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Calvin uses \u201cregeneration\u201d to describe the process of mortification and vivification by which the sinner is renewed in the image of God. This differs from the sense the word has in later Reformed writers. Melanchthon ( Apology for the Augsburg Confession <\/i> ) uses the word in yet another sense: \u201cwe are justified by faith alone, justification being understood as making an unregenerate man righteous or effecting his regeneration\u201d (4.78). And \u201cto be \u2018justified\u2019 means to make unrighteous men righteous or to regenerate them, as well as to be pronounced or accounted righteous.\u201d Preus explains that justification immediately brings regeneration into the picture \u201cfor regeneration is the gift of faith. Justification by faith involves regeneration,\u201d citing Apology 4.117. <\/p>\n
The Formula of Concord attempted to clarify, but to my mind muddied things further. Admitting that regeneration and justification are sometimes used interchangeably, the Formula advocated using regeneration \u201cstrictly so that the renewal which follows justification by faith will not be confused with justification and so that in their strict senses the two will be differentiated from each other.\u201d Regeneration, the statement goes on, includes \u201cthe forgiveness of sins solely for Christ\u2019s sake and the consequent renewal which the Holy Spirit works in those who are justified by faith.\u201d The word is also used in \u201cthe limited sense of forgiveness of sins and our adoption as God\u2019s children.\u201d In the latter sense it is true to say that \u201cjustification is regeneration.\u201d That\u2019s clear enough, but the latter statement is supported by an appeal to Titus 3:5, where it is said that \u201cPaul uses the terms discriminately.\u201d In short, \u201cregeneration\u201d can refer to the WHOLE of salvation, including both forgiveness and renewal; OR, it can refer to \u201cforgiveness of sins\u201d and \u201cadoption.\u201d In neither case is \u201cregeneration\u201d being used for a permanent, puncticular renewal of the heart by the work of the Spirit, which is the way it\u2019s often used in Reformed theology. <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Calvin uses \u201cregeneration\u201d to describe the process of mortification and vivification by which the sinner is renewed in the image of God. This differs from the sense the word has in later Reformed writers. Melanchthon ( Apology for the Augsburg Confession ) uses the word in yet another sense: \u201cwe are justified by faith alone, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3021,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-theology-pneumatology"],"yoast_head":"\n