The Application of Salvation
Regeneration
Born Again by the Spirit
Description
Regeneration is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which a spiritually dead sinner is made alive. It is being born again, born from above, born of the Spirit. This new birth is not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Regeneration precedes faith—we must be made alive before we can believe, just as Lazarus had to be made alive before he could respond to Christ's call. The wind blows where it wishes—regeneration is a sovereign act of God. In regeneration, God removes the heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh, writing His law on our hearts and causing us to walk in His statutes.
Key Verses
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.
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.
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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.
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.
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.