He saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. [Titus 3:5 HCSB]
The English word “regeneration” is the translation of palingenesia, from palin (again) and genesis (birth). It means simply a new birth, a new beginning, a new order. -Lehman Strauss [bible.org]
I love this definition. A new birth gifted by God. A new beginning commencing with the impartation of God's very nature. And a new order of living with a new and beautiful heart. It seems to encapsulate the idea of what it means to be a Christian following in the footsteps of Christ.
Regeneration makes sense to me. Even so, it is a difficult concept for some to grasp until they have experienced it. Nicodemus was puzzled and befuddled when Jesus told him that a person cannot enter into the kingdom of God until they have been born again. Regeneration is key.
This dialog between Nicodemus and Jesus cause many to see the idea of regeneration to be a purely "Christian" concept. These seem to ignore the evidence of the Old Testament. David was certainly born again. I submit to you that others, like Abraham and Israel, were too.
Many have a narrow concept of regeneration. They want to be in control of who is proverbially "in". They constrain God by their own understanding. Like Nicodemus they have difficulty embracing a concept they do not understand. Happily God is not constrained in who he regenerates.
Open our eyes Lord to the many all around us that have experienced regeneration.
... this devotion is part of the z2a bible words series.
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