its proper evidence and fruit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:10), and will be experienced to the extent that the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the Word of God (Ephesians 5:17-21; Philippians 2:12b; Colossians 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4-10) and shunning the life of sin (1 John 3:9, 5:18). This obedience causes the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Conformity to the image of Christ is climaxed in the believer's glorification at Christ's coming (Romans 8:17; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2-3).
Regeneration is a present reality, but it also awaits its consummation in the final rebirth of the universe (Matthew 19:28). Glorification, while consummated in the future, has already in a sense begun here and now through the indwelling of the Spirit of grace and glory (2 Corinthians 4:18, Romans 8:28, 1 Peter 4:13).
Regeneration is the fulfillment of God's promise to give us a new heart (Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:26). In regeneration, the Holy Spirit imparts the divine nature and divine life into the elect where he wills (Ezekiel 36:25,26, John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5). The activity of the Spirit in regeneration was foreshadowed in the original "generation" (Gen. 2:7). The divine breath that breathed life into Adam, regenerated dry bones (Ezekiel 37:5-14), wind-breathed life into the new creation, the church (Acts 2:2,33), breathed Christ to life (Rom. 8:11), and regenerates the sinner (John 3:3-8, Ephesians 2:5). The Spirit's hovering (Gen. 1:2) as a life-giving wind-breath (Gen. 2:7) is not the result of man's initiative but of God's (Ecc. 1:6, 11:5; Ezekiel 37:5-14, John 1:13, 3:8; 1 John 5:1).
Regeneration denotes transformation from without and from above (John 1:13, 3:3,7,8 1 John 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1,4,18), caused by participation in the power of the new age and more specifically by fellowship through the Spirit with the resurrected Christ as the second man, its firstfruits, the eschatological Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). Regeneration is the instantaneous change in the whole man, intellectually, emotionally, and morally, and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God (John 5:24). It causes the sinner to be repentant, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, to respond by God's gift of faith to trust solely in the divine provision of salvation (John 1:12,13, 3:3, 5, 1 John 4:7, 5:1). Regeneration preceding faith is pictured in the raising of Lazarus (John 11). Christ's call infuses life into the dead (regeneration) through his Spirit so that they may walk out of the tomb (faith).
Genuine regeneration is manifested by fruits worthy of repentance as demonstrated in righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works will be its proper evidence and fruit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:10), and will be experienced to the extent that the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the Word of God (Ephesians 5:17-21; Philippians 2:12b; Colossians 3:16; 2 Peter 1:4-10) and shunning the life of sin (1 John 3:9, 5:18). This obedience causes the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Conformity to the image of Christ is climaxed in the believer's glorification at Christ's coming (Romans 8:17; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:2-3).
Regeneration is a present reality, but it also awaits its consummation in the final rebirth of the universe (Matthew 19:28). Glorification, while consummated in the future, has already in a sense begun here and now through the indwelling of the Spirit of grace and glory (2 Corinthians 4:18, Romans 8:28, 1 Peter 4:13).
posted by Chad Richard Bresson at 6/07/2006 11:57:00 PM
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