Regeneration

By Elder Hulan Bass published in The Banner of Love, May 2003

The major thrust of this study is that of "What All Happens in Regeneration?"

     Titus – 3:5 – "Washing of Regeneration." John 3:3—8 – "New Birth – Being Born-again."1^st Peter 1:23 – "Being born-again" We are not impressed herewith to establish the validity of regeneration, but that of the various doors that it opens, and the steps that immediately follow. We will examine such in "Slow Motion." Initially God generated man, then man degenerated, so God then regenerated man, but only the Elect. Also, God does not employ a "gestation period" in His creative work of Regeneration; therefore the new birth is simultaneous, immediate and instantaneous. In Pro-creation, there is a gestation period, but not in "Creation." Also please be aware that the Preached Gospel has no part whatsoever in any of this action. That comes later, downstream, for enlightening.

     It is the spirit of Christ – The Voice of the Son of God, that implants the inward man, in which are all the Essence of the Godhead – The Holy Trinity – embracing all the characteristics in principle of the perfection of Christ Himself – Col. 1:27. The inward man = Eph. 3:16; 2^nd Cor. 4:16; Rom. 7:22.The Essence of the Godhead constitutes the structure, in quality and quantity, of the inward man, which are wisdom, power, truth, justice, mercy, love, holiness. Embraced within each of these ingredients, as an overshadowing umbrella, is Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscience, and Immutability. All of this is packaged as the incorruptible seed of Christ – 1^st John 3:9.

     Next, we delve a step deeper and find that His holiness is permeated with sanctification – that is, without spot or blemish. While we must confess and admit there are several other important aspects of the great subject of Sanctification, yet we are herein only interested in developing the aspect of that Pure and Holy Entity surrounding Regeneration/The New Birth.

     There are various scriptures which state that the New Birth is also known as sanctification. There is a Covenant, Legal, Vital and Glorified aspect, with Eternal Consequences. Yet, there is also a timely or gospel aspect to this subject. The former is our thrust herein.

     The Eternal Consequences of Vital Sanctification is the direct impact of the Holy Spirit Voice of the Son of God – John 3:8; 5:25; 6:63. Sanctification in this category is also contextually recorded in – 2^nd Thess. 2:13; 1^st Peter 1:2; Jude 2. The application in the New Birth is and becomes a "New Creation" (Eph. 2:10) which is the factor of installing the Legal Work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross – 1^st Cor. 1:30. On the Cross, He is made unto us Wisdom, Righteousness, sanctification and Redemption, and this put into package form becomes the inward man in Regeneration.

     The new creation or new creation by the Creator = 2^nd Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:10; 4:22—24; Col. 3:9-10.

     The Born-again/Regenerated Elect Child of God’s Grace and Mercy is endowed with the blood of the cross within – in the New Man or Inward Man. The Outward Man is left unchanged biologically; however, I must insist that the essence of words such as washing, renewing or sanctifying, cleansing,  making alive from the dead all imply some change within, and some believe and teach that it is the soul wherein this happens. I cannot deny this, but I do know that this old outward flesh nature and mind now has been put under new Leadership and Influence. The Outward (Old) Man still has the normal tendency of its Nature in Fallen Adam, and like water will just flow downhill, following the line of least resistance. Yet when harnessed, and redirected into a new course of navigation, it is led into paths of obedience and righteousness, but not from within itself, but from within the new inward man. – Rom. 12:1—3. The legal Cross applies in the New Birth/Regeneration, the vital quickening and the awakening of the new inward man.

     Now, this new man, has a cross to bear, and is in conflict with himself. Paul describes this as – Even when I would do good, evil is present with me – Rom. 7:9----------25. Paul further tells the churches of Galatia the same thing in – Gal. 5:17. This warfare continues until natural corporeal death. From this point forward, several other steps take place in rapid succession, but that is another subject.

     Many scriptures tell us about this New Birth or Regeneration where the Blood of Christ, Shed on The Cross, is applied to our hearts – souls and the result is a new inward man. We are now a double person, living in one Corrupt Body. Rom. 6:6. Yes, just for the record, the body also will be changed from corruption to incorruption, from weakness to power, from dishonour to glory at the End-Time, 2^nd Final Coming Parousia of Christ – Rom. 8:23. Again, how-ever that is not the thrust herein.

  Now I come to the major import, theme and thrust of this writing.  This sanctification creates within you a pure, holy, righteous unblemished spotless Entity called the new inward man, by the Washing of Regeneration, in the Blood of the Lamb – Rev. 1:5 – "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." Not only did Christ redeem us – 1^st Peter 1:18-19 – but washed out a clean, pure, holy, righteous place  within us, and that cleansing agent of His Pure Blood, Fathered from Heaven by the Holy Ghost, keeps us continuously clean from the legal point of the Cross, and the vital moment of Regeneration, and this is known as sanctification. Heb. 13:12 – "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate."

     Practical timely gospel sanctification n is initial and is maintained by the blood of Christ – the filter of continuous cleansing.

    This continuous filter keeps you clean, not only Eternally, but affords the timely aspect also. You were a covenant Child from the Foundation of the World – Heb. 13:20 - "through the blood of the everlasting covenant." You were an Elect Child of God legally as He represented you on Calvary’s Cross - 1^st Peter 2:24 – "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14, 20—22; You became a vital eternal alive quickened Elect Person at the point of the New Birth – Regeneration, and at this point you became vitally sanctified and the "New Oil and Filter were Added."

    It is this sanctified ingredient that starts and continues to maintain sanctified holy status with Eternal, never-dying, Live, even while you sojourn here on this Earth, in this present evil world, and gives you the ability, desire, unction, drive, force, and impressions to do that which is good, and permits, directs, leads and gives you clear vision for your travels here below, as a stranger and pilgrim on the Earth. From the point of the Regeneration/New Birth, sanctification takes hold and starts guiding you immediately. The more you learn Gospelly, the better course you will navigate. Knowing these things improves your time life as knowledge increases.

    Jesus told the Disciples to sanctify themselves through The truth – John 17:17—19. The Word of God in truth sanctifies you as you walk therein obediently. Paul tells us in – Acts 26:18 – that the preaching of the Gospel has this Timely consequence – to us Gentiles – "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." Your Sanctification will assist you greatly in resisting evil immortalities – 1^st Thess. 4:1—3. Now further study – 2^nd Tim. 2:20—22 - V-21 – "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work." Finally, I insist this is the key to the entire study.1^st John 1:7 – "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." How is your walk today?  How is your conversation today? How is your entire manner of walk of life today? Do you read a chapter in the Bible everyday? Do you pray everyday, especially for light – understanding when reading the Holy Divine Word of God? Are you too busy to read a chapter everyday? Then rearrange your priorities. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount =Matt. 6:33 – "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

    Compiled by: Hulan F. Bass (elder)