But hasn’t Christian tradition long held an absolute correlation between being regenerated and being assuredly saved? Even going by the Master Scientist’s demonstration, the distinction between God’s working and not working in man was always most clearly seen in His supernatural work of regeneration – if this is now believed to be possible for both the elect and the non-elect, how exactly is God distinctly operational in the elect?

The answer lies in distinguishing between regeneration and rebirth. Regeneration is quite simply the giving of a new heart and a renewed mind while Rebirth is the being born again/from above of God. While both the elect and the non-elect can be regenerated, only the elect are born again of the Spirit (John 3:6). Since all who are born again are necessarily regenerated at the same time, these terms have become synonymous, though it helps in resolving doctrinal differences to hold each on its own.

Psa 51:10 is not an unnecessary prayer – every backslidden Christian has had a corruption of heart and needs renewing of their mind. And clearly David was already regenerated and born again much earlier than becoming king. Hence, if regeneration is exactly the same as being born again, wouldn’t this be a contradictory redundant prayer of David to pray?

To those who do not believe the Old Testament saints were even born again, I’d say John 3:3 makes a strong case against that. If there are still reservations, I’d hope they’re allayed with the distinguishing between John 3:6 birthing of the spirit and the Acts 2 Pentecost pouring of the Holy Spirit – to hold as the difference between the OT and the NT saints.

So, let us not think it a strange thing that the God of all mercy should regenerate the non-elect and enlighten them with the truth – while further birthing only the elect in His own nature.

The Desire Lifecycle

So what happens to the born again that does not happen to those who are only regenerated? Well, it would help to sequence the entire process of how the natural man acts. First, his self-nature/flesh generates a desire. His mind then perceives this desire and processes it based on various factors ranging from how beneficial it would be to what emotional outcome is expected and weighs it with how much of a contradiction it would cause with the existing beliefs indicated by the conscience and so on. If the desire merits acceptance, then it is planted into the heart which is a storehouse of all beliefs – this particular one being the belief that he must fulfill this desire to live (exist in net good pleasure over pain).

Once within the heart, the heart brings forth fruit by prioritizing its treasures. This is then pushed to the part of the mind that intends and counsels the means and ways to fulfilling the desire. And finally, the counselled desire is worked out by the power of the flesh. This may happen either through our consciousness where we’re aware of most of the process or it could occur subconsciously.

Applying this to the elect and the non-elect in Part 2….