“Not by 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” Titus 3:5
LIGHT FOR NOW: At new birth, the conditions that affected our old nature were changed by the spirit’s indwelling.
In the course of this study, we have established that at salvation, a man is raised from spiritual death to spiritual life. In other words, at salvation, the Holy Spirit gives life to the dead man and that is regeneration. Now, in our previous study, we saw that Paul explained the washing of regeneration as the renewing of the Holy Ghost; regeneration is only possible because of the Holy Ghost in us. Now, what does the term “renewing” used by Paul in this text “…renewing of the Holy Ghost” mean? The word “renewing” was translated from the Greek word “anakainosis” which was gotten from the Greek word “anakainoo”, which implies new strength and vigour is given to one; to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state. Thus, what Paul meant here by saying “by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost” is not that the Holy Ghost is renewed (firstly, you cannot renew the Holy Ghost; the Holy Ghost does not need renewal). Rather, what is being meant here is that, at the point of salvation, a dead man is being raised into a new kind of life by the Holy Ghost that has taken up residence in him. This new kind of life (which is eternal life) is the regeneration or the renewing that Paul is talking about here which is by the Holy Ghost. Thus, what Paul is discussing in this text can be better understood as: “Not by 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”.
So, the renewing here is used in the light of regeneration and this regeneration or renewing is done by the Holy Ghost. In other words, the person being renewed (that is regenerated in context) is not the Holy Ghost; rather, the born again man is the person being regenerated and the agency which carries out this regeneration is the Holy Spirit. This is what salvation does, salvation regenerates the human spirit. The man who has received the Holy Spirit and at that point a new kind of life is being imparted into his spirit (this life is eternal which raises a man from the state of spiritual death to the state of spiritual life). This is what faith in the gospel does; it raises a man from the state of death to the state of life. Glory!!!
INSTRUCTION: Understanding what faith in the Gospel of Christ does in the life of a man is very critical; so, go for understanding.
PRAYER: Thank you Lord for your life that has now become my life by faith in your son who gave his life for me on the cross which raised me from a state of spiritual death to spiritual life. I have eternal life and I am a life-giving spirit, in Jesus Name, Amen!
FOR MORE LIGHT, get the message ‘Understanding Salvation’ by Prophet Dr John Linus.
QUOTE: Regeneration is being raised from dead to life.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3; EVENING: 1CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 