GENERATION
DEGENERATION
REGENERATION
At the very moment a child is conceived in the mother’s womb
there is generation of a physical life.
Along with that comes the inherited sin
nature of the human race causing us to be a degenerate people
from birth.
Being sinners, we are separated from God, putting us in need of
regeneration if our sin is to be
forgiven and fellowship with God is ever
known.
Therefore, only God can
produce a spiritual birth that will
give us a desire and a
longing for HIM.
There is a story in the Bible that talks about our need to be
“born again” (John 3:1-8)
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (Jh. 3:1-8)
“Nicodemus” was a good, moral, and religious man who was also a chief teacher of the Jews in the day of Christ. He was a “Pharisee,” being part of the most religious group in Jerusalem. Being “a ruler of the Jews,” he most likely was also a member of the Sanhedrin, a ruling body of the Jews. However, he didn’t understand the “truth” (Jh. 8:32) of the new birth. Multitudes of church members and seminary graduates with degrees in theology are in the same boat with “Nicodemus.”
His coming to Jesus “by night” was no doubt because he didn’t want to be seen in public with Christ. However, this is actually a good picture of the carnal man, lost in his trespasses and sins who is in the dark spiritually when he is outside the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Everyone who is “born again” comes to Christ the same way, in the darkness of his sin. Being merely religious, good, or moral will never fit a person for heaven. “Nicodemus” needed more than “a teacher,” he needed a Savior from sin and only Jesus fits that description.
We discover even in the church, that there are people who don’t have a correct understanding of Who Jesus really is. He is the only Savior of sinners and we all must see ourselves as sinners in need of being saved from sin’s penalty (Rom. 3:23, 6:23, Rom. 10:9-11). The greatest miracle ever is the glorious resurrection of Christ from the grave which guarantees the believer our future glorification.
The most important thing that a sinner needs is a Savior and for that reason, Jesus got immediately to the point regarding being “born again.” It’s a fact that no person can live outside the mother’s womb until they have been born. Likewise, no one can live for God until they have been “born again.” Notice that word “again.”In the Greek it means “from above.” The physical birth alone makes us unfit for the “kingdom of God.” Ever since Adam, man has been outside of the realm of Paradise and has needed to be “born again.”
You may be asking, like “Nicodemus,” just what is this new birth that Jesus is talking about? The first birth gives us the nature of our earthly parents, but the second birth gives us the nature of Christ. It’s a birth that doesn’t make a Christian any better than anyone else, but it makes him or her a person with two natures (Gal. 5:17).
By physical birth we have a nature that is born spiritually blind, separated from God, and totally depraved. Therefore, such a person cannot “see” (understand) the spiritual things of God. Once again, in the Greek, this means “to know” the things of God. The reason so many cannot “see” anything wrong with sin is because they have never been “born again.” Satan has so blinded the mind of the natural man that it’s impossible for him to intellectually approach God. “Nicodemus” thought that being born a Jew would satisfy God, but such was not the case. Likewise, simply being a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, or a mere church member will not get us to heaven.
A sinner is a spiritual corpse (Eph. 2:1, Col. 2:13) who needs to be brought to life in Christ and unless he receives spiritual life from God, he will not go to upon death. Jesus spoke of “the kingdom of God,” but just what does this mean? It’s simply God’s rule over His people as it refers to everlasting life and the things of God. It’s NOT an earthly kingdom as Christ attested to (Jh. 18:36). The “kingdom of God” (Rom. 14:17, I Cor. 15:40) is basically the same thing as the “kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 3:2, 7:21). God’s “kingdom” is populated with a new creation after Christ’s own likeness (II Cor. 5:17). When a person is “born again,” then they immediately enter God’s spiritual “kingdom” and someday it’s eternal splendor in glory. This “kingdom” does not consist of carnal pleasures known to the body of flesh. It consists of things which are from above (Rom. 14:17). The only way to enter into the possessions of those things which are from above is to be “born again.”
All people are physically born wrong, spiritually speaking, being sinners (Ps. 51:5). Unless we receive God’s new nature, we’ll not spend eternity with Him. It’s impossible to produce a spiritual birth by a physical means. “Born of water” is not a reference to water baptism, but is a figurative expression referring to the Word of God as the instrument used in regeneration (Eph. 5:26). A person is “born again”when the “Spirit of God” uses the “Word of God” to produce faith and impart the new nature (Rom. 10:17).
The “Spirit” often uses a believer to give (share) the “Word,” but only the “Spirit” can impart spiritual life and do the birthing. “The Word of God” is the “seed” (Lk. 8:11) while the “Holy Spirit” is the Begetter (I Jh. 3:9) Who alone can produce the positive results. Only God’s grace can subdue the old nature within us and only God’s Word can feed the new nature and equip us for “kingdom” living.
In the work of regeneration, being “born again,” the “flesh” is of no profit because it is of the old nature; therefore, condemned (Jh 6:63)! That’s why Jesus said “ye must be born again.”
“Wind” cannot be seen nor explained, but only heard and observed. It’s impossible to actually see the “wind;” all we can see are the effects of it.
Likewise, the results of the new birth will be observable and unmistakable for all to see in the “fruit of the spirit” (Gal. 5:22-26). Regeneration is not a natural self-determined intellectual process, but a divine work of God's Sovereign grace (Jh. 1:12-13). Because man is in “the flesh,” he is at “enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7) and is incapable of pleasing God. No amount of human effort can ever appease God’s requirements for righteousness. Only the imparting of spiritual life from the Holy Spirit can give one the capacity to know and love God.
There is much about the “Spirit of God” (Rom. 8:9,14) that we don’t understand, but one thing is for certain and that is to hear His voice and obey His will is to pass from death into life. Upon hearing and receiving the Word of God by “faith” (Eph 2:8-9), the Holy Spirit takes up His eternal abode within our souls. Unless you’ve been “born again,” then you’re not ready to die and spend eternity with Christ forevermore. As you read this tract, maybe you sense a tug upon your heart-strings saying “come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). It’s not a matter of being good enough, but exercising “faith” and “repentance” (Lk. 5:32, 13:3). It’s remorse over your sin and change of mind that the Holy Spirit plants within your soul to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31) from sin’s penalty. We can never be good enough, but Jesus was, and He died for sinners like you and me on Calvary’s cross. Do you believe that He took the penalty of your sin upon Himself, suffered, and died in your place? Have you, in faith by His “grace,”turned from your Sin to the Savior for your “salvation” (Rom. 10:9-11)?
Covenant of Grace Ministries
24504-A Ridgecrest Road
Locust, NC 28097
Burley W. Moore-Bible Teacher