I. Greek vocabulary:

A. a.nagennavw/anagennao: Used 2x. It is a compound verb from ana/up (primary meaning) or again (secondary meaning) + gennao/to be born. Meaning “to be born anew/to be born again/regenerate/rejuvenate”. Emphasizes the resurrected newness of the birth. 1Pet.1:3,23

B. paliggenesi,a/palingenesia: Used 2x. It is a compound verb from palin/again/ returning/repeat (Joh.10:17; 11:7;) and genesia/birth/beginning. It has the nuance of “restoring/regenerate”. It is used of eschatological restoration (Mat.19:28) and a cleansing restoration spiritual in nature (Tit.3:5). This is the primary term from which we get “regeneration”. Emphasizes restoring from a previous state.

C. gennavw/to be born and used with:

1. a;vnwqen/anothen: Used together with gennao 2x. It is an adverb and means from above (primary meaning Joh.3:31; 19:11)/again (secondary meaning). Together they mean “to be born from above/to be born again”. Joh.3:3,7

2. The preposition evk/out from + the ablative of source of :

a. tou/ qeou//tou theou: “to be born out from the source of the God. 1Joh.3:9; 5:4,18; cp. 5:1 with the use of auvto,j/autos “Him/God”; 5:4

b. pneu/ma/pneuma: “to be born out from the source of spirit; Joh.3:6b,8 cp. 3:6a where the same construction of “born out from” is used with sa,rx/sarx “flesh”.

c. u[dwr/hudor and pneu/ma/pnuema: “to be born out from the source of water and spirit. Joh.3:5

II. Definition and description.

A. To regenerate means to renew, restore or reform in some fashion.

B. Theologically it indicates one that is spiritually reborn and is indicative of every believer. Cp.1Joh.5:1

C. The birth is spiritual in nature (Joh.3:6b) and is a direct reference to the human spirit (cp.1The.5:23).

D. It explains the spiritual change of the unbeliever spiritually dead being only of body and soul (dichotomous); (Eph.2:1 cp. Mat.10:28); becoming spiritually alive and of body, soul and spirit (trichotomous) at the point of saving faith. Cp.1Pet.1:3; 1Joh.5:1,4-5

E. It recognizes the loss of the human spirit (spiritual death) of man at the fall in the Garden placing mankind under the judgment of both spiritual and physical death. Gen.2:16; Hebrew - literally “…dying you will die”.

F. Spiritual death came first then followed by physical death for Adam some 930 years later. Gen.5:5

G. Regeneration is a restoration of the human spirit lost at the fall that reverses spiritual death and imparts to the believer eternal life under the principle of adoption as God’s children. Joh.1:12,13 cf.3:16; cp.Rom.8:15-16; Eph.1:5

H. It is the believer’s living hope for the resurrection body to reverse the judgment of physical death. 1Pet.1:3,23 cp.1Cor.15:42

I. Further, it is the believer’s living hope for their inheritance to include SG₃. 1Pet.1:4 cp.vs.3 (see the use of ei,j – eis denoting purpose introducing both phrases “to a living hope” vs.3 and “to an inheritance” vs.4 explaining the “born again” of vs.3)

III. Synonymous nomenclatures for regeneration.

A. Born of God. Joh.1:13; 1Joh.3:9; 4:7; 5:1; 5:18

B. Born again. Joh.3:3,7; 1Pet.1:3, 23

C. Seed. 1Pet.1:23; 1Joh.3:9

D. Born of Spirit (H.S. and human spirit). Joh.3:5,6,8

E. Born of water and Spirit. Joh.3:5

F. Washing of regeneration. Tit.3:5

G. New self (man). Eph.4:24; Col.3:10

H. Like newborn babes (harks to the new birth as essential for Ph₂ advance). 1Pet.2:2 cp.1:3

I. The spirit and soul and body being preserved complete. 1The.5:23

J. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Rom.8:16

K. Inner man. Rom.7:22; 2Cor.4:16; Eph.3:16

IV. Characteristics of the regenerate spirit.

A. God the Father initiates the new birth via His plan of election. 1Pet.1:3 cf.vs.1

B. God the H.S. is the agent of regeneration. Joh.3:6

C. It occurs at the point of saving faith. 1Joh.5:1a

D. It is spiritual in nature, invisible but real (non-experiential). Cp.Joh.3:8 cf.3:6b

E. It is imperishable. 1Pet.1:23

F. Only believers possess the human spirit. 1The.5:23 cp.Mat.10:28

G. It is directly interfaced with the soul as it must exist until we receive a resurrection body being “preserved complete” (1The.5:23).

H. Its creation by God is ongoing throughout history as men come to saving faith. Eph.4:24; Col.3:10 (participles of the verb “created” in both verses)

I. It is the spiritual receipt of Christ’s cleansing work on the cross towards sin providing our salvation. Tit.3:5

J. The human spirit is one spirit with Christ based on our union in Him. 1Cor.6:17 (we share in likeness of Christ’s spirit)

K. The human spirit is the target for the imputation of +R at saving faith. Cp.Rom.4:5

L. It is therefore created possessing God’s +R and is dedicated to the truth/BD. Eph.4:24

M. With +R comes eternal life. Joh.6:63; 1Cor.15:45; Rom5:17,18,21

N. It is our passport to heaven. 1The.5:23 cf.Rom.8:16

O. It functions in tandem with God the H.S.

1. The H.S. and human spirit are in agreement that we are children of God. Rom.8:16

2. That we are told to lay aside the “old man/STA” (Eph.4:22 cp.Col.3:9) and put on the “new man/hm.sp.” (Eph.4:24 cp.Col.3:10) indicates an experiential function that correlates with isolation of the STA and filling of the H.S.

P. It is eternal and +R and therefore immune to the consequences of temporal death (sin/STA) in essence. Rom.8:10

Q. This allows the human spirit to enjoy fellowship and communication with the H.S. at any time the believer chooses to place the H.S. in rulership over the real you (soul) without contaminating its essence when out of fellowship.

R. It is said to be “renewed”. 2Cor.4:16; Col.3:10 (avnakaino,w – anakainoo; to grow up anew)

S. This indicates that it can continually reenergize in expression and advance in the benefits E.L. and +R has to offer.

T. That it is devoted to the truth (Eph.4:24), BD is the means by which renewal occurs (Col.3:10).

U. It is the spiritual vessel of the believer that absorbs and records all BD the believer embraces in FHS. Rom.7:22; Eph.3:16; 4:23

V. The new birth is the birth of “Doctrine man”.

W. It is the truth of BD that provides the conception of the “Doctrine man” (1Pet.1:23) and stimulates it to grow spiritually (Col.3:10).

X. The natural man cannot comprehend it. Joh.3:4,9,10,12

Y. Evidence of regeneration includes:

1. Practice of righteousness. 1Joh.2:29

2. Isolation of the STA. Eph.4:24; Col.3:10

3. Operation Divine love for other believers (1Joh.4:7) and God (1Joh.5:1).

Z. Newborn Christians should immediately be +V to basic BD (R_B, GAP, salvation Ph₁ and ₂, spiritual sacrifices, etc.) to avail themselves of the new man. 1Pet.2:1-5

V. Conclusion:

A. Regeneration is the imparting of the human spirit to the believer.

B. It provides the believer with +R and E.L. and the spiritual essence and nature to interact in agreement with the FHS.

C. It is part of the GAP process.

D. It possesses the essence of all that the believer is spiritually in orientation to the truth of BD.

E. Its accomplishment in spirit will be made manifest in the resurrection body. 1Pet.1:3-4