What is the new birth, or regeneration, as it is also called?
We may define regeneration as a creative act of God, imparting new life to
spiritually dead sinners. Physical birth results in physical life; regeneration
by the Spirit gives us spiritual life, for ‘that which is born of the flesh is
flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit’ (John 3:6).
The Bible uses different terms to describe regeneration: (1)
to beget, procreate, give birth (John 1:13; James 1:18; 1 John 2:29); (2) to
regenerate, create anew (Titus 3:5; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15; Eph 2:10; 4:24); (3)
to make alive (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13).
Spiritually Dead
The new birth is indispensable for salvation. During a
conversation with Nicodemus, a respected Jewish leader, Jesus underlines the
absolute necessity of the new birth. Nicodemus was a Jew – a member of God’s
covenant people; he was circumcised (the Old Testament rite which distinguished
Jews from Gentiles and was a picture of their covenantal consecration to God);
studied and taught the Scriptures; prayed regularly and endeavored to keep the
commandments.
Yet Jesus insisted that unless Nicodemus was born again (or
literally, born from above), he would not see or enter the kingdom of God (John
3:3, 7). We should apply Jesus’ words to ourselves. It is not enough to come
from a good Christian family, to be baptized, and to be a religious and moral
person. All those things will not give us an entrance into heaven. To see and
enter God’s kingdom, we too must be born again!
But why is regeneration necessary? The Bible’s diagnosis of
our spiritual health is dismal. We are not merely weak or sick; much worse than
that, we are spiritually ‘dead in trespasses and sin’ (Eph 2:1). Thus we need to
be born ‘from above’ – by the power of God – because we come into this world as
spiritual stillbirths. We who are ‘dead’ need to be ‘made alive’ (Eph 2:3).
Calling
The gospel is proclaimed to everyone; many are invited, many
are called. Yet God’s marvellous invitation is often met with indifference,
antipathy and even open hostility. That is not unexpected, given man’s sinful
nature and the state of spiritual death. On the contrary what is surprising is
that some do in fact respond and believe.
We come to believe only because God’s call is powerful and
effective. As in the beginning, when God spoke and the worlds were formed, even
now, God’s word creates new spiritual life. The Bible states that ‘whom [God]
predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified’ (Rom
8:30). In this verse, ‘called’ cannot be referring to the general gospel
invitation, for not everyone who hears the gospel is predestined. The same
people who are here ‘called’ had also been predestined, and are also justified.
Their call was effective unto salvation. This act of God is termed ‘the
effectual call’ and must be distinguished from the general call or gospel
invitation. The apostle Paul uses the word ‘called’ to mean the converted, all
Christians. In distinction from the rest of the world, the called ‘belong to
Jesus Christ’, they are ‘loved of God’ (Rom 1:6, 7) and ‘in fellowship with his
Son’ (1 Cor 1:9 NIV).
Jesus’ miracle of raising Lazarus from death illustrates the
power of God’s call. Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days. Yet Jesus
cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ Could Lazarus come out of the
grave? Could a cadaver hear anything or walk? How then did he hear Jesus’ voice
and walk out of the grave? Was it not by the power of Jesus’ word? Jesus had
breathed in him new life so that he could respond to his call. The same is true
of every person who ever responds to the gospel.
Born of God
Can we do something to be born again? No, the new birth is
not something we can do, or even help to achieve. Regeneration is the work of
someone else, the Holy Spirit. Again and again the apostle John emphasizes that
we are ‘born of God’ (1 John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1,4,18). God is the author of the new
birth.
The new birth is an act of God alone, without human help,
consent or cooperation. ‘As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God’ (John
1:12, 13). Who are they who receive and believe in the Lord Jesus? Certainly not
those who are spiritually dead; they have no attraction to Christ but rather
walk according to the course of this world, under the tyranny of Satan, and
enslaved to their sinful passions (Eph 2:1-3). Who then believes in Christ? The
Bible answers, those who were born of God. Regeneration comes first and enables
us to believe.
Can we say that we were born of God because we made a
decision to receive Christ, or because we said a special prayer? No, many who
made ‘a decision for Christ’ and said the ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ show no evidence of
spiritual life. The new birth is not by the will of the flesh or the will of
man, but of the will of God. It is not something that you decide to do, but an
act that God performs in us if and when he pleases. Nor can we presume to be
born again simply because we have been baptized. Suffice it to say that many who
have been baptized show no signs of spiritual life.
The Fruit Of Regeneration
How then can we tell if we have been born again, if we’re
spiritually alive? Though the new birth is God’s work exclusively, the results
of the new birth are clearly evident in us. The first cry and breathing of a
newborn baby reassures the mother that her child is alive and healthy. What then
are the signs of spiritual life? The Bible underlines three qualities that
characterise the children of God: faith, holiness and love.
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Faith: ‘Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is
born of God’ (1 John 5:1); and again, ‘He who believes in the Son has
everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life,
but the wrath of God abides on him’ (John 3:36).
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Holiness: ‘Whoever has been born of God does not sin
... you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him’ (1
John 3:9; 2:29).
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Love: ‘Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God
... we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the
brethren’ (1 John 4:7; 3:14).
The Bible does not teach that we are born again by faith, or
on account of our holiness or love. On the contrary, these virtues follow after
regeneration. Faith in Christ, personal holiness and a loving attitude are the
concrete evidence that a person is born from above into God’s family.
