Regeneration Lecture 3. Presented by Dr. Richard Spencer

Regeneration Lecture 3 Presented by Dr. Richard Spencer

Outline We are going to examine: 1. Why the doctrine is important 2. The context for the doctrine 3. Definitions of the term 4. Human nature; total depravity, and free will 5. The place of regeneration in the Ordo Salutis 6. The Nature of regeneration 7. What leads up to regeneration? 8. Application/Evidence of Regeneration

Outline - Review We are going to examine: 1. Why the doctrine is important 2. The context for the doctrine 3. Definitions of the term 4. Human nature; total depravity, and free will 5. The place of regeneration in the Ordo Salutis 6. The Nature of regeneration 7. What leads up to regeneration? 8. Application/Evidence of Regeneration

Why the Doctrine is Important It is important because: 1. It guards against false conversions 2. It causes us to praise and thank God more 3. It encourages us to rely on the gospel, not evangelistic methodology 4. It is the ground for true assurance of salvation and a powerful, overcoming, Christian life

God s Plan The context for understanding regeneration is God s overall plan His purpose is the manifestation of his own glory, which he accomplishes through; Creating people in his own image Allowing the fall Planning and providing for the redemption of his elect, to be made holy and blameless in his sight and to be brought into his presence for all eternity; his treasured possession, the bride of Christ

Definition of Regeneration In summary, in the modern reformed context, regeneration refers to the instantaneous, sovereign act of God whereby he radically changes our fundamental nature so that we go from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive This radical inward change is necessarily followed by a radical outward change in life, which begins with conversion (i.e., repentance and faith)

Summary Man is radically corrupt, spiritually dead, he has no hope of saving himself This corruption affects every aspect of our being We do make real moral choices for which we are justly held accountable, but no one is able to choose to love, worship and obey God unless and until God changes his heart

The Ordo Salutis We can only properly understand regeneration when we look at the logical (and sometimes temporal) order of God s working out his plan of salvation Let s examine Paul s golden chain from Romans 8:29-30, For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

God s Foreknowledge It all begins with God s foreknowledge. But, what does that refer to? It cannot just be God s knowing us because he knows everyone. In this case, it is speaking about God s foreloving us. Romans 9:13, Just as it is written: Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. (quoting from Malachi 1:2-3)

The Ordo Salutis We can only properly understand regeneration when we look at the logical (and sometimes temporal) order of God s working out his plan of salvation Let s examine Paul s golden chain from Romans 8:29-30, For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn Predestined among many to what? brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Predestination, or Election, to Holiness Why are we to be conformed to the likeness of Christ? Because: Holiness is required to be in heaven Hebrews 12:14, without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Predestination, or Election, to Holiness Why are we to be conformed to the likeness of Christ? Because: Christ is the very image of God Hebrews 1:3, The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being

Predestination, or Election, to Holiness Why are we to be conformed to the likeness of Christ? Because: We are to spend eternity in heaven with God Matthew 25:34, Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 2 Peter 3:13, But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

Predestination, or Election, to Holiness Why are we to be conformed to the likeness of Christ? Because: We are to spend eternity in heaven with God Revelation 21:3-4, And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Predestination, or Election, to Holiness God, knowing the fall would occur, viewed all people as fallen sinners God then predestined, or elected, a particular group to be saved by Christ This is the infralapsarian view (infralapsarian = after the fall, supralapsarian = before the fall) Let s look at two passages of Scripture

Predestination, or Election, to Holiness Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy: 2 Timothy 1:9, God has saved us and called us to a holy life not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time So, the grace of being saved and called to a holy life was given to us in Christ in eternity past. Why in Christ? Because God saw us a sinners in need of a Savior and that was the only way he could save us Jesus prayed if it is possible may this cup be taken from me, so if it had been possible, God would have done so. There was no other way for God to declare us just and remain just himself.

Predestination, or Election, to Holiness We see the same idea in Paul s letter to the church at Ephesus, Ephesians 1:4-5, 7, God chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will In him we have redemption through his blood

Predestination, or Election, to Holiness In both of these passages we see that our election is: 1. Unto salvation (redemption), which implies we are seen as sinners first (infralapsarian) 2. God s sovereign choice 3. In Christ (and, therefore, we are seen as fallen) 4. Based on divine love 5. In eternity past 6. For the purpose of being holy and blameless

The Ordo Salutis We can only properly understand regeneration when we look at the logical Now, (and having sometimes given the temporal) purpose to order which of these God s working out his plan of salvation people are predestined, Paul picks up the list again Let s examine Paul s golden chain from Romans 8:29-30, For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

God s Calling This calling must be the effectual call, (i.e., regeneration) since it always leads to justification

Justification Since justification is by faith, faith is assumed in this list Romans 3:20-22, 28, no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Justification Since justification is by faith, it is assumed in this list Romans 3:20-22,, no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Justification The fact that justification is by faith is stated many times in the New Testament Romans 1:17, For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. Ephesians 2:8, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith Romans 5:1, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith... Galatians, 2:16 [We] know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith Unites us to Christ Our faith itself has no merit, but by faith we are united to Jesus Christ His sacrifice of atonement is then efficacious for us and brings about Expiation (the removal of sin and guilt by the payment of the penalty; the primary reference is to man) Propitiation (to turn away God s wrath; the primary reference is to God) Reconciliation (to remove the alienation between God and man) Redemption (purchasing our freedom from bondage to sin and Satan)

Faith Unites us to Christ But, our union with Christ goes even further! We also receive his perfect righteousness by imputation; this is the only righteousness that makes us fit for heaven Zechariah 3:3-4, Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, Take off his filthy clothes. Then he said to Joshua, See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you. Galatians 3:27, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Faith Unites us to Christ This is the glorious double imputation 2 Corinthians 5:21, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Faith Unites us to Christ So, we see that union with Christ undergirds the whole ordo salutis, Calvin wrote: Now we know that he [that is, Christ] is of no avail save only to those to whom he is a head and the first-born among the brethren, to those, in fine, who are clothed with him. To this union alone it is owing, that in regard to us, the Savior has not come in vain. Calvin, Institutes, 3.1.3

Justification To summarize justification, consider this definition from Jonathan Edwards A person is said to be justified when he is approved of God as free from the guilt of sin and its deserved punishment; and as having that righteousness belonging to him that entitles to the reward of life. ¹ ¹ Quoted by C. Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. III, pg 116

Faith and Repentance We also know that repentance is necessary; it is the flip side of faith, we turn away from sin and to Christ, so repentance is implicitly in the list as well Repentance and faith (i.e., conversion) is the first outward sign of the new life implanted by regeneration But, there is more to the golden chain

Glorification Jesus did not come to make salvation possible, he came to save his people Our salvation is not focused on this life; we are also promised that we will be glorified 1 Corinthians 15: 42-44, The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Glorification Jesus did not come to make salvation possible, he came to save his people What Our salvation a marvelous is eternal not focused state we on have this to life; look when forward we die to! we will be glorified 1 Corinthians 15: 42-44, The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

The Ordo Salutis God s foreknowledge (forelove) in eternity past Election (predestination) in eternity past Effectual calling (regeneration) Conversion (repentance and faith) Justification Adoption Sanctification Perseverance Glorification (future) These happen during the life of a believer

The Ordo Salutis More Complete God s foreknowledge (forelove) in eternity past Election (predestination) in eternity past Effectual calling (regeneration) Conversion (repentance and faith) Justification Adoption Sanctification Perseverance Glorification (future) All steps are accomplished in union with Christ