Paragraph 7.1
Chapter 7: Of Grace in Regeneration
That in order to be saved, we must be regenerated or born again;a that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind;b and is effected in a manner above our comprehension or calculation,c by the power of the Holy Spirit, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel;d and that its proper evidence is found in the holy fruit which we bring forth to the glory of God.e
a. John 3:3; 3:7; Revelation 21:27
John 3:3
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
3:3 Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
John 3:7
3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
3:7 Do not be amazed that I said, 'You must be born again.'
Revelation 21:27
21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
21:27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
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b. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 36:26; Deuteronomy 30:6; Romans 2:28–29; 5:5; 1 John 4:7
2 Corinthians 5:17
5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
Ezekiel 36:26
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 an heart of flesh.
36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Deuteronomy 30:6
30:6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
Romans 2:28–29
2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
2:28 A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. 2:29 No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise does not come from men, but from God.
Romans 5:5
5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
1 John 4:7
4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
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c. John 3:8; 1:13; James 1:16–18; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 2:13
John 3:8
3:8 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.
3:8 The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
John 1:13
1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
1:13 children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
James 1:16–18
1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
1 Corinthians 1:30
1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1:30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
Philippians 2:13
2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
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d. 1 Peter 1:22–25; 1 John 5:1; Ephesians 4:20–24; Colossians 3:9–11
1 Peter 1:22–25
1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
1:22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart. 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1:24 For, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
1 John 5:1
5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.
Ephesians 4:20–24
4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
4:20 But this is not the way you came to know Christ. 4:21 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him-in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus- 4:22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 4:23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3:9–11
3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
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e. Ephesians 5:9; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:16–23; Ephesians 3:14–21
Ephesians 5:9
5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
5:9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Romans 8:9
8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
Galatians 5:16–23
5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 5:17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 5:20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Ephesians 3:14–21
3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
3:14 ... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 3:15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 3:16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 3:18 will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 3:19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 3:21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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