-John 3:6 Seven New Testament passages speak of baptism of/in/with/by the Holy Spirit. Following Augustine, Reformed theology distinguishes an external or revealed call from the savingly efficacious internal call of the Holy Spirit. Spiritually, it means that God brings Christians to new life or "born again" from a previous state of separation from God and subjection to the decay of death (Ephesians 2:5). In this is a passing from our old state into a wholly new one, from the old creation into the status of a new creation. How the Holy Spirit Works. Regeneration is the work of God through the Holy Spirit within a person who has “saving faith,” in which a new nature is given that makes the person capable of doing the will of God. Regeneration has been defined as "an inner re-creating of fallen human nature by the gracious sovereign action of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8)." . Regeneration is a theological term from the King James Version of the Bible. Two things are mentioned: the washing of regeneration, which is a periphrasis for baptism into Christ; and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. (regeneration) therefore, very fitly describes the new birth in holy baptism, when the believer is put into possession of a new spiritual life, a new nature, and a new inheritance of glory. God is sovereign and his grace is rich and varied. So, whereas our regeneration is permanent and unchanging, as is the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence with us, filling is variable. . by the word of God," and John 3:7-8—"Ye must be born again. Were OT Saints Indwelled and Regenerated by the Holy Spirit – Robert Thompson Page | 4 8. Regeneration and the Holy Spirit. They state that Jesus was instituting water baptism as a requirement for salvation and the Holy Spirit as then imparting new life through regeneration … The varying prepositions reflect the fact that the Spirit is both the agent and sphere of this baptism. God in the divine economy of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Second View – Water Baptism and The Holy Spirit. Second, “regeneration” appears in Titus 3:4-5, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” Here “regeneration” is closer to how we commonly use it, and it is connected to the Holy Spirit’s work. In Titus 3:5, Paul is describing our regeneration (our new birth) and our renewal of the Holy Spirit at salvation. However, when the Holy Spirit does His work of regeneration in our lives, at the same time He relates us to a Person, and the gift of eternal life unites us to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the spiritual bond we have with the God of life; Jesus Christ, who saves us from sin. Satan is a master at redefining Bible terms; therefore, it behooves us to have a clear understanding of the Scriptural meaning of these words. Next, the filling of the Spirit is indeed an experience far beyond anything, which the majority of Christians knows anything about. 5:22–23). …that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Our gifting is related to the indwelling presence of the Spirit, but it is neither permanent nor unchanging (Rom. ” Romans 8:2 “...the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Comment: “Regeneration” is a big word for renewal or rebirth. 36:25–27). There is a human responsibility in the response to the Spirit's urging. (Witness Lee, The Conclusion of the New Testament, p. 3692) Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Question: "What is the meaning of spiritual rebirth?" Titus 3:5 says, "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit." Answer: Spiritual rebirth refers to the new life a person finds when he or she becomes a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a miracle of God by which the principle of new spiritual life is implanted in man and the ruling nature of his soul is made holy. Comp. Regeneration is a "supernatural work of the Holy Spirit" by which the divine nature and divine life are given (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5). For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. THE HOLY SPIRIT DEMANDS OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF GOD. 12:2; Eph. – John 3:6. Other results of regeneration are listed by Paul where he speaks of the “ fruit of the Spirit, ” that is, the result in life that is produced by the power of the Holy Spirit working within every believer: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. . Since both the Word and Spirit of God are also said to be the effective agents in accomplishing the miracle of regeneration (see I Peter 1:23—"being born again . Regeneration is another way of speaking about the new birth or the second birth or being born again. Learn more about the importance of the Holy Spirit in Christianity. . Regeneration is the darkened and fallen spirit of man being enlivened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5-6 “...and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. If regeneration is synergistic, conditional on what we do, then we can predict when and where the Holy Spirit will work, falsifying Jesus illustration to Nicodemus. I. Regeneration means that our spirits are being washed and renewed. 2:5–6; 1 Pet. H. Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38, told the people to respond in a certain way, thereby obeying the Holy Spirit’s calling, a sign of salvation. Others claim that “born of water and the Spirit” refers to Christian water baptism and the Holy Spirit. THE NECESSITY OF THE NEW BIRTH A. John writes, “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3). REGENERATION IS NOT OUR REFORMING OURSELVES What I said about God not working to improve our sinful nature is also true of any effort that we might take in that direction. Hence, both the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit are working in us continually throughout our life until the completion of the new creation. Modern translations use words such as By John Calvin. "According to his mercy he saved us, through the washing (margin "laver") of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour." Every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, having vital relationship with Him, became a Christian when baptized with the Holy Spirit. For in both places the benefits are praised, which have come to us by Christ and by the Holy Spirit. Regeneration (palingenesia) is from a compound word meaning, "birth" and "again," and is used of spiritual regeneration. Jesus died for man on the cross; He paid the ransom for sin and gave life to man. The "renewing of the Holy Ghost" is believed to pertain to the work that the Holy Spirit does within us; the process known as sanctification. The Bible conceives salvation as the redemptive renewal of man on the basis of a restored relationship with God in Christ, and presents it as involving "a radical and complete transformation wrought in the soul (Rom. There are others who teach that baptism, while necessary as an act of obedience to Christ and as a public testimony to the reality of one’s salvation, is not the means of regeneration. (iii) "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. This distinction honors the universality of sin, the need to have the word of proclamation take root in a sinner’s heart by a special work The body is not to associate with those who are not accepting the Holy Spirit’s regeneration (1 Corinthians 5:9) J. 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