Regeneration (theology)

Regeneration, while sometimes perceived to be a step in the Ordo salutis ('order of salvation'), is generally understood in Christian theology to be the objective work of God in a believer's life. Spiritually, it means that God brings Christians to new life from a previous state of separation from God and subjection to the decay of death (Ephesians 2:4).

Quotes

 * Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
 * Matthew, 19:28-30 (KJV).


 * Rev. Mr. Monday, the Prophet of Punch, has shown that he is the world's greatest salesman of salvation, and that by efficient organization the overhead of spiritual regeneration may be kept down to an unprecedented rock-bottom basis. He has converted over two hundred thousand lost and priceless souls at an average cost of less than ten dollars a head.
 * Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt (1922), Ch. 7.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

 * Quotes reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895).


 * And this is the mission of the church — not civilization, but salvation — not better laws, purer legislation, social elevation, human equality, and liberty, but FIRST, the " kingdom of God and His righteousness;" regenerated hearts, and all other things will follow.
 * Abbott Eliot Kittredge, p. 149.


 * Regeneration is God's disposing the heart to Himself; conversion is the actual turning of the heart to God.
 * Richard Cecil, p. 490.


 * Creed, or the belief in a certain amount of doctrine, has made Christendom, but never made a Christian. "Ye must be born again."
 * William P. Mackay, p. 491.


 * Embrace in one act the two truths — thine own sin, and God's infinite mercy in Jesus Christ.
 * Alexander Maclaren, p. 491.


 * While the agent of renovation is the Divine Spirit, and the condition of renovation is our cleaving to Christ, the medium of renovation and the weapon which the transforming grace employs is " the word of the truth of the gospel," whereby we are sanctified.
 * Alexander Maclaren, p. 491.


 * The regeneration of a sinner is an evidence of power in the highest sphere — moral nature; with the highest prerogative — to change nature; and operating to the highest result — not to create originally, which is great; but to create anew, which is greater.
 * William Arthur, p. 491.


 * Regeneration is the beginning of holiness in the soul, and admits of no progression; sanctification is carried on progressively in the heart of the renewed, and will be continued until it is completed in the concluding moment of life.
 * Charles Backus, p. 491.


 * One has said that Christ excelled all other moralists in this, that He puts the padlock not upon the hand, but upon the heart. But He does not use the padlock at all, He renders such a thing unnecessary. He takes the tiger from the heart, and replaces it with the lamb.
 * Edward Thomson, p. 491.


 * Regeneration is, we know, instantaneous; but the steps that lead to it are often very gradual; and none of them, so far as we can see, can be spared.
 * Talbot W. Chambers, p. 492.


 * Do you think that a man is renewed by God's Spirit, when except for a few religious phrases, and a little more outside respectability, he is just the old man, the same character at heart he ever was?
 * Charles Kingsley, p. 492.


 * A man may beat down the bitter fruit from an evil tree until he is weary; whilst the root abides in strength and vigor, the beating down the present fruit will not hinder it from bringing forth more.
 * John Owen, p. 492.