Introduction

Ask most Reformed Christians what the word regeneration means, and the typical answer given will be: regeneration means the new birth or new life which the Holy Spirit brings about in the life of one formerly dead in their sins. This is a good, biblical answer. But let's delve a little deeper into this wonderful Bible doctrine of regeneration. Why is regeneration necessary? Which person(s) of the Trinity bring about regeneration? Is regeneration the work of God, the work of the sinner, or a partnership between God and the individual? What part do the Scriptures play in the regeneration of a sinner? Which comes first; regeneration or faith? Surveying the Bible and summarizing the material in Berkhof's Manual of Christian Doctrine, (Eerdmans Publishing, 1981) I will do my best to answer these questions for the reader.

Regeneration Defined

As with so many of the various aspects of our salvation, there is some overlap and a very close relationship between internal calling and regeneration. When the Triune God of Scripture calls one of His elect sinners to Himself, it is always His intention to give that sinner new life. To put it another way, the Lord never issues an internal call without fully intending to regenerate that individual. The Canons of Dort, Third Head of Doctrine, Article 8 states,

As many as are called by the gospel are unfeignedly called. For God has most earnestly and truly declared in His Word what is acceptable to Him, namely, that those who are called should come unto Him. He also seriously promises rest of soul and eternal life to all who come to Him and believe.

One thing the reader must be aware of as he or she reads Reformed theology is the fact that not all authors define regeneration in the same terms. Calvin, for example, used the word to include both conversion and sanctification. In the Three Forms of Unity, regeneration means the beginning of God's work of salvation in the new birth and conversion. Berkhof notes the following about the use of the word in modern Reformed circles-

Sometimes it is employed in more limited sense, as a designation of the implanting of the new life in the soul, apart from manifestations of this life (pg. 226) He goes on to give this excellent definition of regeneration: that act of God by which the principle of the new life is implanted in man, and the governing disposition of the soul is made holy.

What Happens in Regeneration?

1. God produces radical changes in the sinner.

When God gives new life to a sinner He radically changes the will, the emotions and the mind of the individual. The following Scriptures demonstrate this radical change in the sinner's mind which God effects: 1 Cor. 2:14-15, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one." 2 Cor. 4:6 "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Eph. 1:18, "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."

Then, there is the radical change God brings about in the will of the regenerated sinner. Philippians 2:13, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure." Heb. 13:21 "make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."

Additionally, this radical change is seen in the emotions of the regenerated sinner. Ps. 42:1, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God." 1 Pet. 1:8, "whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory."

2. God produces immediate change in the sinner.

Just as the bodies of those raised from the dead by Christ were dead one moment and alive the next, so it is with regeneration. One moment we are dead in our sins, and the next, God gives us spiritual life. Whereas sanctification is a gradual process, lasting a lifetime, regeneration happens instantaneously, not gradually.

Why is Regeneration Necessary?

The Bible teaches us that holiness is absolutely necessary in order to enjoy fellowship and communion with the Holy One, the Triune God. Heb. 12:14, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." Yet, Scripture also clearly teaches that, by nature, by birth, and by willful disobedience to the law of God, we are all like an unclean thing, "And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away." (Is. 64:6)

The Canons of Dort put it this way in the Third Head of Doctrine, Article 3, "Therefore all men are conceived in sin, and are by nature children of wrath, incapable of saving good, prone to evil, dead in sin, and in bondage thereto; and without the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, they are neither able nor willing to return to God, to reform the depravity of their nature, or to dispose themselves to reformation."

Therefore, these radical changes mentioned above must occur if we are to have any hope of fellowship and communion with the Holy God who has revealed Himself to us in His Word.

How Does Regeneration Come About?

In God's perfect timing for each of His elect, He, through the preaching, teaching, and/or reading of His Word calls the sinner to Himself. This calling coincides with the creation of new life in the soul of the sinner by the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. The Canons of Dort describe this work of God's grace this way: "HeY powerfully illuminates their minds by His Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God; but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit He pervades the inmost recesses of man; He opens the closed and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised; infuses new qualities into the will, which, though heretofore dead, He quickens; from being evil, disobedient, and refractory, He renders it good, obedient, and pliable; actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions." (Third Head of Doctrine, Article 11)

Once God effects regeneration, conversion begins. Exactly how does this regeneration occur? Human conception can be explained scientifically, but such a clinical explanation does not plumb the depths of the mystery of the creation of a new life consisting of body and soul. Even so, the creative work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration cannot be completely comprehended in our imperfect state. But Christians are satisfied in knowing that God's regenerative grace has enabled them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved from their sins and misery.

Regeneration-Whose Work Is It?

Once again, the Canons magnificently answer this question for us: "But that others who are called by the gospel obey the call and are converted is not to be ascribed to the proper exercise of free will, whereby one distinguishes himself above others equally furnished with grace sufficient for faith and conversion (as the proud heresy of Pelagius maintains); but it must be wholly ascribed to God, who, as He has chosen His own from eternity in Christ." (3rd Head, Article 10)

These statements are solidly based on the Old and New Testament Scriptures: "Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh. (Ezek. 11:19) "Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul." (Acts 16:14) "So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy." (Rom. 9:16)

The Canons go on to reflect these passages in Article 12 stating that God works this regeneration without our aid. Contrary to the arguments of our Arminian friends, it is not the case that, "after God has performed His part, it still remains in the power of man to be regenerated or not, to be converted or to continue unconverted; but it is evidently a supernatural work, most powerful, and at the same time most delightful, astonishing, mysterious, and ineffable; not inferior in efficacy to creation or the resurrection from the dead, as the Scripture inspired by the Author of this work declares; so that all in whose heart God works in this marvelous manner are certainly, infallibly, and effectually regenerated, and do actually believe."

Conclusion

We have seen clearly, from the Scriptures and the Creeds that without regeneration, there is no hope for any sinner. God uses His Word to call the sinner to Himself, and by His Spirit breathes new life into his soul, heart, mind, will, and emotions. The Bible and our confessions clearly teach us that we cannot and will not believe until God first makes us alive. Finally, we have seen that regeneration is 100 percent a work of God's grace and zero percent the work of the sinner.

May these brief thoughts on this glorious doctrine cause our hearts to be filled with joy unspeakable and full of thanksgiving to God as we reflect on what it means to be born again.