Regeneration

Wakefield’s Christian Theology   1862.

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Regeneration may be defined to be that moral change in man, wrought by the Holy Spirit, by which he is saved from the love, the practice, and the dominion of sin, and enabled, with full choice of will and the energy of right affections, to love God and to keep his commandments.

In considering more fully the nature of this great moral change, we may remark,

1. That REPENTANCE is not regeneration. It is only that preparatory process which leads to regeneration as it leads to pardon; but it is a process without which regeneration does not take place. Conviction, then, of the evil and danger of an unregenerate state must first be felt. It is true that repentance itself implies a work of God in the heart, and an important moral change; but it is not this change, because regeneration is that renewal of our nature which gives us dominion over sin, and enables us to serve God from love, and not merely from fear. This, with all true penitents, is still the object of search and eager desire, and is, therefore, confessedly unattained. They are not yet "created in Christ Jesus unto good works," which is as special and instant a work of God as justification.

2. That regeneration is a supernatural work. It is everywhere in Scripture ascribed to Divine agency. The regenerate are born "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1.13. It is sometimes ascribed to the Father:"Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth." James 1:18. Of this great change Christ is the meritorious cause; but it is especially attributed to the Holy Spirit as the efficient cause. In our Lord’s conversation with Nicodemus he declares that "except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven;" that "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit;" and that "so is every one that is born of the Spirit." John 3: 5, 6, 8. So also St. Paul teaches us, in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, that we are chosen to salvation "through sanctification of the Spirit;" and in Titus 3:5, that we are regenerated "by the renewing of the Holy Ghost." These are only a few of the many passages which ascribe our moral renovation to the Holy Spirit, but they are sufficient to establish the point.

3. That regeneration is an inward and spiritual change. To be convinced that this is an inward and thorough renovation of our moral being, it is only necessary that we should consider the many plain and impressive figures which the sacred writers employ illustrative of its nature.

It is the bestowment of a new heart and a new spirit. "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you. 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 a heart of flesh." Ezek. 36: 25, 26.

It is the circumcision of the heart. "The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." Deut. 30:6. Again: "He is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Rom. 2:29.

It is a new birth. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3: 3,7. "Being born again, no of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible." 1 Peter 1:23.

It is a new creation. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: (or, there is a new creation) old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17 So also, "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." Eph. 2:10.

It is the image of God on the soul. "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Eph. 4:24. Again: "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Col. 3:10.

It is Christ formed in the heart. "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." Gal. 4:19. "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col. 1:27.

And, finally, it is freedom from the dominion of sin, "For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Rom 6:14. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1 John 3:9.

From these Scriptures it manifestly appears what is the true nature of regeneration. "It is that great change which God works in the soul when he brings it into life; when he raises it from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. It is the change wrought in the whole soul by the Almighty Spirit of God when it is ‘created anew in Christ Jesus;’ when it is ‘renewed after the image of God; pride into humility; passion into meekness; hatred, envy, malice, into a sincere, tender, disinterested love for all mankind. In a word, it is that change whereby the earthly, sensual, devilish mind is turned into the ‘mind which was in Christ Jesus.’" "So is every one that is born of the Spirit."