I. Biblical references to "regeneration"

    A. Old Testament
         1. No direct references to "regeneration" in OT
         2. Prophetic allusions - eschatological expectations
              a. national restoration - Isa. 52:8; Lam. 5:21; Acts 1:6
              b. individual restoration - Ps.51:12; Lam. 1:16; Ezek. 37:1-14
         3. Question of whether old covenant believers were individually, spiritually regenerated?
    B. New Testament
         1. Greek words gennao anothen ­ gennao=to bring into being, to be born; anothen=from               above
               John 3:3 - "unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
               John 3:7 - "You must be born from above"
         2. Greek word palingenesia ­ palin=again; gennao=to bring into being, to be born
              Matt. 19:28 - "in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne..."
              Titus 3:5 - "He saved us...by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit"
         3. Greek word anagennao ­ ana=in the midst of; gennao=to bring into being, to be born
              I Pet. 1:3 - "God...has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection                   of Jesus Christ from the dead."
              I Pet. 1:23 - "you have been born again...through the living and abiding word of God."
    C. English word "regeneration" from Latin regeneratus ­ re=again; generatus=to bring into
         being

II. Relation of regeneration to other Biblical concepts

    A. Conversion - Acts 3:19; 26:18; I Thess. 1:9
    B. Spiritual exchange - Acts 26:18; I Cor. 2:12; I Jn. 4:6
    C. Spiritual union - I Cor. 6:17
    D. Reconciliation - Rom. 5:10,11
    E. Know God - Jn. 17:3; Gal. 4:9; I Jn. 2:3,13,14; 4:7
    F. Indwelling deity
         1. God the Father - Jn. 14:23; I Cor. 3:16; I Jn. 4:12,15,16
         2. Jesus Christ - Rom. 8:9; II Cor. 13:5; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:27
         3. Holy Spirit - I Cor. 6:19; Gal. 4:6; II Tim. 1:14; James 4:5
    G. Partake of divine nature - II Pet. 1:4
    H. Divine, eternal life - Jn. 3:16; 10:10; 14:6; 20:31; Rom. 6:4,23; 8:10; II Cor. 3:6; Eph. 2:1;
         Col. 3:4; II Pet. 1:3; I Jn. 3:14; 5:12
    I. Initial personal experience of salvation - Eph. 2:8,9
    J. Spiritual identification/identity
         1. Christians ­ "Christ-ones" - Acts 11:26; I Pet. 4:16
         2. New creature - II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15
         3. New man - Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10
    K. Character investiture
         1. Made righteous - Rom. 5:19; 8:10; II Cor. 5:21; Eph. 4:24
         2. Made holy - Eph. 1:4; Col. 1:22; 3:12
         3. Made perfect - Phil. 3:15; Heb. 10:14; 12:23
    L. Lordship of Christ - Rom. 5:21; 10:9; I Cor. 6:17; 8:6
    M. Divine empowering, enabling - Acts 1:8; I Cor. 1:24; II Cor. 12:9; Eph. 3:16,20; Col. 1:29
    N. Baptism - I Cor. 12:13; Not "baptismal regeneration"
    O. Cosmic restoration, reconciliation or regeneration - Matt. 19:28; Acts 3:21; Rom. 8:18-23;
         I Cor. 15:27; Col. 1:20

III. An alliterative review of "regeneration"

    A. Reason for regeneration
         1. Man did not need new rules, system, education, religion
         2. Man needed to "be brought into being again" with God in the man
    B. Resurrection pre-requisite of regeneration
         1. Resurrection of Christ evidenced life out of death - Jn. 12:24
         2. Resurrection-life of Jesus made available to man - I Pet. 1:3
    C. Reality of regeneration
         1. Not "turning over new leaf" or "getting religion"
         2. Divine life is invested in man - Jn. 10:10; 14:6; I Jn 5:12
    D. Revelation of regeneration
         1. Nicodemus (Jn. 3;1-7) could not see his spiritual need (I Cor. 2:14)
         2. Spirit of God reveals our need - Jn. 12:32; 16:7-11
    E. Receipt of regeneration
         1. Not merely by mental assent to historical or theological data
         2. Received by faith ­ our receptivity of God's activity - Jn. 1:12; 3:16
    F. Resource of regeneration
         1. Cannot give birth to ourselves; must be progenitor
         2. God is source of life (Jn. 5:26); we receive His life (Jn. 1:13)
    G. Region of regeneration
         1. Fallen man is spiritually dead - Eph. 2:1,5
         2. "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit" - Jn. 3:6
    H. Reposit of regeneration
         1. God the Father dwells in the Christian - Jn. 14:23; I Jn. 4:15
         2. Jesus Christ dwells in Christian - II Cor. 13:5; Gal. 2:20; Col. 1:27
         3. Holy Spirit dwells in Christian - II Tim. 1:14; James 4:5
    I. Renewal of regeneration
         1. "renewing of the Holy Spirit" - Titus 3:5
         2. "All things become new," new creature - II Cor. 5:17
         3. "new man" - Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10
    J. Relationship of regeneration
         1. Personal relationship with Jesus Christ
         2. Relationship with all Christians in Body of Christ - Heb. 10:24,25
    K. Retention of regeneration
         1. God will not renege on His promised faithfulness
         2. "Spirit bears witness with our spirit" - Rom. 8:16
    L. Release of regeneration
         1. Regeneration not an end in itself; a crisis with view to process
         2. Regeneration is the initiation of sanctification
    M. Results of regeneration
         1. Character of Christ by the fruit of the Spirit - Gal. 5:22,23
         2. Ministry of Christ by the gifts of the Spirit - Rom. 12; I Cor. 12

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