3. Regeneration
Christianity is not
principally a decision to believe that we make; it is a supernatural
transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit. As Greg Haslem has written, ‘we
believe in regeneration and not ‘decisionism’!
The conversion of C.
S. Lewis sums up the supernatural work of regeneration,
‘I know very well when, but hardly how, the final step was
taken. I was driving to Whipsnade one sunny morning. When we set out I did not believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and when I reached the zoo I did. Yet I
had not exactly spent the journey in thought. Nor in great emotion (C. S. Lewis
surprised by Joy)
Salvation is not just
responding to the information of the gospel; rather, it is being acted upon by
God to enable one to believe the gospel.
A couple of great quotes
Regeneration is a secret act of God in which he imparts new
spiritual life to us (Wayne Grudem)
In the new birth, the
Holy Spirit unites us to Christ in a living union. Christ is life. Christ is the
vine where life flows. We are the branches (John 15:1–17). What happens in the
new birth is the supernatural creation of new spiritual life, and it is created
through Union with Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit brings us into vital
connection with Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life. That is the
objective reality of what happens in the new birth. (John Piper, Finally Alive)
To memorise and meditate upon
John 3:3 Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see
the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
Ephesians 2:4-5 But
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were
dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
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