Topical Bible: Death: Figurative of Regeneration

◄ Death: Figurative of Regeneration ►

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In the Christian theological framework, death is often understood not only as a physical cessation of life but also as a metaphor for spiritual transformation and regeneration. This figurative use of death is deeply rooted in the New Testament and is pivotal to the understanding of the believer's journey from sin to salvation.

Death to Sin and New Life in Christ

The Apostle Paul frequently employs the metaphor of death to describe the believer's transition from a life dominated by sin to one that is renewed in Christ. In Romans 6:3-4 , Paul writes, "Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life." Here, baptism symbolizes the believer's identification with the death of Christ, signifying the end of the old sinful self and the beginning of a new life in righteousness.

Crucifixion of the Old Self

The concept of dying to one's former way of life is further elaborated in Galatians 2:20 , where Paul declares, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." This passage underscores the idea that the believer's old self, with its sinful inclinations, is crucified with Christ. The metaphorical death of the old self allows for the indwelling of Christ, leading to a regenerated life characterized by faith and obedience.

Putting to Death Earthly Desires

In Colossians 3:5 , Paul exhorts believers to "Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry." This call to action emphasizes the necessity of actively renouncing sinful behaviors and desires as part of the regenerative process. The figurative death of these earthly components is essential for the believer to fully embrace the new life offered in Christ.

The New Creation

The theme of regeneration through death is also evident in 2 Corinthians 5:17 : "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" This transformation is described as a creation event, where the old self is considered dead, and a new identity in Christ emerges. The believer's spiritual rebirth is thus portrayed as a profound renewal, made possible through the metaphorical death of the past.

Union with Christ in His Death and Resurrection

The believer's union with Christ in His death and resurrection is a central tenet of this figurative understanding of death. In Philippians 3:10-11 , Paul expresses his desire "to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." This passage highlights the intimate connection between sharing in Christ's sufferings and death and the hope of resurrection and eternal life.

In summary, the figurative use of death in the New Testament serves as a powerful symbol of the believer's spiritual regeneration. Through the death of the old self and the embrace of new life in Christ, believers experience a profound transformation that aligns them with the righteousness and eternal life promised in the Gospel.

Nave's Topical Index

Romans 6:2-11
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
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Romans 7:1-10
Know you not, brothers, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
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Romans 8:10,11
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
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Colossians 2:20
Why if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances,
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Library

Regeneration.
... It has been said that regeneration and a change of ... term heart, when applied to mind,
is figurative, and means ... flows, from which either life or death may flow ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxvii regeneration.htm

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... however, are to be understood in a figurative sense, as ... Regeneration is the impartation
of a new and divine life ... the dead; he has passed out of death into life ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

Baptism, a Divinely Appointed Means of Grace.
... that it is intended to convey a figurative sense ... into Christ, were baptized into
His death." Galatians 3 ... He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iv baptism a divinely.htm

John Chapter iii. 21-Jun
... 2. Spiritual regeneration is one, just as the generation ... But those were healed from
death to temporal life ... is this difference between the figurative image and ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xii john chapter iii.htm

Baptism.
... unfaithfulness of man, a savor of death unto death. ... and faith, and followed by
regeneration, that is ... In the figurative phrase baptizein en pneumati hagio, to ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 54 baptism.htm

Sons and Heirs
... Get beneath all these figurative expressions, and feel ... great opposites"life, light,
love"death, darkness, hate ... the Gospel is this regeneration; because if ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/sons and heirs.htm

The Scripture a Necessity.
... when, passing from the chambers of death, they enter ... conception would have been vague
and figurative as that ... precedes Scripture, yet in the regeneration of the ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xiii the scripture a necessity.htm

On the Baptism of Christ.
... life, and was herself nigh unto death, and her ... fair apparel; teaching us by the
figurative illustration that ... in the holy and most fair garment of regeneration. ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/on the baptism of christ.htm

Use Made of Water by the Heathen Type of the Angel at the Pool of ...
... of their doing that is their regeneration and the ... carnal are always antecedent [8578]
as figurative of things ... peoples in a body [8583] daily, death being done ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on baptism/chapter v use made of water.htm

Zwingli's Distinctive Doctrines.
... at all, and Cornelius was baptized after regeneration). ... He supports the figurative
interpretation of the words ... Francis I. shortly before his death: 'We believe ...
/.../ 52 zwinglis distinctive doctrines.htm