Regeneration and the new birth are the same thing. Either term refers to the spiritual change within believers which transfers them from death and sin into Christ and the sharing of His eternal life. The Greek word for regeneration is palingenesza (pah-lin-ge- ne-see-ah). It is a combination of two words meaning “again” and “birth.” This particular word only occurs twice in the New Testament, but equivalent words and phrases are used throughout Scripture to speak of the spiritual and inner work done in the believer to make him a real part of Jesus Christ. When we study this work of regeneration as a whole in the Bible, we find several agents: 

The living Word of God.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever (1 Peter 1:23).

Water baptism.

…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God …. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:3, 5). 

 The Holy Spirit imparts new life.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2). 

 Knowledge of God in Christ.

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent (John 17:3). 

Total renewing of the person.

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:23, 24). 

 Becoming a partaker of Christ’s divine nature. 

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:4). 

 

The reason we have seen so much confusion about the new birth is because of a common misuse of Bible language. Regeneration and justification are two different things. Justification is God’s legal declaration of our right standing; regeneration is God’s work within us to make us truly righteous and spiritual. Both are essential to salvation.