Miracle of Salvation: Regeneration

Chuckle: Child's comment on the Bible: "The epistles were the wives of the apostles."

Quote: "This minute, too, is part of eternity." --George Papashvily

"For It is by grace you have been saved, through faith (in Jesus Christ) -- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

For the next few lessons, we will be thinking about the miracle of salvation and all it entails. In its broadest definition, salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, justification, and glorification. We will define each of these terms and just let the abundance of God's love and sacrifice flow over our hearts, hopefully in a new, exciting and fresh way.

First, it is necessary for us to understand that salvation involves the redemption of the whole person, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Savior and place their faith in His atoning blood sacrifice on the cross. This is a statement that most of us, as Christians, will readily accept and agree with. However, let's dig a little deeper into the miracle of salvation by starting with "REGENERATION."

The Greek word translated as "regeneration" has various shades of meaning including a "new birth." If you will recall, Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be "born again" to see (enter) the kingdom of God (John 3:3), referring to a new spiritual birth as opposed to physical birth, and spiritual life as opposed to spiritual death. In its fullest meaning, regeneration also describes a new state of things in contrast with the old -- the old becomes new. Paul makes this contrast quite plain when he said, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV). "For we are God's workmanship, created (anew) in Christ Jesus, to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

To qualify as a son (child) of God, each of us must experience regeneration (the new birth). Sadly, many lost/unregenerate people consider themselves to be God's children because God made them. But being a product of God's creative handiwork does not automatically qualify a person for a saving relationship with God and the gift of eternal life in God's presence. Our initial passage makes it clear how we are saved (Eph. 2:8-9).

"A cabinetmaker constructs a cabinet. But this does not make the cabinet a 'child' of the cabinetmaker. A birth process would be necessary for this. The unregenerate man who claims sonship with God 'because he made me' is basing his claim merely on the fact that he is a product of God's handiwork. Like the cabinet, he lacks the new birth (regeneration) necessary for a sonship (saving) relationship." --Illustrations For Biblical Preaching; Edited by Michael P. Green.

It is my prayer that every person reading this has experienced salvation/regeneration by praying to receive Jesus Christ, by repentance and faith, as your Lord and Savior. If so, you have the assurance of heaven as your eternal home.

Love, Jerry & Dotse