Thursday, July 3, 2008

Regeneration part 1: Regeneration is essential and is from God!

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

It is clear from this passage that one must be born again to be saved and to even see the kingdom of God. If he can be saved without being born again, then this passage is in error. In verse 5 Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Therefore, God must perform a spiritual work on a sinner in order for him to be saved (justified). From John 3 we can conclude the following:

1) Being born again (regeneration) is applied by God and men do not know from where it comes or where it goes.
2) One must be born again to see the kingdom of God.
3) One must be born again to be saved (justified)

Does anyone disagree?

Next we will look at the effects and power of regeneration.
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3 comments:

jazzycat said...

Illustration: All babies are born physically. Many will grow up and be born again spiritually by the hand of God and be saved.

donsands said...

And Nicodemus should have understood these things, being the "teacher of Israel".

"Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high," Isa. 32:15
"For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants" Isa. 44:3

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone of your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in statues, and you will keep My judgments and do them." Ezk. 36:25-27

jazzycat said...

Don,
Thanks. In the Ezekiel passage you quote God says "I will" about five times! God gives unilaterally and man receives.