Regeneration -

Washing of Regeneration

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 of existence. 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,” which was published in 1937. This is the Christian who is begotten of God, who has gone through a thorough washing 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, 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. With the birth comes a cleansing from your burdens and the 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 trees. 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 so that new life may be experienced. This could be considered 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 lives. Everything we do should be guided by the Holy Spirit. 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 in 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 your 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 be blotted out and that God would create in us a clean heart and 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 so that 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. Have we witnessed this in others? Have we witnessed this in our own lives? 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 be like Christ. Therefore, we need to feed upon the word daily. For most Christians, this was done once a week by attending a service. The question is, is this enough? All services help to build up and edify Christians in their walk, living out the will of God through Christ. A Christian must learn to stand on their own two feet and walk in their own faith, not the faith of others. A Christian must grow and have a deep personal relationship with the Lord, knowing who they are in Christ. This enables them to stand on a firm foundation in Christ, knowing that they have a heavenly Father who will hear their prayers, even in unusual circumstances.

We must see a 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. We must grow daily and have 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 concerning 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. 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 the grace 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 rests 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 bodies 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 Christians. The very nature and virtue of Christ is now within us through the Holy Spirit, and this will take us into 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 yourself 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.

Saved by the Washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit

“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;”

Titus 3:5

Saved and washed by Regeneration through Christ. Regeneration is the new birth into the family of God. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible seed, by the word of God,” [see 1 Peter 1:23]. Regeneration is a total washing of sin and anything else that is unclean to a newness of life. It is a spiritual renewal from death to life. This is the new life imparted by God through the Holy Spirit. In other words, one cannot achieve the process of regeneration on their own. Regeneration requires the Holy Spirit to do the work of being born again. The apostle Paul stated that it is the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.

It is not by our own works of righteousness, but by the mercy and grace of God. We are quickened into a new creation through the operation of the Holy Spirit. We are born into the Spirit of Christ.

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

The apostle Paul told the Corinthians that if any man be in Christ, then he is a new creature. A new creation and whatever was before is now passed away. We must believe that this is so. This means that a change took place within the individual. The result is a new nature, character, desire, and purpose in life. This is why Paul stated, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availed anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature,” [Galatians 6:15]. Are you a new creature in Christ? Have you experienced the spiritual renewal and the remission of sins? If your life is alienated from the life of God, then repent now and ask God to reveal what is holding you back from becoming a new creation in Christ.

We are to be renewed in the Spirit of our mind through the word of God. Paul tells the Ephesians to put off the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. [see Ephesians 4:24.] We are not to give place to the devil by going back to our old ways of life. No, there is a change to take place within our nature. That change comes by faith in Jesus Christ. Our part is to repent and have faith in Jesus who is the giver of everlasting life. Jesus who died for our sins on the cross. Jesus told Nicodemus the following:

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

Born of water and the Spirit. The washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Our soul, body, and spirit are quickened by the Holy Spirit. This seems hard to believe, but it is true and can only happen when we have surrendered all to Him. Sometimes a person may need more time in surrendering all to Jesus. An individual may need time in gaining an understanding on how God works. When we believe in Christ, the ministry of reconciliation begins. This is the process of reconciling all men to God. When we believe, our position changes. When we believe, we are adopted into the family of God. This is the privilege of becoming His child. There are three effects to regeneration. It is adoption, spiritual union with God, and righteous living.

There must be a demonstration in an individual character and nature by letting go of the past life and witnessing the victory over sin and temptation. The fruit of the Spirit must work through the individual into the image of Christ. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, and gentleness as is stated in Galatians 5:22. Every day we must surrender our self-will to that of the will of God. We must know within our own heart that we have been changed. We are justified by faith. As we believe Jesus who is the author of our faith, He will finish the divine work through the Holy Spirit. We must go on to perfection in God. To be complete in Him. There are three stages to perfection. That of positional in Christ, continuing in absolute perfection in Christ towards maturity, and ultimate perfection at the time of His resurrection.

As a believer in Christ, we take all things to God in prayer. We do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, for those who believe are sealed with the inheritance until redemption. [see Ephesians 1:14]. We are dependent upon the divine acts of God through the Holy Spirit. Thus, with the washing of regeneration, we have a clear conscious before God and man. We are renewed through the Holy Spirit every day to do the will of God.

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Repair and Renew

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:30

The creator of the earth is not weary and does not faint, yet as mere man, we will faint and become weary. The Lord God comes with a strong hand who will feed the flock and gather the lambs within his arm and carry them, [see Isaiah 40:10-11]. Just like a father who lifts up his son or daughter and carries them to another place. This is the key to verse 30 of Isaiah chapter 40. We may make the assumption that renew means to restore or repair in this verse but that is not the case in this verse. Renew in this verse is the Hebrew word “chalaph,” which means to pass through or to pass on. How we get to this point as mere man is through God’s son Jesus Christ. To pass through one door to another door. This is what the Lord showed me. To be picked up into His arms and carried to another place. We are at a place where we will pass through with God’s strength and not our own. The Lord will lift us up like wings of an eagle who catches the thermal of the wind and goes up higher in the sky. How is this possible for a Christian? How are we able to run and not be weary and to walk and not faint?

The other word for renew is the Hebrew word “chadash,” which means repair and renew. We are more familiar with this due to our conversion into Christianity.

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17

If you are in Christ, you are a new creature, the old way you used to be is passed away, and now you are a new person in Christ. You have been restored back to God through Christ. As amazing as this is, we believe in faith that this has taken place. We can sing the song with David and pray.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”
Psalms 51:10-12

This is the beginning of where we stand before the Lord God in the majesty of His throne and confess our sins and to ask Him to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. It is our spirit that needs to be repaired and restored. We must have faith like Abraham who considered not his own body as being dead nor his wife Sara’s womb, [see Romans 4:19]. The Lord God repaired and renewed their bodies to conceive a child. Abraham staggered not at the promises of God. Neither should we stagger at the promises of God. We must believe that God is able to perform what the word states. Repentance brings the joy of salvation of being a child of God. This will allow the Holy Spirit to do the work of making us holy before God. We should not walk in the vanity of our mind. The apostle Paul told the Ephesians not to give themselves over to lasciviousness and any work that is unclean, [see Ephesians chapter 4 verses 19]. We are not to give place to the devil [Ephesians 4:27]. Paul exhorts, “to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,” [Ephesians 4:24]. We put on the new man through faith in Christ Jesus. Every day is a new day in the Lord where we take up the cross of Christ and die to our own selfish ambition.

“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;”
Titus 3:5

Our righteousness comes from Christ and not by our own works. The washing of regeneration is the new birth in Christ. We died to the old nature of man and are born into the new man which is in Christ. We believe in faith, and we accept it as being done. This is done through the Holy Spirit. We are being purged of all things that is unclean into the divine essence of a new man. This is God’s power working in us in a supernatural way. We must press in and seek the Lord for this renewal. This means to pray and wait upon the Lord. It is those who continue to pray and press into the Lord who will renew their strength. You must have confidence in God for the renewal of your body and mind to take place.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2

Renewing your mind means to repair and make new. When was the last time you waited upon the Lord? The apostle Paul tells us to present ourselves unto God and be not conformed to this world. Our minds can be transformed. Our minds can be at peace with God. We must be able to prove what the will of God is. It is the will of God that all be renewed and restored to wholeness. We must not consider our present state in our mind and body. Just like Abraham who considered not his own body as being dead, so must we do the same.

“If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
Matthew 8:2-3

Jesus said, I will. Salvation and healing are available to all who believe. So is strength and renewal for our mind and body. Seek and wait upon the Lord until you are renewed with strength, and you shall run and not be weary nor faint. After we have been repaired and renewed, He will carry you through to a higher plane of existence.