Thinking on Scripture with Dr. Steven R. Cook
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
Regeneration is a fundamental teaching in the doctrine of salvation. It is a work of God on behalf of man and in man. The word “regeneration” occurs only twice in the Bible (Matt. 19:28 and Titus 3:5). In both places the Greek word used is παλιγγενεσία paliggenesia, which means the “the state of being renewed… [the] experience of a complete change of life, rebirth of a redeemed person.”[1]
Regeneration by the Holy Spirit
Regeneration is accomplished by God for those who believe in Jesus as Savior (John 1:12-13; 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:17; Tit. 3:5). Though God the Father and God the Son are involved in our new life (John 5:21; Jam. 1:17-18), Scripture directs us to view it also as a work of God the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-7; Tit. 3:5).
Eternal Life Imparted by Regeneration
The believer who trusts in Jesus as Savior is given eternal life (John 3:16; 10:28; 20:31). This means the lost person is transferred from a place of spiritual death to spiritual life (John 1:13; Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:1-5). (Read page 99)
The Results of Regeneration
Our regeneration as born again persons is the foundation upon which all other Christian experiences are based. (Read pages 99-100)
[1] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 752.
[2] Lewis Sperry Chafer; John F. Walvoord; Major Bible Themes (Grand Rapids, Mich. Zondervan Publishing, 2010), 97-98.
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