Revere Franklin Weidner on Regeneration

Revere Franklin Weidner on Regeneration September 19, 2014

First: By our natural birth we are born in sin, members of the kingdom of the world, by nature children of wrath. John 3:6; Eph. 2:3; Ps. 51:5

Second: This corruption of the human heart requires a new birth, the implanting of a new life. John 3:7; Rom. 8:6-8.

Third: Because there can be no entrance into the Kingdom of God without this new birth. John 3:3; II. Cor. 5: 17.

Fourth: For as by our birth we become partakers of Adam’s nature, and death reigned in us (Rom. 5:12, 17), so we must become partakers of the divine nature (II. Pet. 1:4) that we may have life, Rom. 5:17.

Fifth: This new birth is described in the New Testament as—

  • (1) A being born or begotten of God. John 1: 13; I. John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 18.
  • (2) A being born anew (or from above). John 3:3, 7.
  • (3) A being born of water and the Spirit. John 3:5.
  • (4) A being born of the Spirit. John 8:6, 7.
  • (5) A being begotten again. I. Pet. 1:23.
  • (6) A quickening, or making alive. Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13.
  • (7) A new creation. Gal. 6:15; II. Cor. 5:17.
  • (8) A spiritual resurrection from the dead. Rom. 6:4-6; Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2: 12, 13.
  • (9) The new man, the inward man. Eph. 4:24; Rom. 7:22; II. Cor. 4:16.
  • (10) A washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Tit. 3:5.

Sixth: We may distinguish between Regeneration, or the New Birth, in its stricter sense, and in its wider sense.

  • (1) In its stricter sense, as we here use it, regeneration refers to the beginning of the new life, the new birth proper, that act of God by which He implants in man the spiritual power to believe in Christ and thus to begin a spiritual life. In this strict sense it precedes faith proper, and produces faith in man that he may attain justification, renovation, sanctification, and eternal salvation. John 1:13; I. John 5:1; Tit. 3:5, 6.
  • (2) In its broader sense it includes justification, renovation, and sanctification, and refers to the spiritual life in general. This latter is the popular usage of the word, as when we speak of “a regenerated man,” i.e., one who is a true Christian.

Seventh: We here use the word in its stricter and narrow meaning as the beginning of the new life, the first implanting of life in the mind, as the new birth, and in this sense regeneration is that act of the Holy Spirit by which God produces faith in us.

Eighth: Before regeneration the intellect and will of man are —

  • (1) In darkness. Eph. 5:8; John 1:5.
  • (2) Incapable of receiving the things of the Spirit of God. I. Cor. 2:14.
  • (3) At enmity against God. Rom. 8:7.

Ninth: After regeneration the intellect and will of man are —

  • (1) In the light. Eph. 5:9.
  • (2) Capable of spiritually knowing the glory of God. II. Cor. 4:6.
  • (3) Alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Rom. 6:11.

Tenth: Regeneration, or the new birth, is effected by the Holy Spirit through the Word. James 1:18; I. Pet. 1:23; I. Cor. 4:15.

Eleventh: Scripture also speaks of regeneration in connection with Baptism. Rom. 6: 3-G; Col. 2:12; Tit. 3:5, 6; John 3:5, 6.

Twelfth: The action of the Holy Spirit in implanting the new life can be resisted. Acts 18:5, 6.

Thirteenth: The grace of regeneration may be lost. I. Tim. 1:19.


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