Holy Spirit - Part 16: The Saving Work of the Holy Spirit (Regeneration)

One of Paul's greatest teachings on the Holy Spirit comes to us in his book of Titus.

Titus 3:5

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy

He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”.

In these words we are taught that the Holy Spirit renews men, making men new, and that through that renewing of the Holy Spirit we are saved. Jesus taught this exact lesson himself in His lesson He gave to Nicodemus concerning salvation.

John 3:3-5

“... except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God...”.

Regeneration is the giving of life, spiritual life, to those who are dead, spiritually dead in

their trespasses and sins. It is the Holy Spirit who imparts this new life. The instrument that God uses in this process is His written Word.

1 Peter 1:23

“Being born again … by the Word of God”.

James 1:18

“Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth...”.

These passages make it clear that the Word is the instrument used in regeneration, but it is only as the Holy Spirit uses this instrument that the new birth results.

John 6:63

“It is the Spirit that quickeneth...”.

The Word of God is a living thing written upon our hearts by the Spirit of the living God. We must understand that the Bible itself, as a written book, is no more than paper and ink unless the Spirit moves the heart to apply it.

Regeneration is further the giving of a new nature , God's own nature, to the one who is born again.

Every human born in flesh is born with a perverted and depraved nature, handed down in the form of the original sin. This nature is contrary to God and is our unfortunate inheritance. 

1 Cor 2:14

“... The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God... “.

In the new birth, a new affection is imparted within us, one that sees as God sees, and seeks His will continually after salvation. This new will is a will that the Spirit moves within us to bring into harmony with the will of the Lord. It is the Holy Spirit that creates this new nature. No amount of preaching or individual study of the Word will bring regeneration unless the Holy Spirit moves. It is He and He alone who makes the new creature from the old one.

The Holy Spirit raises the spiritually dead in sin to new life in salvation. We know that the conversion moment opens the door to loving eternity for us but it is the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration that goes down to the deepest depth of the inner soul, transforming thoughts, affections and will of the inward parts of man.

This doctrine of regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit is a glorious doctrine, and is that which makes our faith unique, alive, and complete in the transformation of the heart, preparing it for eternity with God. It sweeps away all false hopes.

Education and culture are not enough for you must be born again.

Trusting in human morality is not enough for you must be born again.

Church attendance or personal study are not enough for you must be born again.

Baptism is not enough for you must be born again.

Turning over a new leaf is not enough for you must be born again.

Putting away meanness and hatefulness is not enough for you must be born again.

In place of these shallow human things comes a new hope, a blessed hope, and it says:

YOU MAY BE BORN AGAIN

By the work of holiness upon the believer done by the Holy Spirit, we become a partaker in the divine nature, becoming more and more like Jesus Christ in the guidance of the Spirit. 

2 Peter 1:4

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers in the divine nature...”.