THE NATURE OF REGENERATION

THE NATURE OF REGENERATION

 Regeneration is described as a New Birth.

                        cf. the Greek term "Palin-genesia" -- again-born.
                        Also John 3:3  ASV margin    Grk. “anothen”  From above.

          Regeneration is a work of God by which the believer is brought into a new life with new relationships, new tendencies, new adjustments, and a new vision.

                        2 Cor. 5:17 ASV - New creation  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
                        John 3:6-7 - New life-Spirit life which comes from above "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
                        John 1:12 - New relation - Children of God. "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."
                        2 Pet. 1:4 - New nature - Partaken of the Divine nature. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
                        Ezek. 36:26     - New heart "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."
                        Eph. 4:23-24 - New moral inclination "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;" "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
                         John 3:3 - New spiritual insight. Not merely can't enter, but cannot experience. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

 Regeneration is not a process, but an instantaneous work.

                        cf. the term "Birth" - an event
                        John 5:24, Luke 23:39-43       Today! "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." "But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?" "And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.' "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."
            Notes: Certain types of religious education go wrong here:
                        Explain: Start with assumption man has a spark of life. All it needs is development. There is some truth to this, but first there must be the communication of life. Then training.
                        The element of truth present in these types:
                        Explain: Training, education may bring to the point of new birth.
                        After new birth there is need for Christian Education.
                         True Christian education has two goals:
                                    (1) Bringing unsaved to experience of new birth.
                                    (2) Development of the new life which came through Regeneration.

               Regeneration is a supernatural work of God wrought beyond the range of human cognition.

                        cf, John 3:8     "The Spirit breathes on whom he wills."
                                  We know the new birth only by its effects.
                                    No purely naturalistic explanation has ever accounted for the effects of  the New Birth.

             The New Birth is a work always wrought in union with Christ, and is  inseparable apart from Him.

                        2 Cor. 5:17 "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation."
                        Eph. 2:10 "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus."

                         Note: Might bring together all the psychological elements of the New Birth, but never get             a New Birth apart from Christ. No other religion has a true New Birth.

                                   (1)   No materialistic explanation for the New Birth.
                                   (2) Psychological explanation fails; there are habits, connections, stimulus and response. No way to break connections. But the New Birth does it.
                                  (3) In New Birth, either supernaturally the connections are broken, or super­naturally new connections are formed that are stronger than the old.  Psychology cannot explain this.