What is Regeneration?
What is regeneration? Our reformed friends have accused the Lord's church of not being able to explain this term. These individuals assert that because we deny the false doctrine of original sin or its cousin, Total Depravity, we cannot adequately define regeneration. We will contend that it is improper to define the former term (a Biblical term) with the latter terms that are unfounded in the Scriptures. We will utilize the balance of this article to answer this claim by defining the term from the Greek text in several passages that help us understand such a great topic.
(For Further Study https://www.ironworkspress.org/articles/dismantling-total-depravity)
First, the word rendered regeneration in both Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5 is the Koine Greek word paliggenesia (παλιγγενεσία). It is a compound word combining πάλιν (palin, meaning "again") and γένεσις (genesis, meaning "birth" or "origin") So we would rightfully understand that this could be rendered born again, new birth, etc or also as the ASV renders regeneration.? Let's consider Titus 3:5 in its context.
But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared, not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:
(Titus 3:4-10).
The reformed view described by Matthew Barrett is as follows, “Regeneration is the sovereign work of God the Holy Spirit of granting spiritual life to each Christian, raising them from the dead so that they are now able to repent and trust in Christ as a new creation.” This could be akin to the Holy Spirit forcefully saving an unwilling soul. I will not spend my time arguing over why Calvinism is inherently false, I have done so above and in the subsequent articles in that series. I will however defend the fact of biblical regeneration from the text.
The Holy Spirit through the pen of Paul describes regeneration as coming by washing. He also states that the regenerated are renewed by the Holy Spirit. So how does one receive the washing of regeneration? Moreover, how is one renewed by the Holy Spirit? Another epistle explains this so well. It would be useful to compare Titus 3 with Romans 6.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin.
(Romans 6:1-7)
For one to be born again, one must die to sin. This is called repentance. It is a change of mind followed by action. He dies to sin, and as you well know, when someone dies they are buried. Just as Jesus was immersed in the tomb, we are immersed in the watery grave of baptism. Just as Christ was regenerated when He arose from the dead, we too are regenerated as the new man through the glory of the Father as we come out of the watery grave. In addition, we are now renewed by the Holy Spirit to walk in the newness of life. Our lives are no longer wilfully chained to the shackles of sin, but we have been liberated and given freedom through receiving the implanted word of the Spirit (cf. Jam 1:21).
All Christians are regenerated by the new birth, the same new birth that Christ spoke of to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” He also affirms in John 3:5, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” To be regenerated is to become a child of God through obedience to His commands.
We would also affirm that Titus 3 shows us the source of regeneration is from the kindness of God our Savior. The text clearly explains that we are not saved by works of righteousness that we did. To receive forgiveness of sins is not a meritocracy by any means. The gift of salvation is offered unto all, but how does one receive such a great gift? How can one receive it? Titus 3:4 affirms by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, that is through obedience to the Gospel of Christ.
I realize this is a source of great confusion for the Reformed Theologians, but please indulge me. If I go out and buy you a gift and I take it home and I wrap it with the most beautiful wrapping paper, a delicate bow, and a custom-made name tag that declares this gift is for you, how do you receive such a gift? I suppose you would open your hands and take it. You would remove the paper and see what was in it. Would it cease to be a free gift if you were to do such things? Would it no longer be a gift but somehow become works-based if you were to simply open the gift with the simple tasks I required you to do (remove the wrapping)? God has prepared the gift of salvation; Jesus paid for it, He did all the work wrapping it up and presented it to you in His Word. Will you open the gift and be regenerated?
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
https://biblehub.com/greek/3824.htm
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/regeneration/
