Soteriology by David M. Williams

Author:David M. Williams
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Justification, Salvation
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Introduction

The Biblical word for "regeneration" is paliggenesi<a which literally means "born again", being derived from pa<lin (again) and ge<nesij (birth).

The Scriptures present a serious view of the condition of man. This condition is such that the only way of escaping from it is to undergo an entire spiritual transformation, an entire liberation from one's natural nature into a new life brought about only by God Himself. It is this that is meant by "regeneration".

The need for renewal

The natural condition of man is a fallen state. All have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Indeed, man is born in sin (Psalm 51:5) and the natural inclination of man is towards sin (Romans 7:14-15).

The sinfulness of man is serious and leads to death (Romans 6:23). Man is unable to redeem himself or another (Psalm 49:7-8). This gulf was so great that it led Jesus to say, "Unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God" (John 3:3). It is entirely impossible that man in the natural state can ever be pleasing to God. A whole new nature must come into being. Without it man cannot even see, let alone enter, God's Kingdom.

A technical note must be made about the phrase in John 3:3 where " gennhq^

a@nwqen" has been translated "born again" in most English Bibles. The words literally mean "born from above" but this concept is still harmonious with paliggenesi<a as the clear need for a new birth is still expressed. Jesus' words provide further insight onto the nature of regeneration as clearly the new birth is from above, that is, from God, and by no other means.

God has not left man alone in this regard, and used the prophets to deliver several oracles in the Old Testament concerning this.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. . . I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. . . I will be their God, and they will be my people. . . I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Ezekiel 11:19-20 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (c.f. Ezekiel 36:26-27).

The new covenant that was to come would give the people a new spirit, one with a new heart that gave power to overcome sin and that provided a basis for forgiveness by God. In essence the people would experience a new birth and have a new experience of, and encounter with, God.

The recurring theme expressed in these utterances is "They will be my people, and I will be their God". This expresses the intimate fellowship that regenerated humanity is 20

capable of having with God, the former gulf being removed (Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:15-16).

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