Focus
Be still and rest in the Lord.
Read
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is sure.
I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.
Reflect
Justification and regeneration are good examples of words that we probably have come across yet may not be able to adequately articulate their meanings. In our defense, these words seem to be more at home in a theology or academic book than in our everyday Christian speak.
Justification is God’s act of loving acceptance of believers whereby persons are reconciled to him by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (COF 4.12). God acts so we can have life, peace, and experience restoration in our relationship with God. Yet this is only one side of the coin. We do not passively receive this relationship but are actively engaged and involved. Our participation in a relationship with God includes our repentance and faith. We are participatory by resolving to avoid sin. We also trust God will never leave or abandon us, forgive us of our sins, and lavishly and lovingly give us grace. This participatory relationship is often referred to as justification by faith.
Regeneration is a term that is shared within both the cultural and theological vernacular. A British television series entitled Doctor Who latched onto the term regeneration over 50 years ago. When a television network has a series run that long, they will inevitably face turnover. Actors move on to different projects and part ways with the show for various reasons. What happens when a popular show no longer has its main actor? Doctor Who writers came up with a clever idea to build within its narrative to have the main character “regenerate” into the next actor who then becomes the protagonist for the continuation of the series. Every few seasons, before the eyes of the viewer, the main character is regenerated into a new person. While Doctor Who may not be your first thought or introduction to the concept of regeneration, there is some broad resemblance in how the term is used. Regeneration is God’s renewal of believers and is solely of God’s grace (COF 4.15). God’s grace recreates, gives rebirth, renews spirits, makes new or regenerates persons in Jesus Christ (COF 4.15).
Pray
Come Holy Spirit, come. Open our eyes and minds to your grace and wisdom that frees us to love and to serve. Amen.
Go with God.
