Still taking a break once a week to join in with the Challies reading group.
Required reading
Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray (available from - Part 2, Chapter 3, 'Regeneration'.
Now Murray looks at the subject of regeneration.
Firstly he looks at how someone who is dead in sin can answer a call to fellowship with Christ. The answer is that God's call enables the sinner to do so.
Then Murray examines John Gospel Chapter 3 for its lessons on regeneration. One lesson is that the new birth is of water - this refers to a purification from sin (not a reference to baptism). Another lesson is that the new birth is of the Spirit - this refers to the Holy Spirit being the source and agent of regeneration.
Then Murray moves to John's First Epistle for its lessons on regeneration. One lesson is that regeneration 'is the cause of not doing sin'. Another lesson is that Jesus is the effect of regeneration. Yet another lesson is that regeneration cannot be abstracted from the saving exercises which are its effects (namely repentance and faith) - therefore someone cannot be regenerate yet unconverted.
What grabbed me
I liked the emphasis Murray placed on the fact that regeneration is a 'birth' which implies man's passivity in the event: 'We are as dependent upon the Holy Spirit as we are upon the action of our parents in connection with our natural birth. We were not begotten by our father because we decided to be. And we were not born of our mother because we decided to be. We were simply begotten and we were born. We did not decide to be born. This is the simple but too frequently overlooked truth which our Lord here teaches us. We do not have spiritual perception of the kingdom of God nor do we enter into it because we willed to or decided to. If this privilege is ours it is because the Holy Spirit willed it and here all rests upon the Holy Spirit's decision and action. He begets or bears when and where he pleases.'
I liked the emphasis Murray placed on the fact that regeneration is a 'birth' which implies man's passivity in the event: 'We are as dependent upon the Holy Spirit as we are upon the action of our parents in connection with our natural birth. We were not begotten by our father because we decided to be. And we were not born of our mother because we decided to be. We were simply begotten and we were born. We did not decide to be born. This is the simple but too frequently overlooked truth which our Lord here teaches us. We do not have spiritual perception of the kingdom of God nor do we enter into it because we willed to or decided to. If this privilege is ours it is because the Holy Spirit willed it and here all rests upon the Holy Spirit's decision and action. He begets or bears when and where he pleases.'
This simple description of regeneration as a birth implies it is an act outside of ourselves. Yet how many 'born again' Christians claim to have initiated their birth?
It is like the Bible's description of the unconverted as dead people. Dead people don't tell themselves to come to life. Yet how many Christians claim to have been dead and then brought themselves back to life?
Now it's your turn
Go over to http://www.challies.com/ and post your thoughts.
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