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REGENERATION
Special act of God in which the recipient is passive. God alone awakens the person spiritually through the power of His Holy Spirit. Both the OT and NT also speak of the renewing of the individual. In a technical sense the act of regeneration takes place at the moment of conversion as the individual is spiritually awakened.
The term “regeneration” is the Greek word
palingenesia (used only in
Matt. 19:28 of creation and
Titus 3:5). The Titus text refers to the regeneration of the individual, “He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (HCSB). The Bible expresses the concept in numerous places with other terms like born again, renewed, remade, and born of God. For instance, in
John 3:3-8 Jesus tells Nicodemus that in order to enter the kingdom of God, he must be born again. This thought is echoed in
1 Pet. 1:23, “Since you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.” The Bible clearly teaches that man must undergo a spiritual re-creation in order to have a relationship with God or enter His kingdom.
Paul provides further explanation in
Eph. 2:1: “You were dead in your trespasses and sins.” Clearly Paul does not mean physical death but instead is referring to man’s spiritual state. Sin has left man dead spiritually, unable to respond to God. However, regeneration reawakens or resurrects man’s spiritual capacity so that he can have relationship with God. Paul explained in
Eph. 2:4-5, “Because of His great love that He had for us, [God] made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses” (HCSB). Regeneration gives man the ability to commune with God, thus making man “a new creation” (
2 Cor. 5:17).
This same idea is expressed in the OT. For example, God told Israel in
Ezek. 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (NASB). This need for a new heart was expressed by the psalmist: “God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (
Ps. 51:10 HCSB).
Jeremiah 31:31-34 also speaks of God establishing a new covenant where His law will be written on men’s hearts. These verses clearly speak of a change in man’s heart resulting in an improved response to God and His will, which is reflective of the NT concept of regeneration.
Several church traditions, like the Roman Catholic, have associated the regenerative act with the baptism. However, the Bible clearly teaches that baptism is a testimony that regeneration has taken place and not a means to attain it. The Bible is clear that regeneration is brought about by the Holy Spirit alone (
Titus 3:5;
1 Cor. 2:6-16).
Regeneration is the catalyst that allows the Christian to interact with his creator. It is the beginning step of an eternal walk with God. Regeneration allows the individual to have a relationship with God and thus stands at the beginning of the Christian life.
Scott Drumm
Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. (END QUOTE)
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Regeneration
Only found in
Mat 19:28 and
Tit 3:5. This word literally means a "new birth." The Greek word so rendered (palingenesia) is used by classical writers with reference to the changes produced by the return of spring. In
Mat 19:28 the word is equivalent to the "restitution of all things" (
Acts 3:21). In
Tit 3:5 it denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life (
1Jn 3:14); becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (
2Co 5:17); being born again (
John 3:5); a renewal of the mind (
Rom 12:2); a resurrection from the dead (
Eph 2:6); a being quickened (
Eph 2:1,
5).
This change is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. It originates not with man but with God (
John 1:12, 13;
1Jn 2:29;
1Jn 5:1,
4).
As to the nature of the change, it consists in the implanting of a new principle or disposition in the soul; the impartation of spiritual life to those who are by nature "dead in trespasses and sins."
The necessity of such a change is emphatically affirmed in Scripture (
John 3:3;
Rom 7:18;
Rom 8:7-9;
1Co 2:14;
Eph 2:1;
Eph 4:21-24).
Illustrated Bible Dictionary: And Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature. (END QUOTE)
