Man's Regeneration by the Spirit — E.A. Johnston

Evidence of Regeneration in Authentic Conversion

George Whitfield, the great British evangelist, was preaching on Boston Common to 20 ,000 hearers and afterwards a New England minister approached him and asked, Mr. Whitfield, since you've been here, how many converts have you had?

To which the great Whitfield replied, I don't know, sir, but I shall be back to these parts in a year or two, and I will at that time look for the evidence of their salvation. Listen friends, there used to be a time in this country about 150 years ago where they would not allow you to join the church unless you could demonstrate evidence of regeneration.

Today many church members don't even know what regeneration means, much less demonstrate it. I fear there are great many today who have joined the church believing Jesus died for their sins without believing on the one who died.

Vance Havner used to say, I could have led a lot more people to the Lord if they hadn't already joined the church, and it's true, friends. Well my message today is the last in our series of messages on the great doctrines of the gospel, which are room, redemption, repentance, and our doctrine today, regeneration.

The New Heart and the Necessity of the New Birth

My Bible states in Ezekiel 36, 26, a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

This friend speaks of the work of grace upon the heart called regeneration. Jesus told Nicodemus, marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth, so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Let me ask you, friend, are you washed in his blood, and are you born from above? Ye must be born again. When I study historical revivals, I often learn that it was the doctrine of regeneration that was preached so consistently, so that men were showed up to God alone for salvation, and today we only preach a message on the love of God, and all you have to do is walk an aisle to be saved, and repeat a prayer, and you make yourself a Christian today.

Regeneration Is of Divine Origin

But friends, this is why we have churches that are full of the unconverted, who know nothing about a work of grace upon the heart, through the supernatural act of regeneration by the Spirit. Listen friends, regeneration is of divine origin, John 1 13 declares, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

You don't make yourself a Christian, friend, and you cannot work your way to heaven either, and regeneration is necessary to salvation. We see this in Titus 3 5, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, and through the act of regeneration, friends, we become a new creation.

Becoming a New Creation in Christ

For 2 Corinthians 5 17 states, therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. It was the great theme of the great awakening, and that was the doctrine of regeneration.

Revival Through the Doctrine of the New Birth

George Whitefield was preaching one day in New England, and he was approached by a Boston minister who asked him, Mr. Whitefield, all you have preached since you have been among us is, you must be born again, when, sir, will you preach a new message?

To which the great Whitefield replied, when ye are born again. Well, let us pray, friends, for revival of preaching of these great doctrines of the gospel once again, ruin, redemption, repentance, and regeneration, and let us preach them with conviction and empowerment from on high, so sinners will see their lost condition under conviction of sin, and flee to the only refuge from sin, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is also the only remedy for sin, listen, friend, ye must be born again, let us pray.