CHAPTER ONE

THE FIRST STEP OF GOD’S SALVATION IN LIFE-REGENERATION

Scripture Reading: Gen. 2:8-9; John 1:1, 4; Rom. 5:10, 18b

OUTLINE

1. God’s original desire and purpose:
   1. To be life to man-Gen. 2:8-9.
   2. With the tree of life as a symbol-v. 9; Rev. 2:7b; 22:2, 14, 19.
2. God’s full salvation consisting of two great elements- redemption and salvation:
   1. God’s redemption, with the precious blood of Christ as the focus, meeting the need in the judicial aspect-Rom. 3:20-26; Eph. 1:7.
   2. God’s salvation, with the life of Christ (the life of God) as the focus, meeting the need for authority (power)-Rom. 5:10.
   3. God’s redemption dealing with man’s fall; God’s salvation carrying out God’s intention, which is to give Himself as the Spirit to be life to man-2 Cor. 3:6.
   4. The redemption through Christ’s precious blood laying the foundation and paving the way for the salvation in God’s life-Acts 11:18; Rom. 5:17b-18, 21b.
   5. The four major steps of God’s salvation in life-regeneration, transformation, conformation, and glorification.
3. The definition of regeneration:
   1. To be begotten of God-John 1:13.
   2. To have God’s eternal life in addition to man’s natural life-3:16.
4. God’s ordination:
   1. That man, who was chosen and created by God, should be regenerated in addition to being created-Gen. 2:9a.
   2. That man, who was fallen and dead in sins, should be redeemed and regenerated-Acts 11:18.
5. The accomplishment of regeneration-1 Pet. 1:3:
   1. Through Christ’s resurrection.
   2. At the time of Christ’s resurrection.
6. The experience of regeneration:
   1. Everyone who believes into Christ experiencing the regeneration which was accomplished through Christ’s resurrection-John 3:7.
   2. At the time they repent and believe into Christ-v. 15.
7. The way to experience regeneration:
   1. To be born of water-v. 5:
      1. To be convicted concerning sin-16:8-11.
      2. To repent and confess our sins-Acts 2:38.
   2. To be born of the Spirit-John 3:5:
      1. To call on and receive Christ-Rom. 10:13; John 1:12.
      2. To believe into Christ-3:36a.
8. The issue of regeneration:
   1. Becoming children of God with the divine life and the divine nature-1:12; 2 Pet. 1:4; cf. Eph. 4:18.
   2. Being members of the household of God, those who are of the household of the faith-2:19; Gal. 6:10.
   3. Being indwelt by the Triune God-the Father, the Son, and the Spirit-Eph. 4:6b; Rom. 8:10a; John 14:17.
   4. Becoming the brothers of Christ and being begotten of God the Father with Christ to become the many sons of God-Rom. 8:29b; Heb. 2:10-12.
   5. Being the members of Christ to be the increase of Christ-1 Cor. 12:27; John 3:30a.
   6. Constituting the Body of Christ as the fullness, the expression, of Christ-Rom. 12:5; Eph. 1:23.
   7. Becoming the new creation-2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15.
   8. Becoming a part of the new man-Eph. 2:15; Col. 3:10-11.
   9. Entering into the kingdom of God and becoming citizens of God-John 3:5; Eph. 2:19.
   10. Being citizens in the heavens-Phil. 3:20; Eph. 2:6b.
   11. Being Israel, God’s elect-Gal. 6:16.