In this third article, I would like to clarify some misconceptions the present-day Church has concerning this precious teaching of being born again. It comes from a short but powerful reading of a verse from John’s Gospel. This verse will definitively shape one’s understanding of the process of the salvation experience. It certainly did mine. It makes capital of the truth that regeneration precedes faith rather than our faith being the catalyst for regenerating faith.
This theological concept is a shock to many in the Western Church today. I contend that the average Christian believes that it is their faith that precedes their being born again. This notion was my initial understanding. Perhaps it is yours. I thought we first had to believe in Christ to be born again. I use the words in order here for a reason. I was thinking in terms of steps that must be taken in a particular sequence. I had put faith at the beginning. The Apostle John described something different.
In John, chapter one and verse 12, John relates a familiar verse: “But as many as received Him, these He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” This is undoubtedly a popular evangelistic formula used by many. It is assumed that one needs to simply exercise their faith by an act of their will and thereby enter God’s family. It sounds so empowering and so American. That is, we all have a choice to make, so hopefully, given the information of the Gospel, we will choose rightly!
However, often lost in the discussion is verse 13. This reads, “who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” This should give us relative pause. It tells us what the origin of saving faith IS NOT. It excludes much of present-day understanding of the genesis of our Christian belief. Notice that our salvation does not originate with blood relations as the Jews believe. Nor is an act of doing good things otherwise known as the “will of our flesh.” Furthermore, perhaps most poignantly, salvation does not come via human decision or “the will of man.” Salvation begins and is secured by God. Our faith in the Gospel is a result of our spiritual regeneration.
Many are surprised to learn that this seemingly strange teaching was not novel. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield - even the great medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas taught this doctrine. Thomas Aquinas is the Doctor Angelicus of the Roman Catholic Church. For centuries his theological teaching was accepted as official dogma by most Catholics. So he was the last person I expected to hold such a view of regeneration.
This biblical perspective should spur us once again to rejoice in the grace of God. From beginning to end, our salvation is a work of almighty God!
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