The doctrine of regeneration encapsulates the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in bringing a sinner to spiritual life. Let us delineate the Reformed understanding of regeneration and contrast it with Arminian and Provisionist perspectives.
Reformed Perspective on Regeneration
In Reformed theology, regeneration is viewed as a monergistic act of God (John 6:63, 65; Eph. 2:1, 5, 8-9), meaning it is solely the work of God without human cooperation. We must underscore that regeneration is an act attributed specifically to the Holy Spirit, though it involves the entire Trinity in different roles. But the work of Regeneration is immediately attributed to God the Holy Spirit". This aligns with John 3:8, where Jesus speaks of being born of the Spirit, emphasizing the sovereignty and initiative of God in salvation. We cast the seed of the gospel and the Holy Spirit "germinates" (so to speak) the word implanted to bring the sinner to life.
Scriptural Basis
1 Peter 1:23 "Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.":
The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to bring about new life in the believer. This process is akin to a seed germinating and growing into a living plant.
James 1:18: "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
- This verse highlights that it is by God’s will that we are brought forth (regenerated) through the word of truth, emphasizing the sovereign initiative of God in salvation.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."
- Paul acknowledges that while human agents play roles in preaching and teaching (planting and watering), it is ultimately God who causes spiritual growth and life.
The analogy of casting the seed of the gospel and the Holy Spirit germinating the word to bring the sinner to life beautifully illustrates the process of salvation in Reformed theology. It captures the biblical teaching that regeneration is a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, making the gospel effective in the hearts of individuals, leading them from spiritual death to life. This process underscores the grace of God and the power of His word in bringing about the new birth.
Regeneration involves a profound transformation of the entire person—mind, will, memory, conscience, and affections. The regenerate person has a renewed will that aligns with God's will, a sanctified memory that recalls God's presence and commandments, and a conscience that draws them away from sin towards righteousness. This renewal is not a mere external change but a deep-seated internal transformation that affects every aspect of one's being.
Arminian Perspective on Regeneration
Contrastingly, Arminian theology posits a synergistic view of regeneration, where human free will plays a crucial role in the process. According to Arminians, prevenient grace is extended to all individuals, enabling them to respond to God's call. This grace restores the ability to choose God, which was impaired but not entirely lost due to the Fall. In this view, human response is necessary for regeneration to occur. Individuals under the influence of prevenient grace are not in a state between regenerate and unregenerate. They are fully unregenerate until they respond in faith. Prevenient grace simply enables them to make that choice, but it does not change their unregenerate nature until they exercise faith. This grace restores a measure of free will, enabling individuals to have the genuine ability to choose or reject God. It is not that prevenient grace regenerates them, but it brings them to a point where they can make a free and informed choice.
Prevenience grace
- Counteracts the effects of original sin to the extent that it restores the ability to choose.
- Awakens, convicts, and draws the individual, making them aware of their need for salvation.
- Restores the capacity to respond to God without changing their unregenerate nature.
- Requires a human response (faith) for regeneration to occur.
Arminians hold that while the Holy Spirit initiates the process, human cooperation through faith is essential. This belief is rooted in scriptures like Revelation 3:20, where Christ stands at the door and knocks, waiting for individuals to open the door by their choice.
Provisionist Perspective on Regeneration
Provisionism, represented by theologians like Leighton Flowers, takes a stance that slightly differs from classical Arminianism. Provisionists argue that the Fall did not cause a fundamental change in human nature regarding the ability to respond to God. Instead, they suggest that humans are not inherently depraved but are simply removed from the light of God's truth, which they can respond to if they encounter it.
Flowers states, “We maintain the ability that God created us with even throughout the Fall”. Provisionists believe that God's prevenient grace is unnecessary because humans inherently retain the capacity to choose faith. This perspective places significant emphasis on human responsibility and the accessibility of salvation to all, without the necessity of a preceding regenerative work by the Holy Spirit.
Key Contrasts and Critiques
Monergism vs. Synergism: The Reformed view emphasizes that regeneration is entirely a work of God (monergism), whereas Arminianism and Provisionism hold that human cooperation is necessary (synergism). The Bible highlights that every aspect of the regenerate person's being is transformed by God's sovereign act, which is initiated and completed by the Holy Spirit alone.
Nature of Human Will: In Reformed theology, the human will is entirely corrupted by sin and unable to choose God without divine intervention. But the regenerate affections are enlivened and revived by God's grace, enabling the person to align their will with God's will. In contrast, Arminians and Provisionists assert that the human will, though weakened, can still respond to God's call through prevenient grace or inherent ability.
Role of the Holy Spirit: We emphasize the primary role of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, which involves the application of the Word of God to convict, convert, and sanctify the believer. Arminians agree on the necessity of the Holy Spirit but stress the cooperative aspect of human response . Provisionists minimize the direct, initial role of the Holy Spirit, focusing instead on the human ability to respond to the gospel message when encountered.
Scriptural Basis: The Reformed doctrine is heavily grounded in scriptures such as John 3:3-8, Titus 3:5, and Ephesians 2:1-5, which emphasize the necessity and sovereignty of God's work in bringing about spiritual rebirth. Arminians often cite passages like Revelation 3:20 and John 1:12-13 to support the role of human response to trigger regeneration. Provisionists rely on texts that highlight human responsibility and the universal offer of salvation, such as John 3:16 and 2 Peter 3:9.
In conclusion, regeneration is a sovereign act of God, transforming every aspect of the believer's being. This view starkly contrasts with the synergistic approaches of Arminianism and Provisionism, which emphasize human cooperation and inherent ability. The Reformed perspective upholds the depravity of man and the necessity of divine intervention, underscoring the transformative power of God's grace in salvation.