Topic : Reformed Theology

• Integrity of Heart, Skillfulness of Hands, Charles H. Dyer & Roy B. Zuck, editors.
• Max Anders, Jesus, Knowing Our Savior, (Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publ., 1995), p. 76.
• Baker Books; Grand Rapids, MI, 1994, pp. 238ff

• Its necessity John 3:7, Gal. 6:15 Eph. 2:2
• Its nature John 3:5; 2 Cor. 2:1-7; 5:17; Eph. 2:10
• Its agent John 3:8; 6:63; 2 Cor. 3:6; Titus 3:5
• Its instrument 1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18; John 5:24
• Its means 1 John 5:1; Gal. 3:26; John 1:12-13
• Its fruit 1 John 3:9; Rom. 6:22 1 John 3:10
• Its manifestation 1 John 5:1-2, 3:6

From the Book of 750 Bible and Gospel Studies, 1909, George W Noble, Chicago

Being reborn; the subject of Jesus’ discourse with Nicodemus in John 3 (cf. Titus 3:5). This word is not found often in Scripture, but the idea is important. Regeneration is seen to be the work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8). The “natural man” always thinks of salvation (however understood) as resting in one’s own hands, but Jesus taught that it is necessary for a divine work to take place if anyone is to be saved. Sinners must be reborn spiritually.”

The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, Walter A. Elwell, Editor, (Harold Shaw Publ., Wheaton , IL; 1984), p. 355

Ezekiel 36:25-8

The Lord proclaims His grace abroad!
“Behold, I change your hearts of stone;
Each shall renounce his idol-god,
And serve, henceforth, the Lord alone.

“My grace, a flowing stream, proceeds
To wash your filthiness away;
Ye shall abhor your former deeds,
And learn my statutes to obey.

“My truth the great design ensures,
I give myself away to you;
You shall be mine, I will be yours,
Your God unalterably true.

“Yet not unsought, or unimplored,
The plenteous grace I shall confer;
No—your whole hearts shall seek the Lord,
I’ll put a praying spirit there.

“From the first breath of life divine
Down to the last expiring hour,
The gracious work shall all be mine,
Begun and ended in my power.”

Olney Hymns, by William Cowper, from Cowper’s Poems, Sheldon & Company, New York

To tell the Saviour all my wants,
How pleasing is the task!
Nor less to praise Him when He grants
Beyond what I can ask.

My labouring spirit vainly seeks
To tell but half the joy,
With how much tenderness He speaks,
And helps me to reply.

Nor were it wise, nor should I choose,
Such secrets to declare;
Like precious wines their taste they lose,
Exposed to open air.

But this with boldness I proclaim
Nor care if thousands hear,
Sweet is the ointment of His name,
Not life is half so dear.

And can you frown, my former friends,
Who knew what once I was,
And blame the song that thus commends
The Man who bore the cross'

Trust me, I draw the likeness true,
And not as fancy paints;
Such honour may He give to you,
For such have all His saints.

Olney Hymns, William Cowper, from Cowper’s Poems, Sheldon & Company, New York

The new birth or regeneration is an inner recreating of fallen human nature by the Holy Spirit. It changes the disposition from lawless, godless self-seeking into one of trust and love, of repentance for past rebelliousness and unbelief, and loving compliance with God’s law henceforth. It enlightens the blinded mind to discern spiritual realities and liberates and energizes the enslaved will for free obedience to God.

The use of the figure of new birth to describe this change emphasizes two facts about it. The first is its decisiveness. The regenerate man has forever ceased to be the man he was; his old life is over and a new life has begun; he is a new creature in Christ, buried with him out of reach of condemnation and raised with him into a new life of righteousness.

The second fact emphasized is that regeneration is due to the free, and to us, mysterious, exercise of divine power. Infants do not induce or cooperate in their own procreation and birth; no more can those who are dead in trespasses and sins prompt the quickening operation of God’s Spirit within them.

Your Father Loves You by James Packer, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986, page for January 22

If I had a car with the engine that was ready for the grave, I’d have a new engine put in. I’d take the car into a mechanic who would put it in for me. If when I got that car back, it ran just as poorly, I’d begin to wonder if the old really had been replaced or just cleaned up. It is not different with our new lives in Christ.

Christian Personal Ethics, C.F.H. Henry, Eerdmans, 1957, pp. 383ff

Rebirth or regeneration is monergistic, not synergistic. It is done by God and by God alone. A dead man cannot cooperate with his resurrection. Lazarus did not cooperate in his resurrection. Regeneration is a sovereign act of God in which man plays no role. After God brings us to life, of course, we certainly are involved in “cooperating” with Him. We are to believe, trust, obey, and work for him. But unless God acts first, we will never be reborn in the first place. We must also realize it is not as if dead people have faith, and because of their faith God agrees to regenerate them. Rather, it is because God has regenerated us and given us new life that we have faith.

R. C. Sproul, Tabletalk, 1989

Once there was a brier growing in a ditch and there came along a gardener with his spade. As he dug around it and lifted it up the brier said to itself, “What is he doing? Doesn’t he know I am a worthless brier?” But the gardener took it into his garden and planted it amid his flowers, while the brier said, “What a mistake he has made planting me among these beautiful roses.” Then the gardener came once more and made a slit in the brier with his sharp knife. He grafted it with a rose and when summer came lovely roses were blooming on that old brier. Then the gardener said, “Your beauty is not due to what came out but to what I put in.”

Source unknown