Are You Regenerate? # 1

Are You Regenerate? # 1

I wish to speak to you about regeneration, or being born again. The subject is a most important one at any time. Those words of our Lord Jesus Christ to Nicodemus are very solemn, "Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). The world has gone through many changes since those words were spoken. Eighteen hundred years have passed away. Empires and kingdoms have risen and fallen. Great men and wise men have lived, labored, written, and died. But there stands the rule of the Lord Jesus unaltered and unchanged. And there it will stand, until heaven and earth shall pass away - "Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

But the subject is one which is doubly important in the present day. Things have happened which have drawn special attention to it. Men's minds are full of it, and men's eyes are fixed on it. Surely it is a time when every true Christian should examine himself upon the subject, and make sure that his views are sound. When the truth is assailed, those who love truth should grasp it more firmly than ever. Oh, for a greater spirit of decision throughout the land! Oh, for a more hearty determination to be always on the Lord's side!

Now I propose to attempt three things -

1. Firstly, to explain what regeneration, or being born again, means.

2. Secondly, to show the necessity of regeneration.

3. Thirdly, to point out the marks and evidences of regeneration.

If the Lord God shall enable me to make these three points clear to you, I believe I shall have done your soul a great service.

I. Let me then, first of all, explain what regeneration, or being born again, means.

Regeneration means, that change of heart and nature which a man goes through when he becomes a true Christian.

I think there can be no question that there is an immense difference among those who profess and call themselves Christians. Beyond all dispute, there are always two classes in the outward Church - the class of those who are Christians in name and form only, and the class of those who are Christians in deed and in truth. All were not Israel who were called Israel, and all are not Christians who are called Christians. "In the visible Church," says an article of the Church of England, "the evil be ever mingled with the good." Some, as the Thirty-nine Articles say, are "wicked and void of a lively faith." Others, as another article says, "are made like the image of God only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and walk piously in good works." Some worship God as a mere form - and some in spirit and in truth. Some give their hearts to God - and some give them to the world. Some believe the Bible, and live as if they believed it - others do not. Some feel their sins, and mourn over them - others do not. Some love Christ, trust in Him, and serve Him - others do not. In short, as Scripture says, some walk in the narrow way - some in the broad way; some are good fish of the gospel net - some are the bad fish; some are the wheat in Christ's field - some are the tares.

I think no man with his eyes open can fail to see all this, both in the Bible, and in the world around him. Whatever he may think about the subject I am writing of, he cannot possibly deny that this difference exists.

Now what is the explanation of the difference? I answer unhesitatingly - Regeneration, or being born again. I answer, that true Christians are what they are, because they are regenerate; and formal Christians are what they are, because they are not regenerate. The heart of the true Christian has been changed. The heart of the Christian in name only, has not been changed. The change of heart makes the whole difference.

This change of heart is spoken of continually in the Bible, under various emblems and figures: Ezek. 11:19; 36:26) "A taking away of the stony heart" - a new heart, and putting within us a new spirit."

The apostle John sometimes calls it, being "born of God," sometimes, being "born of the Spirit." (John 1:13; 3:3-6).

The apostle Peter calls it "repenting and being converted" (Acts 3:19). The Epistle to the Romans speaks of it as "being alive from the dead." (Rom. 6:13).

2 Corinthians - "being a new creature - old things have passed away, and all things become new" (5:17).

Ephesians speaks of it as a resurrection together with Christ (2:1); as "a putting off the old man, which is corrupt - being renewed in the spirit of our minds - and putting on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (4:22, 24).

Colossians calls it a "putting off the old man with his deeds, and putting on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (3:9, 10).

Titus calls it, "the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (3:5).

1 Peter speaks of it as "a being called out of darkness into God's marvelous light" (2:9). 2 Peter - "being made partakers of the divine nature" (1:4).

1 John calls it a "passing from death to life" (3:14).

All these expressions come to the same thing in the end. They are all the same truths only viewed from different sides. And all have one and the same meaning. They describe a great radical change of heart and nature - a thorough alteration and transformation of the whole inner man - a participation in the resurrection life of Christ - or, to borrow the words of the Church of England Catechism, "a death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness."

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 2)