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By Hank Walker | Pastor at Peach City Fellowship

Over the last three articles, we have examined the Gospel Call—both external and internal. As we continue to consider the doctrine of salvation, broadly, and the Ordo Salutis (Order of Salvation), specifically, we now address one of the more misunderstood “steps” within that divine order: REGENERATION.

The 1833 New Hampshire Baptist Confession gives a biblically lucid explanation of regeneration: “…to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born again (Jn. 3:3-8); that regeneration consists in [God] giving a holy disposition to the mind (2 Cor. 5:17; Ezek. 36:26; 1 Jn. 4:7); that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:13, 3:8; Jam. 1:18), so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel (1 Pet. 1:22-25); and that its proper EVIDENCE appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life (Rom. 8:9; Gal. 5:16-23; Eph. 3:14-21; 1 Jn. 5:4, 18).”

The Baptist Faith & Message (2000) retains the same critical order as the New Hampshire Confession’s last phrase: (1) “Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become NEW CREATURES in Christ Jesus, (2) It is a change wrought BY the Holy Spirit, (3) to which the sinner RESPONDS in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Did you catch that? Regeneration PRECEDES repentance and faith! That may sound shocking, but the consistent testimony of Scripture is that under the (external) hearing of the gospel, the Holy Spirit brings about the (internal/effectual) hearing of the gospel, which is the proof of regeneration WHEN the new believer expresses that belief through repentance and faith. So, we might say, that the Holy Spirit’s act of conferring the “new birth” is the ROOT of salvation, while repentance and faith are the FRUIT of salvation.

Sadly, many are taught that repentance and faith result in regeneration. This is an utter impossibility! The Bible describes sinners as dead, blind, deaf, and rebellious. SINNERS do not—CANNOT—respond to Christ in faith; not because God prevents them, but because their AFFECTION for sin is just too great.

The new birth is NECESSARY in order to change a sinner’s affections. It takes God, “being rich in mercy” to “MAKE US ALIVE together with Christ” (Eph. 2:1-10). This is GRACE!

Grace and peace, y’all. Soli Deo Gloria