IPHC Doctrinal Exegesis Page Two

Doctrinal Exegesis

Regeneration (Gr. polingenesia: polin-again; genesia- generation). This means "to be generated again." Generation is derived from it; also Genesis. We prefix the particle re (which means again) to generation and have regeneration, which means to be "second born" or "reborn." We term this work the "new birth" or "born again." The particle re, as prefixed to generation, has for its antecedent, not the natural birth, but the birth of the first man in Eden. Adam was not created, but generated. The term creation is used to denote the making of man as he came from God, but it was an act of divine generation. "We are his offspring," as said the apostle on Mars' Hill. If we are "the offspring of God," then the first man was His offspring, or "generated son." He lost that birth, and became a son of Satan, the serpent deceiver.

Every human being was potentially generated with Adam and put into the body or materiality as he was. As he fell, all fell in him and with him. All lost this divine birth. All were in the Second Adam-Christ-on the Cross, and in Him were born potentially the second time. That second birth on Calvary is reproduced in us by the Spirit. This is the polingenesia- "second birth"-that Jesus taught Nicodemus (John 3:3) must take place in him. We are made conscious of the "Calvary birth" in the "regeneration," effected by the Holy Spirit.

Pardon and justification make a change in all life's relationships. Regeneration is a change in state; that is, our inner nature. Being dead in sins, we are quickened to life by the impartation of the resurrection life of the glorified Christ. "He is our life," and in regeneration we begin to live in and by Him.

Adoption is an act of God the Father, dealing with the "born one" (Gr. huiothesia from huios-sons, thesia-placing-son placing). The Father receives the regenerated one from the hand of His beloved Son, and places him in His heavenly household. Jesus the first-born Son-the Elder Brother-by virtue of the Father's act of adoption, assigned to the newly acknowledged Son His work and service in the heavenly family, or kingdom. Jesus, as the "first begotten from the dead" has the "preeminence among the brethren" (Colossians 1:18), and by the appointment of the Father, has complete control of all the heavenly household; therefore, He gives to each one in the "household" his individual work. The Father, in accepting the "newly born" into His family, "sends forth the Spirit of His first-born Son into the heart of the adopted son" making him a "joint-heir with Christ." The Spirit of the first-born Son put into the heart of the "newly-born" is the witnessing Spirit assuring him of his salvation and sonship.