The Work of the Spirit in Salvation
Regeneration
The Spirit Gives New Life
Description
Regeneration is the Spirit's work of imparting new life to spiritually dead sinners. Jesus told Nicodemus that one must be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. The wind blows where it wishes—this sovereign act cannot be controlled or predicted by human effort. The Spirit breathes life into dead souls just as God breathed life into Adam. He creates clean hearts and renews right spirits within us. This new birth produces new creatures—old things pass away, all things become new. Regeneration is instantaneous, supernatural, and transformative.
Key Verses
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 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. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.