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Regeneration: New Life from God

it! Our wonder at the marvel of the new birth experience invites us to
worship even though we cannot fully comprehend.

Means of Regeneration

There are two aspects to the work of regeneration: the human and
the divine. As we have seen, God alone regenerates. We are born of
the Spirit. He alone imparts new life; nevertheless, unregenerate people
have a responsibility in the matter: to respond to God’s invitation. Let’s
consider the divine aspect of the work of regeneration at this point and
the biblical basis for it.

Scriptures such as John 3:6 and 1 Corinthians 15:45 state that the
Holy Spirit produces spiritual birth, because He is the life-giving Spirit.
Titus 3:5 affirms that the agent of spiritual birth and renewal is the Holy
Spirit. James adds that God gives “us birth through the word of truth”
(James 1:17–18). And finally, Peter says that we are born again “through
the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).

The preceding Scriptures show clearly that the three Persons of the
Trinity are involved in regeneration. In addition, we note the importance
of the Word in regeneration. Let’s now consider the means God uses to
bring about regeneration.

John explains the importance of believing God’s written Word for
regeneration: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the
Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).
In believing the Word, one believes the testimony concerning Jesus and
therefore trusts not only the Word but also the Lord Jesus whom the
Word reveals (1 John 5:9–10). “And this is the testimony: God has given
us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he
who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11–12).

Believing God’s testimony in His Word means more than simple
intellectual agreement to what is written. As we saw in an earlier chapter,
the kind of believing that truly regenerates must involve the total being:
intellect, emotions, and will. Paul said:

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it

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