Gospel of Regeneration — E.A. Johnston

The Necessity of the New Birth

The great doctrines of the gospel are rune, redemption, repentance, and regeneration. Today, friends, we will take a look at the doctrine of regeneration. In John's gospel in chapter 3 and verse 7, Jesus told Nicodemus, Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.

George Whitefield's Message of Regeneration

The great British evangelist George Whitefield's primary message was one that he preached on two continents amidst great scenes of revival, and this was the doctrine of regeneration. Whitefield often cried, ye must be born again.

Conversion Versus Mere Decision

Whitefield was preaching on Boston Common in 1740 to 20 ,000 hearers, and a New England minister approached him after his sermon and asked, Mr. Whitefield, since you've been among us, all you ever preach is, ye must be born again, when, sir, will you preach another message?

To which the great Whitefield replied, when ye are born again. And we must ask ourselves, friends, in this sad day of spiritual declension in the church, is a person saved by making a decision, or by the supernatural act of regeneration, by which the Holy Spirit performs upon the heart?

Regeneration as a Work of Grace

Sinners must be born from above to get into God's holy heaven. Regeneration is a work of grace, whereby God puts a new principle in a man to see spiritual truths. George Whitefield discovered this very thing while reading a book by the Scotsman Henry Schugle entitled The Life of God in the Soul of Man.

Whitefield's Discovery of the New Birth

Whitefield realized he needed to be united to a living Lord through the new birth. The best way I can describe this doctrine of regeneration, friend, is by the word change. A person who's been converted has been changed.

Regeneration as a Creation from Above

It's a creation from above. I like the story told by C .T. Studd of his father's conversion experience when Edward Studd went to listen to D .L. Moody in London and was converted. Let me read it to you because it explains what I'm trying to say in very simple terms.

My father was just a man of the world. He had made a fortune in India and had come back to England to spend it. He was an enthusiast on horse racing. He had a large place in the country where he made a race course and he won the biggest steeplechase in London three times.

Edward Studd's Conversion Experience

C .T. Studd then goes on to talk about Edward Studd's conversion. My father never took his eyes off of Moody until he finished his address. My father said, I will come and hear this man again. He just told me everything I had ever done.

My father kept going until he was right soundly converted. That afternoon he'd been full of a thing that takes possession of a man's heart and head more than anything else, that passion for horse racing.

And in the evening he was a changed man. It was the same skin, but a new man altogether inside. When we boys came home from college, we didn't understand what had come over him. But father kept continually telling us that he was born again.

We thought he was just born upside down because he was always asking us about our souls. I will stop there, friends. I believe that story sums up what regeneration really is. It's a transformation inside a person to where that person has undergone change.

Returning Regeneration to Christian Witness

Others can't help, but notice the difference. The doctrine of regeneration must be central in our witnessing and preaching once again. You must be born again.