Bible Regeneration No. 2

In this chapter we desire to notice what regeneration is not.

We often hear people quote as an evidence of their salvation, "old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." While this passage is the testimony of a regenerated soul, yet we have heard reformed whiskey drinkers and sellers, fornicators and adulterers, blasphemers and liars, with many others, repeat this and at the very time they did it, they were as void of grace as they were before they reformed. Any one who has reformed in the least degree may lay claim to this passage in a certain sense and yet be void of grace. With them only some things have passed away and behold some things have become new. If all things have become new, they certainly have become new creatures.

Another passage that is often quoted is:

'We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren." It is evident that very few comprehend the meaning of this passage. Clarke says, "This affection for them was not entertained on account of their belonging to the same party or holding the same notions; but because it appeared to them that they loved Christ, bore His image, and were devoted to His service." "The apostle does not say, that by loving our brethren, we are translated from death to life, but that we may know that we have passed." Furthermore, it evidently means unfeigned love; not put on or affected, but real tenderness and burning unity of spirit toward every one, of whatever name, who bears the image of Jesus and continually manifests the same Spirit He did. Of course any one who always does this, will naturally love the sinner, yea, the bitterest enemy and opposer. But let us notice more fully what regeneration is not.

Regeneration is not simply an ease of conscience because you feel you have done your duty.

Good works and charitable deeds are often performed in order to atone for past convictions and neglected duties. This will bring a relief of conscience, but this is not regeneration.

Souls may go to the altar and weep and pray until they feel relieved and yet not be regenerated. God will encourage al honest confess and forsake all sin, make restitution and for the time being, be wonderfully lifted above their surroundings, and yet not be truly regenerater. God will encourage all honest souls as fast as they take sides against themselves and walk in every ray of light. At times this encouragement will be so great as to cause them to shout aloud for joy and yet this is not necessarily regeneration.

Souls may be very strict and plain on lines of dress, conversation, business transactions, or Sunday observance and yet be void of regenerating grace.

The very anticipation of getting saved, will produce a sense of joy and gladness, but this is not regeneration. How often we have seen this. A soul who has had a hard struggle to get to God and is almost discouraged, suddenly feels that the Lord is drawing nigh, and the thought is so rapturous, that he begins to shout and thinks this to be the witness. The same might be said of holiness seekers.

You may be so zealous for your belief and its advancement as to cause you to spend much time and labor and still be utterly ignorant of saving grace. Yea, you may spend all your time, labor and means for the cause of Christ, and shout for joy over sinners converted, and you, yourself be void of regenerating grace.

It is possible to preach, testify and pray with seemingly as much power and inspiration as in former days, yea prophesy like King Saul under the influence of the Spirit, (1 Sam. 19:23) and yet be lacking the tenderness and simplicity of your "first love."

'There is avast difference between the Spirit's drawing near and coming upon one form without, and His coming into the heart to abide and set up His Kingdom. How often we have seen souls weep and pray until the Spirit drew near and encouraged them, but instead of pressing on until a real work of grace had been wrought in the heart, they took up with an eased conscience and fleeting blessing. This renders it almost impossible for God Himself, to bring such surface-satisfied souls into a real experience of grace. Regeneration implies even more than making wrongs right, and receiving in return great peace and relief that for the time being seems to satisfy. It implies not only forgiveness for all the past, but power and grace to meet and overcome every test and unpleasant circumstance in the future. The past is not only cancelled, but the power and dominion of sin is completely broken.