Thoughts on Regeneration and Rebirth

2024-06-27

Thoughts on scriptures and notes from Ridout concerning these subjects.

To be saved and see the kingdom, a new rebirth is needed—being born of the Spirit. “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” (John 3:5).

This rebirth is the Spirit working together with the Word of God. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).

The Lord Jesus gave Himself for the church, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26). The Word is central in the cleansing of the church.

The Seed of God remains in a Christian since the rebirth. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9). The new nature cannot sin and is incorruptible.

Here we see that the Holy Spirit regenerates us and gives us a new nature. The Spirit was sent by the risen Christ from heaven. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5-7).

Of course, the brother of the Lord says, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18). Our rebirth was by the will of God and the preaching of the Word.

The Word and the Spirit work within a person to regenerate him and cause him to be born again. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).