III.  God’s Purpose in Regeneration

And John testified, saying, I beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He abode upon Him. —John 1:32

The Spirit’s anointing of Jesus in baptism is a symbol of our baptism with the Holy Spirit for regeneration. As the Lamb of God, Christ takes away our sins; as the Spirit of God, He imparts God’s life to us. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit enters into us to quicken and enliven our deadened spirit with the eternal life of God. We were made alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:5) and regenerated through His resurrection (1 Pet. 1:3) in which He became the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45).

God’s purpose is not merely to recover man to his status before sin but to regenerate man with the life of God.

In Christ, we gained more than we lost in Adam.

Regeneration is to be born again (John 1:12-13). Birth is an imparting and bringing forth of new life. Spiritually it is no different. The word Father primarily indicates the source of child’s life, not obedience, trust, love, or inheritance. We share with Jesus not only the same legal position as sons but the same inward life of God the Father. The only difference is that He is the Firstborn Son (Rom. 8:29) and we are the many sons (Heb. 2:10). God has begotten us, not merely put His arm around us.

This post follows two previous posts on God’s purpose in creation and incarnation and redemption viewed from the lens of John chapter 1.

Kyle Barton
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