Ephes. ii. 3.REGENERATION. This Term is used in two Senses, by the sacred Authors of the New Testament: 1st, for that Spiritual Birth that we receive by Baptism; and, 2dly, for that New Life that we expect at the general Resurrection. By the Transgression of the first Man, we are all born Children of Wrath, according to St. Paul. To erase this Original Blemish, which makes us Children of the Devil, we must have a New Birth by Grace, which may make us Children of John i. 12,13.God. St. John mentions it in several Places: For Example; in the Beginning of his Gospel, he says, that all those who believe in Jesus Christ, and who receive him, become Children of God; not by the Will of the Flesh, nor by the Will of Man, but by a New Birth that proceeds from God. And our Saviour, speaking to Nicodemus, says, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a Man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a Man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his Mother’s Womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a Man be born of Water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
The Apostle St. Peter says in like manner, that God has regenerated us; that is to say, has given us a New Birth, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who gives us a lively Hope of obtaining an incorruptible and eternal Inheritance. And St. Paul, Tit. iii. 5.writing to Titus; Our Saviour has procured Salvation for us; not by the 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; that is to say, by Baptism. And St. John; Whoever is born of God, doth not commit Sin; for his Seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. This is the New Birth, or the Regeneration, which comes from God, and is exactly described, together with its Effects, which are to preserve us from Sin.
The second Acceptation of the Term Regeneration, has respect to another New Birth for another Life, for Eternity, or for Immortality. The first Regeneration makes us Children of God, endues us with Innocence, and gives us a Claim to eternal Life, which is the Inheritance of the Regenerate. But the second Regeneration, the Resurrection, puts us in Possession of this Inheritance: Matth. xix. 28.And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the Regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit in the Throne of his Glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of Israel.