according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
Titus 3:5
What is the washing of Regeneration? The Washing of Regeneration is associated with the “New Birth.” It is like a sunny Spring morning after the shower of rain. When new growth appears as flowers emerge from the ground and leaves spring forth on the trees. Everything becomes new and one can see the beauty of it. It is a divine act that is imparted to all repentant sinners to a higher plane. Regeneration is a divine act of a repentant sinner to a new life in Christ. It is what I see in God’s creation. Thus, the nature of regeneration takes on certain aspects within a believer. These aspects are a new birth, a cleansing, a quickening, a new creation, and a resurrection. This to me is the essence of regeneration and it is as Myer Pearlman wrote in his book titled, “Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible” that was published in 1937. This is the Christian who is begotten of God, who has gone through a thorough washing in order to be regenerated.
Are you not begotten of the Father God through the love of Christ? Are you not born again as Jesus stated in the Gospel of John chapter three in verse 7? Being born again is God’s creative work through the Holy Spirit. It is like the birth of Spring within our gardens. It is the grace of God at work in our lives. Along with the birth comes a cleansing from your burdens and stress of life. The word “washing” is having a bath to wash away the dirt and grime we have picked up on our bodies. Think about how the trees are dusted with dirt from the wind, or from birds cleaning themselves on the trees leaving grime and waste on the tree. When the rain comes it washes away the dust and the grime on the trees. Christians experience the same when they work out in the world touching unclean things or associating with those who are against them because of who they are in Christ. Anything that defiles one’s life is to be washed away in order that new life may be experienced. This could be considered as a time of reckoning for you personally when the Holy Spirit brings conviction upon your heart about something.
Remember that “Regeneration” is a divine act of a repentant sinner to a new life in Christ. The new life is experienced by the quickening of the Holy Spirit. Notice the scripture at the beginning of this devotional in Titus 3:5? At the end of this verse it states, “and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised each believer in John chapter 14:16 and verse 26. The Holy Spirit is the comforter whom the Father sends in the name of Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things and will help us to remember what is important in our life. All that we do should be guided by the Holy Spirt leading and guidance. This is tested by the word that is written in the Bible. We may not know everything that we need to know. This takes time and a period of growth in walking out your Christian walk-through faith. It is understanding who the bread of life is. Is he more than just a place to come and get your personal needs met? Is this not what Jesus was referring to in John 6:26-27.
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
John 6:26-27
What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? So, many try to do the works of God in their own flesh. What was Jesus’ answer to this question?
This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 6:29
Wow! What an answer. It is not doing great works but believing on him whom God sent. If we labor at all it should be to know him, for He is the Bread that brings us life. This in itself is a revelation even when we ask for something in our prayers. You may not be in the right mind to receive what God wants to reveal to you because you may be in unbelief. Like King David we must ask that our sins are blotted out and that God would create in us a clean heart and to renew a right spirit within us [see Psalms 51:10-12]. There is no arrogance in David’s attitude, it is a total surrender to the will of God. The Holy Spirit will impart the new life within us to where we can have our fellowship restored with God. This will bring the new creation within your heart and soul. There will be no doubt that you are not sealed with the Holy Spirit, for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [see 2 Corinthians 3:17]. This is the glorious change each believer goes through, and this is continued throughout a believer’s life.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 3:18
We are changed into the image of Christ from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. Can you imagine that? Maybe it is too high a concept for us to reach or even think about it. Have we witnessed this in others? Have we witnessed this in our own life? This is the question of the hour, when we are struggling to find answers. Our Lord is in the business of reconciliation and in building up the temple of God. Is this not what the Apostle Paul questioned the Christians at Corinth by saying, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? [see 1st Corinthians 3:17]. Let the wise man beware, for God will take them in their own craftiness, [see 1st Corinthians 3:19]. What Christians need is constant renewal of the mind, soul, and spirit to that of Christ. Therefore, we need to feed upon the word on a daily basis. For most Christians this was done once a week attending a service. The question is, is this enough? All services help to build up and edify Christians in their walk in living out the will of God through Christ, however; a Christian must learn to stand on their own two feet and be able to walk in their own faith and not the faith of others. A Christian must grow and have a deep personal relationship with the Lord in knowing who they are in Christ so when unusual circumstances happen like Covid-19, they are able to stand on a firm foundation in Christ knowing that they have a heavenly Father who will hear their prayers.
We must see a radical change in our nature, character, desires, and purposes in the way we are living every day. There must be something new for us to see in living as a Christian. There must be a progression in our growth in that we become excited, are joyous, and have a love for God as well as for others. Regeneration is the change that God through the Spirit brings to us. The revelation of what is new or learning something about our Lord in regard to our personal needs. We need to experience this on a personal basis. This is more than just a religion, which is the act of doing some kind of ritual in a specific order. Rituals can become a law to which man can be bound to. Christianity is not meant to be a ritual. Christianity is through the person of Jesus Christ. A Christian who has believed in who Christ is and is now living a life under grace for the glory of God. This is where liberty is. It is always through the love of Jesus Christ, for He gave His life for us.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Galatians 5:1
Christians must stand fast in the liberty they have received from Christ and not go back to what they were before they came to Christ. There should be no shallowness in our walk as a Christian. We are born of the Spirit to receive spiritual food that will bring us to the Kingdom of God. We partake of the new divine nature of Christ to walk in newness of life. The practical side is resting in that love, having remorse against sin, and having victory that overcomes the world, which is done through faith in who He is. We continue on this path until the resurrection of our body after death, or until Christ gathers us at His coming.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so, shall we ever be with the Lord. “
1 Thessalonians 4:17
This is the resurrection of life eternal to be with the Lord forever. The washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit is very important in our walk as a Christian. We should maintain that walk on a daily basis. The very nature and virtue of Christ is now within us through the Holy Spirit, and this will take us onto sanctification which is the separation from the things of this world unto the holiness of God. This is dedication and consecration of our lives to God for His service. The Christian walk is never stagnant it is always moving. If you find yourself stagnant and parched, get on your knees and pray for revelation of what caused it. Ask God to reveal the truth to you and be ready to receive the answer. He is always ready to receive you when you surrender your all to him. May you continue your walk with a cleansing, a quickening in the Spirit, a growth in the image of Him as a new creation, and in the final resurrection of Christ our Saviour.
A beautiful promise of God.