Regeneration

The point: Do not treat the doctrine of regeneration as a mere academic exercise, but recognize its eternal implications for heaven or hell.

An analogy of a toad placed before a work of art illustrates the difference between merely 'seeing' an object and having an intelligent perception or appreciation of its true nature, applying this to spiritual perception of the Kingdom of God.

And so our Lord underscores the emphatic necessity of the new birth by laying before us the tremendous issues that are at stake. What did he mean when he said to Nicodemus, I say unto thee, except a man be born again or born from above or born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The word see here means, it means to have an intelligent appreciation and understanding of the kingdom of God. You often in conversation will say to someone, I hear your words but I don't see what you're driving at.

11:54 - 12:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine whether the revelation of your own 'fleshiness' has ever come home to your heart by the power of the Holy Ghost, leading to a deep, inward conviction of sin.

The 'artesian well of your fleshy heart' is used to describe the deep-seated corruption of human nature, which, though sometimes externally restrained, is fundamentally polluted and requires divine intervention.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh. And though you, like Nicodemus, may have been hedged about with many influences to keep your fleshiness from finding its natural and full expression in external acts of uncleanness, and vileness, impiety, and irreligion, though through the influence of the truth of God in the home and in the Christian church, God has been pleased, as it were, to put a stopper on that artesian well of your fleshy heart, if once the Holy Ghost has shown you what it means, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, you'll never be found saying, you know, I wish I'd gone in...

27:12 - 28:35 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The great issue that Paul fought with the Judaizers, that Augustine fought in his day with Pelagius, the issue that was thrashed out by the reformers, that was thrashed out again in the debate between Whitefield and Wesl…

The analogy of physical birth (being begotten) is used to illustrate the concept of monergism in regeneration, emphasizing that the begotten owes its existence entirely to factors outside itself, highlighting total dependence on God's sovereign activity.

Secondly, the very term used to describe it. The word to beget can refer either to the paternal function in conception or to the maternal function in bringing forth the child. It is perfectly proper for me as a father of three children to say I have begotten three children. It is perfectly proper for my wife to say I begot or begat three children if she's going to talk old Elizabethan English.

32:22 - 32:51 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The great issue that Paul fought with the Judaizers, that Augustine fought in his day with Pelagius, the issue that was thrashed out by the reformers, that was thrashed out again in the debate between Whitefield and Wesl…

Examples of historical theological debates (Paul vs. Judaizers, Augustine vs. Pelagius, Whitefield vs. Wesley, General vs. Particular Baptists, Presbyterian divisions) are used to show the perennial importance of the issue of monergism vs. synergism in the new birth.

But in either case, the analogy is clear. That which is begotten or born owes its existence to factors totally outside of itself. The very use of the term born shows, to use the theological terminology, that we are dealing with a strict monergism as opposed to synergism. The great issue that Paul fought with the Judaizers, that Augustine fought in his day with Pelagius, the issue that was thrashed out by the reformers, that was thrashed out again in the debate between Whitefield and Wesley, that was thrashed out between the general and particular Baptists, that was thrashed out in the division...

32:51 - 33:55 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The pattern of the new birth is likened to the wind: it demonstrates unhindered sovereignty, absolute certainty (efficacy), and an element of mystery (inscrutability), yet its…

The analogy of the wind's unhindered sovereignty is used to illustrate that humans cannot command or control the Spirit's work in regeneration, just as they cannot command the wind.

And what are the three things that form this pattern. First of all there is unhindered sovereignty. The wind blows where it wills. Oh how many times I've wished the wind were not sovereign.

54:54 - 55:10 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The pattern of the new birth is likened to the wind: it demonstrates unhindered sovereignty, absolute certainty (efficacy), and an element of mystery (inscrutability), yet its…

A personal anecdote about lying in bed on a hot, humid night in South Carolina, wishing for wind and observing a leaf that wasn't twitching, illustrates the human inability to control the wind, reinforcing the Spirit's sovereignty.

And I don't know how many of us will be using our air conditioners next year with the energy crisis. You have the windows all the way open. I can remember one year when I was living in South Carolina there in Columbia. And we had some of that very very heavy humid weather one summer.

55:33 - 55:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The pattern of the new birth is likened to the wind: it demonstrates unhindered sovereignty, absolute certainty (efficacy), and an element of mystery (inscrutability), yet its…

Saul of Tarsus's conversion on the Damascus road is used as an example of the Spirit's surprising and sovereign work in regeneration, choosing an 'unlikely candidate'.

But oh how he surprises us. If we had taken a roll or vote as sort of a straw poll. One day before Saul's Damascus road experience. And said to the Christians in Judea.

57:01 - 57:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: While regeneration precedes belief, it always operates within the context of the proclamation of Christ crucified, who is the unique God-man, and whose work is the instrument God…

The example of someone who has been unmoved by preaching suddenly showing tears and a 'new light' in their eyes illustrates the observable, transformative effect of the Spirit's work in regeneration, which preachers cannot produce themselves.

And that person who has sat in that church months, years. Has been able to listen to you expound the word of God. Set forth Christ crucified before them. Plead and treat.

62:02 - 62:14 Read in full sermon