Are You Regenerate? # 2

Are You Regenerate? # 2

This change of heart in a true Christian is so complete, that no word could be chosen more fitting to express it than that word, "Regeneration," or "new birth." Doubtless it is no outward, bodily alteration - but undoubtedly it is an entire alteration of the inner man. It adds no new faculties to a man's mind - but it certainly gives an entirely new bent and bias to all his opinions so now, his views of sin, the world, the Bible, and Christ so new, that he is to all intents and purposes a new man. The change seems to bring a new being into existence. It may well be called being born again.

This change is not always given to believers at the same time in their lives. A vast multitude of people it is be feared, go down to the grave without having been born again at all.

This change of heart does not always begin in the same way. With some, like the Apostle Paul, and the jailor at Philippi, it is a sudden and violent change, attended with much distress of mind. With others, like Lydia of Thyatira, it is more gentle and gradual - their winter becomes spring almost without their knowing how. With some the change is brought about by the Spirit working through afflictions or providential visitations. With others, and probably the greater number of true Christians, the Word of God, preached or written, is the means of effecting it.

This change is one which can only be known and discerned by its effects. Its beginnings are a hidden and secret thing. We cannot see them. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us this most plainly - "The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound thereof - but cannot tell whence it comes or where it goes; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). Would you know if you are Regenerate? You must try the question, by examining what you know of the effects of Regeneration. Those effects are always the same. The ways by which true Christians are led, in passing through their great change, are certainly various. But the state of the heart and soul into which they are brought at last, is always the same. Ask them what they think of sin, Christ, holiness, the world, the Bible, and prayer, and you will find them all of one mind.

This change is one which no man can give to himself, nor yet to another. "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). But man has no power to work the change. No minister on earth can convey grace to any one of his congregation at his discretion. He may preach as truly and faithfully as Paul - but God must give the increase. He may baptize with water in the name of the Trinity - but unless the Holy Spirit accompanies and blesses the ordinance, there is no death to sin, and no new birth unto righteousness. Jesus alone, the great Head of the Church, can baptize with the Holy Spirit. Blessed and happy are they who have the inward baptism, as well as the outward. 

The Scripture teaches that no more than a child can beget itself, or a dead man quicken himself, or a nonentity create itself; no more can any carnal man regenerate himself, or work true saving grace in his own soul.

There are two kinds of baptism, and both necessary - the one interior, which is cleansing of the heart, the drawing of the Father, the operation of the Holy Spirit - and this baptism is in man when he believes and trusts that Christ is the only method of his salvation.

It is on all parts gladly confessed, that there may be in divers cases, life by virtue of inward baptism, where outward is not found.

I lay before you the foregoing account of Regeneration. I say it is that change of heart which is the distinguishing mark of a true Christian man - the invariable companion of a justifying faith in Christ - the inseparable consequence of vital union with him, and the root and beginning of inward sanctification. I ask you to ponder it well before you go any further. It is of the utmost importance that your views should be clear upon this point - what Regeneration really is.

I know well that many will not allow that Regeneration is what I have described it to be. They will think the statement I have made, by way of definition, much too strong. Some hold that Regeneration only means admission into a state of ecclesiastical privileges - being made a member of the Church - but does not mean a change of heart. Some tell us that a Regenerate man has a certain power within him which enables him to repent and believe if he thinks fit - but that he still needs a further change in order to make him a true Christian. Some say there is a difference between Regeneration and being born again. Others say there is a difference between being born again and conversion.

To all this I have one simple reply - and that is, I can find no such Regeneration spoken of anywhere in the Bible. A Regeneration which only means admission into a state of ecclesiastical privileges may be ancient and primitive, for anything I know. But something more than this is needed. A few plain texts of Scripture are needed; and these texts have yet to be found.

Such a notion of Regeneration is utterly inconsistent with that which John gives us in his first epistle. It renders it necessary to invent the awkward theory that there are two Regenerations, and is thus eminently calculated to confuse the minds of unlearned people, and introduce false doctrine. It is a notion which seems not to answer to the solemnity with which our Lord introduces the subject to Nicodemus. When He said, "Verily, verily, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," did He only mean, unless a man be admitted to a state of ecclesiastical privilege? Surely He meant more than this. Such a Regeneration a man might have, like Simon Magus, and yet never be saved. Such a Regeneration He might never have, like the penitent thief, and yet see the kingdom of God. Surely He must have meant a change of heart. As to the notion that there is any distinction between being Regenerate and being born again, it is one which will not bear examination. It is the general opinion of all who know Greek, that the two expressions mean one and the same thing.

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 3)