Ch. 13: What Does It Mean to Become a Christian? Part 2

What is regeneration?

• A secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us.

• An act of God the Father, speaking through human proclamation of the gospel, in which he summons people to himself in such a way that they respond in saving faith.

• Our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.

• Trust in Jesus Christ as a living person for forgiveness of sins and for eternal life with God.

What is another term for regeneration?

• Born again

• Conversion

• Gospel call

• Effective calling

• Irresistible grace

What are some characteristics of regeneration?

• It is done by God alone. Humans have no active role in it.

• How God works regeneration in us is a mystery.

• Regeneration gives us the ability to respond to the gospel call.

• In regeneration, the spiritually dead are made alive.

• We can't see regeneration itself, but we can and should see the effects of it.

What is the evidence of regeneration in someone's life?

• Being active in serving at church

• Praying the sinner's prayer (salvation prayer)

• Godly fruit and Christlike character

• Performing miracles and exercising the gifts of the Spirit

What is conversion?

• A secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us.

• An act of God the Father, speaking through human proclamation of the gospel, in which he summons people to himself in such a way that they respond in saving faith.

• Our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation.

What are the two parts to conversion that must go hand in hand?

• Repentance (turning away from sin)

• Faith (turning toward Jesus)

• Prayer of confession (confessing sin to God)

• Wisdom (to understand salvation)

What three things are required for saving faith?

• Knowledge of the truth

• Approval/agreement of the truth

• A decision to personally trust in Jesus for salvation

• Amazement of what Jesus did on the cross

What three things are required for repentance?

• An intellectual understanding that sin is wrong

• An emotional approval (sorrow for sin) of what Scripture teaches about sin

• A personal decision of the will to turn away from sin (toward obedience to Christ)

• Saying the sinner's prayer

Faith and repentance...

• are limited to the initial moment of salvation.

• continue throughout the entire Christian life

What does it look like for you to continue the attitudes of repentance and faith in your everyday life?