Doctrine of Regeneration

Thomas Boston

1. The Nature of Regeneration.

 Many call the church their mother, whom God will not own to be His children.

Song of Solomon 1:6 Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked
upon me: my mother's children [false brethren] were angry with me; they made me the
keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

 All that are baptized are not born again. Simon was baptized yet still "in the gall of
bitterness, and in the blond of iniquity" (Acts 8: 13, 23).

 Good education is not regeneration. Education may chain up men's lusts but cannot
change their heart. A wolf is still a ravenous beast, though it is in chains. Joash was very
devout during the life of his good tutor Jehoiada; but afterwards he quickly showed what
spirit he was of, by his sudden apostasy (2 Chron. 24:2-18).

 A turning from open profanity, to civility and seriousness of mind, falls short of this
saving change. Some people are, for a little while, very loose, especially in their younger
years, but at length they reform, and leave their profane course. But their righteousness is
short of the glory or God nor does it exceed the righteousness of the scribes and
Pharisees.

 One may engage in all the outward duties of religion, and yet not be born again. Though
lead maybe cast into various shapes, it remains but a base metal. Men may escape the
pollutions of the world, and yet be but dogs and swine.

2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and
overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better
for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to
turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them
according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that
was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Religious hypocrites may counterfeit all the graces of the Holy Spirit for we read of the
need for 'true holiness' (Eph. 4:24) and a 'faith unfeigned' (1 Tim. 1:5).

 Individuals may advance to a great deal of strictness in their own way of religion, and yet
be strangers to the new birth.

Acts 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most
straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
The Pharisees were so much more strict in their religion they looked upon Christ as a
drunkard and a libertine.

2. Regeneration mandates a change in the character and conduct of a person.

 Regeneration produces a change of qualities or dispositions. Regeneration is not a

change of the substance of the soul but its qualities. Vicious qualities are removed,
and gracious qualities are brought in their stead. 'The old man is put off' (Eph. 4:22);
'the new man is put on' (Eph. 4:24).

In the Fall man lost none of the rational faculties of his soul. He had an
understanding, but it was darkened by sin. He had a will, but it was contrary to the
will of God.

In the Regeneration of the soul there is not a new substance created but new qualities
infused. For darkness there is light and for unrighteousness there is righteousness.

 Regeneration is a supernatural change. He that is born again is born of the Spirit

(John 3:5). Who but the sanctifying Spirit of Christ can form Christ in a soul? Who
but the Spirit of sanctification can give the new heart? Well may we sa, when we see
a man thus changed, 'This is the finger of God!'.