Lawrence Butler. The Bridge Church, Pembroke

Regeneration deals with the impartation of divine life into the heart and soul of an individual. Only God can and will do this for He is the only divine, immortal and eternal life. All men, without exception, need this change, otherwise we are left to live our way into complete annihilation.

 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). Being changed into the moral attribute of God is the requirement to experience His blessings. We are unable to improve our nature enough, or remove undesirable traits from within our spirit to the extent that we are qualified to live and walk in “the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). We may improve ourselves with growth and maturity, but we will never possess God’s holiness without Him placing it within us.

The partakers in this impartation of holiness include: the will of God (John 1:13, James 1:18); belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (John 3:1416, I Peter 1:3); the Word of God (I Peter 1:23, Ephesians 5:26); ministers of the gospel Romans (10:14, Galatians 4:19); and by the Holy Spirit (John 3:5, Titus 3:5). The unregenerate heart probably hates the truth and those who attempt to share it with them until the Holy Spirit has begun a work in the heart.

Jesus told us we could know a tree by the fruit it brings forth Matthew 7:16-18). So, lets look at what happens in the lives of people after regeneration. They overcome temptation (I John 3:9). They have a different attitude, one of love for people – both good and bad (I John 5:1, 4:19). They have a Father who cares for them, sustains them during difficult times, and keeps them from evil while they enjoy the Father’s care (Matt. 7:11, Luke 11:13, I John 5:18). In addition to all this, the regenerated person is an heir with Christ. Much of that inheritance is yet future, in eternity, but already we have the “earnest of the Spirit.” “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts (I Cor. 1:22). This simply means that what we enjoy so much now, the presence of God in our hearts through His Spirit, is just a small taste of what we will experience in heaven. My friend, come go with us on our journey to a land of blissful happiness and peace by being regenerated.