Regeneration

                                                      The Biblical Order of Salvation Continued

          So far we've looked at the first two steps - Election and The Call.

          The next step in the biblical order of salvation is regeneration, also known as
     the new birth (being "born again" or "born from above").

          Regeneration is the secret act of God in which He imparts new spiritual life
     to us.
          Webster's describes the term as "formed or created again, or to be spiritually reborn
     or converted."

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          The Bible describes what happens when regeneration takes place in Ezekiel 11:19-20
     and Ezekiel 36:26-29a.
          "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;  I will remove from you your
     heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit in you and move you
     to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.... You will be my people, and I will
     be your God.  I will save you from all your uncleaness" (Ezekiel 36:26-29a).

          God takes our heart (which is hard as stone toward God, and leads us to desire what we
     want and not what God wants) (unresponsive), and He softens our heart and gives us a heart
     of flesh, which makes us willing (responsive) and able to come to Him for salvation.
          Then He moves us to follow Him in obedience, as we have become His people and He
     becomes our God.

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          Before we recieved Christ, we were at war with God and were dead in our transgressions
     and sins (Ephesians 2:1).  Because of our sinfulness we were objects of God's wrath (Ephesians
     2:3), "but because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, MADE US ALIVE WITH
     Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians
     2:4-5).

          When the gospel is proclaimed and we hear it and believe in Jesus for our salvation (even
     though we are dead in our sin), God will give us new life that lasts for eternity.
          (Jesus said), "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me
     has eternal life and will not be condemned;  he has crossed over from death to life.  I tell you
     the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of
     God and those who hear will live" (John 5:24-25).

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          The Bible makes it clear it is God who is working to bring about the new birth, not man.

          "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, GOD
     MADE YOU ALIVE WITH CHRIST.  He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written
     code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us;  he took it away,
     nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:13-14).

          God and God alone, is totally responsible for our new birth, and He guards and keeps our
     salvation safe for eternity.
     "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to His great mercy, HE
     HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
     Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
     heaven for you, WHO BY GOD'S POWER ARE BEING GUARDED THROUGH FAITH
     FOR A SALVATION ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).

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          Why do we need to be born again?

          1. To avoid God's wrath for our sins, and eternity in hell where there will be weeping
     gnashing of teeth, and agony.

          2. To see the Kingdom of God.  The kingdom is heaven and everywhere that God reigns
     in majesty. Believers inherit eternity in heaven with God and we will reign with Him forever.

          Jesus told Nicodemus that "no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again"
     (John 3:3).  Moments later he said, "You must be born again.  The wind blows wherever it
     pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.
     So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (John 3:7-8).

          The NIV commentary states, "The Holy Spirit is sovereign.  He works as He pleases in
     His renewal of the human heart."

          3. Since we were dead in our sins before, we need to be made alive or spiritually born
     again.  When we are born again, we are still the same human being, but we have a new heart
     and a new nature.
          "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.  The old has passed away;  behold
     the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

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          We don't "born again" ourselves;  it is totally a work of the grace of God the Father and
     the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ the Son.


           Next time:  Step 4 - Conversion.