What Is Regeneration? (Basics of the Faith) by Matthew M. Barrett

Basics of the Faith

by Matthew Barrett

Many people believe they can initiate their salvation, either through choosing to believe or on their own merits. Yet the Bible is clear that we can't take even the first step toward reconciliation with God on our own we are spiritually dead and can do nothing unless we are given new life. Matthew Barrett explores the doctrine of regeneration to show us what truly happens to us when we are saved. He compares the gospel call with the effectual call and shows us how God's gift of a new heart and new birth not anything we have done initiates our salvation.

Genres: Theology

Paperback

First published September 6, 2013

About the author

Matthew Barrett (MDiv, PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of Christian theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the executive editor of Credo Magazine. He is the author of numerous books, including God's Word Alone, 40 Questions about Salvation, Reformation Theology, John Owen on the Christian Life, and Salvation by Grace. He is also the host of the Credo podcast where he talks with fellow theologians about the most important doctrines of the faith. He lives in Kansas City.

Reviews

[Joshua Dadzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the privilege to read a number of books or booklets in the "Basics of the Faith" series. They have all been a great blessing and this one is no exception.

This is also the second book I have read by Barrett and I am very impressed. His writing is excellent and I will read him again in the future.

[Brandon Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great short read on the topic of regeneration. I really enjoy the concept of the basics of the faith series. I’m planning on ordering the entire set in order to give them out to church members Who have questions about these basic topics.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clunky writing, but the material was solid. Regeneration is strictly monergistic, a one way act from God on the behalf of man. Barrett, drawing from his dissertation, gives a good argument for this understanding from a biblical viewpoint.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good short work on the doctrine of regeneration. At first I wasn’t sure why the beginning of the book focused on the difference between the Gospel call versus effectual call. The author demonstrated how the Reformed distinction of Gospel versus effectual call avoids the contradiction between the Bible’s description of resistible and irresistible calling and the case was quite compelling. This led the author to observe that in both instances, the Gospel is present and that it’s not merely the presentation of the Gospel that lead someone to salvation; here the doctrine of regeneration enters the picture to explain why certain individuals do come to salvation.
The book gave a good definition of regeneration in a long and nuance paragraph. In short, regeneration is “the work of the Holy Spirit to unite the elect sinner to Christ by breathing new life into that dead and depraved sinner…” It’s important to define our terms in theology since the actual Greek word regeneration is palingenesia and is used only twice in the New Testament in Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5. As the book pointed out, it’s only in Titus 3:5 that we see the more narrow and technical sense of regeneration being used. But as any mature believer who have wrestled with the Trinity knows, deriving theology from the Bible is more than searching for certain theological terminology used in the Bible; one must ask whether the concept is communicated in the Scriptures using other motifs and terminology. The rest of the book provides an excellent survey and study of the passages used to establish the doctrine of regeneration. The book looks at Old Testament passages as well as the New Testament. I was pleasantly surprised to find Old Testament references in support of regeneration. I appreciated the author’s note of the grammar of the verses he examined to prove his point such as the use of the passive voice indicating that regeneration is the work of God and not of us.
This short work is an adaptation from the author’s longer work titled Salvation by Grace. I suppose if one wants a deeper treatment on the topic of regeneration and effectual calling they can read this other work. However I would say that there is still a place for the shorter work, especially for new believers, discipleship or devotionals that serve as a quick reminder for the believer. I recommend this booklet.

NOTE: This book was provided to me free by P&R Publishing and Net Galley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Great Little Book on a Great Big Issue

P & R has fast become one of my favorite publishers. I am always challenged by work they out out and have appreciated especially some of their booklet-type publications that are aimed at succinctly presenting a particular topic or doctrine and equipping and preparing the reader to deal with it at a basic level and move on to further, more in-depth, study. The series includes books on: What Is Spiritual Warfare?, What Is the Atonement?, What Is the Bible?, What Is the ChristianWorldview?, What Is the Doctrine of Adoption?, What Is the Incarnation?, What Is the Lord’s Supper?, What Is the Trinity?, What Is True Conversion?, and many more. As someone who has spent the vast majority of their Christian life immersed in Southern Baptist thought but feeling more and more drawn towards Reformed doctrine, I am especially interested in a few of the titles like: What is Church Government?, What is the Lord’s Supper?, and Why do we Bapitzed Infants? This series, “Basics of the Faith”, seems set to be great little books on great big issues and that is what Matthew Barrett’s treatment on regeneration most definitely is.

Barrett starts his book where we all start our life, human bondage to sin. Barrett shows, briefly of course as all topics have to be addressed in a 35 page booklet, that man’s will is not autonomously free but rather is enslaved to the sinful passions, desires, and inability of man.

Barrett then makes a helpful and clear distinction between the “Gospel Call” given to all and the “effectual call” given to the elect. This leads Barrett into a discussion of regeneration proper. Barrett covers passages from Deuteronomy to Ezekiel to John to Paul to James and John in order to show the reader that regeneration is a monergistic work of God done to the elect sinner in order to bring about spiritual life.
He also deals with “problem texts”, or better yet-“problematic interpretations”, that are often levied against the reformed teaching on regeneration.

This is an important topic for many reasons and Barrett’s work is beneficial because it is simple and clear. More than that, it is biblically accurate and quite accessible. Barrett leaves the reader with a greater confidence in monergistic regeneration and a greater desire to understand this topic more. Important topic, helpful little book.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

[Roger Leonhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the privilege to read a number of books or booklets in the "Basics of the Faith" series. They have all been a great blessing and this one is no exception.

This is also the second book I have read by Barrett and I am very impressed. His writing is excellent and I will read him again in the future.

In this small book, he takes the subject of his larger volume, "Salvation by Grace: The Case for Effectual Calling and Regeneration" and condenses it into 40 pages. Focusing on regeneration, he gives us a very understandable overview of the subject. Using scripture to back up each statement, Barrett shows us that God is the one who makes us alive. We can not birth ourselves. We are born not of the will of man, but of God himself.

He shows us the difference in the “gospel call” and the “effectual call”. The “gospel call” is the outward call while the “effectual call” is the moving of God upon the heart. We see what it really means to be "born again" and how God gives us a new heart. We also see how God opens the heart to see the things of God. Because we are born blind and in sin, God gives us light to understand and the new heart to accept it.

Even though this book is very small, it was a great read. I think this would be a great resource for those who are new in the faith and would like a short and readable explanation of what God worked in their hearts to bring them to Himself. It would also be a great introduction to regeneration for those who feel that the 429 page, "Salvation by Grace", is a little long.


I loved this book and I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book, free of charge, from P & R Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regeneration, or the new birth, is a vital component of Christian faith. But how does one receive new life? Barrett surveys Scripture to demonstrate regeneration is done by God’s power, at God’s initiative, and according to God’s sovereign grace. His work is remarkably sound, yet missing here is deeper interaction with objections and classic Arminian prooftexts, which causes this effort to read like half an argument (or a teaser for Barrett’s book-length treatment of these issues).