In the following verse the Apostle Paul describes how he was saved:

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).

Here Paul uses the word "regeneration" in regard to his salvation. This word is translated from the Greek word paliggenesia, which is the combination of palin and genesis.

Palin means "joined to verbs of all sorts,it denotes renewal or repetition of the action" (Thayer's Greek English Lexicon).

Genesis means "used of birth, nativity" (Thayer's Greek English Lexicon).

When we combine the meaning of the two words we have a "repetition of a birth."

It is obvious that the reference is not to a "physical" rebirth, or the repetition of one's physical birth. Paul could only be speaking of a repetition of a spiritual birth. And the words that follow make it certain that the "birth" of which Paul is referring to is a "spiritual" birth—"renewing of the Holy Spirit." If a person is "regenerated" by the Holy Spirit then that means that one must have previously been born of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore we can be certain that the following words of Paul where he speaks of previously being "alive" that the reference was to being alive spiritually:

"For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me" (Ro.7:9-11).

A person is born into this world spiritually alive. The Scriptures reveal that a man is made "upright":

"Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions" (Eccl.7:29).

In the case of the Jew, he could earn eternal life if he kept the law perfectly. That is what Paul means when he says that the Law "was ordianed to life." Paul reveals that, at least theoretically, a person can obtain eternal salvation by his "works":

"... the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life" (Ro.2:5-7).

If one "continues" in well doing then he will earn eternal life. If the Jew continues in well doing by keeping the Ten Commandments then he will earn eternal life. Paul also makes it plain that a person enters the world with a "nature" that is conductive to following the law which is written on his heart, the same law which the conscience bears witness:

"For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness" (Ro.2:14,15).

This would be impossible if a person was born with a sin nature, a nature which leads one to fulfill the desires of the flesh:

"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Eph.2:2-3).

It is only after a person sins that he becomes by "nature" a child of wrath, fulfilling the desires of his flesh and of his mind. A person comes into the world spiritually alive, and the Scriptures reveal that the Lord Jesus was make like his brethren is made in all things:

"Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people" (Heb.2:17).

It is inconceivable that it would be said that He was made like His brethren "in all things" if He was born spiritually alive and his brethren are born spiritually dead.

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