Preaching Regeneration

Main Entry: re·gen·er·a·tion

Pronunciation: \ri-ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən, ˌrē-\

Function: noun Date: 14th century

Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology) defines regeneration as the "secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us." It is sometimes called -- "being born again" (John 3:3-8).

In heart preparation for my sermon last Saturday night I read Charles Spurgeon's sermon from 1857 called "Regeneration." In his intro he writes:

I must offer the same excuse, then, for bringing before you this morning the subject of regeneration. It is one of absolute and vital importance; it is the hinge of the gospel; it is the point upon which most Christians are agreed, yea, all who are Christians in sincerity and truth. It is a subject which lies at the very basis of salvation. It is the very groundwork of our hopes for heaven, and as we ought to be very careful of the basement of our structure, so should we be very diligent to take heed that we are really born again, and that we have made sure work of it for eternity. There are many who fancy they are born again who are not. It well becomes us, then, frequently to examine ourselves; and it is the minister’s duty to bring forward those subjects which lead to selfexamination, and have a tendency to search the heart and try the reins of the children of men. (Spurgeon, Regeneration, PSP – Vol 3)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN..." (1 Peter 1:3)