Topical Bible: Heart: Renewed: Regenerated

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The concept of a renewed and regenerated heart is central to Christian theology, emphasizing the transformative power of God's grace in the life of a believer. The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the innermost being of a person, encompassing their will, emotions, and intellect. A renewed heart signifies a profound change brought about by the Holy Spirit, aligning one's desires and actions with the will of God.

Biblical Foundation

The renewal and regeneration of the heart are rooted in the promises of the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament through the work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. In Ezekiel 36:26, God promises, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." This prophetic declaration points to the transformative work that God intends to perform in His people, replacing their hardened hearts with ones that are responsive to Him.

In the New Testament, the theme of regeneration is further developed. Jesus speaks of the necessity of being "born again" to enter the kingdom of God. In John 3:3, He tells Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." This new birth is a spiritual rebirth, a regeneration of the heart that is essential for salvation.

Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the regeneration of the heart. Titus 3:5 states, "He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." This passage highlights that regeneration is not achieved by human effort but is a divine act of mercy, accomplished through the Holy Spirit's work in the believer's life.

Evidence of a Renewed Heart

A regenerated heart is evidenced by a transformed life. The Apostle Paul describes this transformation 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 new creation is marked by a departure from sinful behaviors and the adoption of a lifestyle that reflects the character of Christ.

The fruit of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23, serves as further evidence of a renewed heart: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." These attributes manifest in the life of a believer who has experienced the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.

Theological Implications

The renewal and regeneration of the heart underscore the doctrine of sanctification, where believers are progressively conformed to the image of Christ. This process begins with regeneration and continues throughout the believer's life, as they grow in holiness and obedience to God's commands.

The renewed heart also reflects the fulfillment of the New Covenant, as prophesied in Jeremiah 31:33: "But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people." This covenantal promise is realized through the internal transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to live in a manner pleasing to God.

In summary, the renewed and regenerated heart is a testament to the transformative power of God's grace, accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit, and is essential for living a life that honors and glorifies God.

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John 3:3,7
Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
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Library

A Penitent Heart, the Best New Year's Gift
... that has truly repented, is truly regenerated: it is ... your repentance is true, you
are renewed throughout, both ... should be, to get the heart thoroughly affected ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/a penitent heart the best.htm

"Pray Without Ceasing"
... in misery, as also a prayer for a religious and regenerated gentleman who is ... Our
heart, renewed by the Holy Ghost, must be like the magnetized needle, which ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/pray without ceasing.htm

The Corruption of Man, his Conversion to God, and the Manner ...
... whose heart God works in this marvelous manner are certainly, infallibly, and
effectually regenerated, and do actually believe. Whereupon the will thus renewed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/synod of dort/the corruption of man his.htm

Regeneration and Faith.
... are certainly, infallibly, and effectually regenerated, and do ... Whereupon the will
thus renewed is not only ... and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxiii regeneration and faith.htm

A Call to Holy Living
... he professes to have been pardoned, and to have received a new heart and a ... If you
say you are regenerated, renewed, and sanctified, then be all that this means ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/a call to holy living.htm

Of the Causes which Alienate us from God.
... into an Altogether, or die away again, and leave his heart harder than it ... passage
not of man convinced of sin, but of man renewed and regenerated in Christ ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter v of the causes which.htm

Love's Logic
... but love to God must be in the heart, or else ... any man love not God, he is not a renewed
man. ... right, therefore, to believe that I am a regenerated person unless ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/loves logic.htm

A Day to be Remembered
... sins were forgiven him, his heart was renewed, his spirit ... not only that, but
regeneration, a new heart, and a ... I can understand a man being regenerated:, that ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/a day to be remembered.htm

Prayer and God's Work
... This is the earnest, heartfelt desire of every truly regenerated soul ... reverence,
and in all those graces which have their root in the renewed heart, which mark ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/vii prayer and gods work.htm

Separating the Precious from the Vile
... in the spirit of his mind," born over again, regenerated, re-created ... for the gain,
for he is human, but his heart hates the sin, for it is renewed by divine ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/separating the precious from the.htm