Are You Regenerate? # 3

Are You Regenerate? # 3

To me indeed there seems to be much confusion of ideas, and indistinctness of apprehension in men's minds on this simple point - what regeneration really is - and all arising from not simply adhering to the Word of God. That a man is admitted into a state of great privilege when he is made a member of a pure church of Christ, I do not for an instant deny. That he is in a far better and more advantageous position for his soul, than if he did not belong to the Church, I make no question. That a wide door is set open before his soul, which is not set before the poor heathen, I can most clearly see. But I do not see that the Bible ever calls this regeneration! And I cannot find a single text in Scripture which warrants the assumption that it is so. It is very important in theology to distinguish things that differ. Church privileges are one thing. Regeneration is another. I, for one, dare not confound them.

I am quite aware that great and good men have clung to that low view of regeneration, to which I have adverted. But when a doctrine of the everlasting gospel is at stake, I can call no man master. The words of the old philosopher are never to be forgotten - "I love Plato, I love Socrates - but I love truth better than either." I say unhesitatingly, that those who hold the view that there are two regenerations, can bring forward no plain text in proof of it. I firmly believe that no honest reader of the Bible only, would ever find this view there for himself; and that goes very far to make me suspect it is an idea of man's invention. The only regeneration that I can see in Scripture is, not a change of state - but a change of heart. That is the view, I once more assert, which the Church Catechism takes when it speaks of the "death unto sin, and new birth unto righteousness," and on that view I take my stand.

Reader, regeneration, or new birth, is the distinguishing mark of every true Christian. Now just consider what I say. Are you regenerate, or are you not?

II. Let me show you, in the second place, the necessity there is for our being regenerated, or born again. That there is such a necessity is most plain from our Lord Jesus Christ's words in the third chapter of John's Gospel. Nothing can be more clear and positive than His language to Nichodemus - "Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." "Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again." (John 3:7).

The reason of this necessity is the exceeding sinfulness and corruption of our natural hearts. The words of Paul to the Corinthians are literally accurate - "The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him." (1 Cor. 2:14). Just as rivers flow downward, and sparks fly upward, and stones fall to the ground, so does a man's heart naturally incline to what is evil. We love our soul's enemies - we dislike our soul's friends. We call good evil, and we call evil good. We take pleasure in ungodliness, we take no pleasure in Christ. We not only commit sin - but we also love sin. We not only need to be cleansed from the guilt of sin - but we also need to be delivered from its power. The natural tone, bias, and current, of our minds, must be completely altered. The image of God, which sin has blotted out, must be restored. The disorder and confusion which reigns within us must be put down. The first things must no longer be last, and the last first. The Spirit must let in the light on our hearts, put everything in its right place, and create all things new.

It ought always to be remembered that there are two distinct things which the Lord Jesus Christ does for every sinner whom He undertakes to save. He washes him from his sins in His own blood, and gives him a free pardon - this is his justification. He puts the Holy Spirit into his heart, and makes him an entire new man - this is his regeneration.

The two things are both  absolutely necessary to salvation. The change of heart is as necessary as the pardon; and the pardon is as necessary as the change. Without the pardon we have no right or title to heaven. Without the change we would not be fit and ready to enjoy heaven, even if we got there.

The two things are never separate. They are never found apart. Every justified man is also a regenerate man, and every regenerate man is also a justified man. When the Lord Jesus Christ gives a man remission of sins, He also gives him repentance. When He grants peace with God, He also grants power to become a son of God. There are two great standing maxims of the glorious gospel, which ought never to be forgotten. One is, "he who believes not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16). The other is, "If any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." (Romans 8:9).

Reader, the man who denies the universal necessity of regeneration, can know very little of the heart's corruption. He is blind indeed who fancies that pardon is all we need in order to get to heaven, and does not see that pardon without a change of heart would be a useless gift. Blessed be God that both are freely offered to us in Christ's gospel, and that Jesus is able and willing to give the one as well as the other.

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 4)