Regeneration

Regeneration is a theological expression denoting the spiritual change which passes on all men in becoming Christians. There are various interpretations of the mode and meaning of this change, but its necessity in some shape or another may be said to be admitted by all branches of the Christian church. By all men is supposed, as the condition of his becoming truly Christian, to pass from a state of nature to a state of regeneration, from a state in which he obeys the mere impulses of the natural life to a state in which a new and higher—a divine—life has been awakened in him. The words of our Lord to Nicodemus: 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,' are accepted as the expression of this universal necessity by the Christian church. It may be further stated that every branch of the Christian church recognises, although under very different conditions, the Holy Spirit as the author of this change. The change in its real character is spiritual, and spiritually induced. According to a large portion of the Christian church, however, the change is normally involved in the rite of baptism. In the Catholic view baptism constitutes always a real point of transition from the natural to the spiritual life. The grace of baptism is the grace of regeneration; and among the direct effects of baptism are (1) the remission of all sin, original and actual; (2) the remission of the penalties due for sin both temporal and eternal; (3) the bestowal of sanctifying grace and the infused virtues; (4) the imprinting of an indelible 'character' on the soul; besides (5) making the recipient a member of Christ and the church, and qualifying to receive the other sacraments. The usual Protestant doctrine of baptism is explained at BAPTISM; and see also GORHAM. Protestants hold for the most part that regeneration is a special, conscious process which takes place independently of baptism or of any other outward fact or ceremony. It implies a sensible experience—an awakening whereby men come to see the evil of sin, and the divine displeasure against sin, and, through the Holy Spirit, are born again, put away their former evil life, and begin to live a new divine life. Technically, Conversion (q.v.) is the action upon man, Regeneration the agency of God.