Renewal Versus Restoration Theology
The terms "renewal" and "restoration" in a theological context relate to the spiritual transformation of an individual, often used interchangeably with concepts like regeneration and conversion [1]. While these terms frequently overlap, distinctions can be drawn regarding their emphasis on the process and outcome of divine grace.
Regeneration, often considered the commencement of spiritual life, signifies a change from spiritual death to spiritual life, a "new birth" [3, 9]. This is an instantaneous act of God, a spiritual resurrection that initiates a new life [9]. Charles Hodge notes that the early church sometimes used "regeneration" to refer to an external change of state, such as a heathen becoming a proselyte to Judaism or an individual being initiated into the Christian Church through baptism [5, 6]. However, the more common theological understanding today is that regeneration refers to an inward moral change [5].
Renewal, or renovation, describes the ongoing process of spiritual transformation that follows regeneration. John Calvin, for instance, speaks of believers being "renewed by that regeneration into the righteousness of God from which we had fallen" [7]. Scriptural passages like 2 Corinthians 3:18 and Ephesians 4:23-24 speak of being "changed into the same image from glory to glory" and being "renewed in the spirit of your minds," emphasizing a continuous process [7]. This renewal involves putting on "the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" [7]. Hodge explains that renovation, or "the renewing of the Holy Ghost," must precede baptism to produce faith and repentance, and also attend and follow it [4].
Restoration, in this context, often refers to the re-establishment of the image of God in humanity, which was marred by the Fall [1]. This concept is closely linked to renewal, as the process of renewal aims at restoring believers to the likeness of their Creator [7]. Hodge indicates that terms like regeneration, renovation, and conversion are sometimes used for the "whole process of spiritual renovation or restoration of the image of God" [1].
Some theological discussions highlight the distinction between the instantaneous act of regeneration and the progressive work of sanctification, which includes renewal and restoration. Regeneration is God's act of imparting a new nature, while renewal is the subsequent development and manifestation of that new nature [2, 9]. The power that effects this change is the immediate power of God, not merely moral suasion or a natural process [8].
Sources
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 4: § 1. Usage of the Word. The subjective change wrought in the soul by the grace of God, is variously designated in Scripture. It is called a new birth, a resurrection, a new life, a new creature, a renewing of the mind, a dying to sin and living to righteousness, a translation from darkness to light, etc. In theological language, it is called regeneration, renovation, conversion. These terms are often used interchangeably. They are also used sometimes for the whole process of spiritual renovation or restoration of the image of God, and some”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 5: the commencement of a series of holy acts. In his discourse on Regeneration, the first proposition which he undertakes to establish is, “that the Spirit of God, in regeneration, produces nothing but love.” This is maintained in opposition to those who say that the Spirit produces a new nature, principle, disposition, or taste. “Those in the state of nature,” he says, “stand in no need of having any new power, or faculty, or principle of action produced in them, in order to their becoming holy. They are just as capable of loving as of hatin”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 65: regeneration mixed up together in this treatise, and interchanged one for the other to suit emergencies. First, the word is taken in the sense which it now usually bears. It is the new birth, a change of heart, the commencement of spiritual life in the soul; a change from a state of spiritual death to that of spiritual life. The Christian is said to be the subject of three births. “Once he is born into the natural life, born of Adam; once he is born into the spiritual life, born of water and the Spirit; and once also into a life of glory,”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 65: therefore, maintains that Simon Magus was regenerated although it did him no good, leaving him in “the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” Sonship was granted him, but he did not accept it. He did not, however, need a second regeneration, but only to repent, then his regeneration or adoption in baptism would take effect. (Pages 442-444.) In this sense also he teaches that renovation or “the renewing of the Holy Ghost,” must precede baptism, as well as attend and follow it. It must precede it to produce faith and repentance, w”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 4: In the early Church regeneration often expressed, not any inward moral change, but an external change of state or relation. Among the Jews when a heathen became a proselyte to their religion, he was said to be born again. The change of his status from without to within the theocracy, was called regeneration. This usage in a measure passed over to the Christian Church. When a man became a member of the Church he was said to be born anew; and baptism, which was the rite of initiation, was called regeneration. This use of the word has not yet”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 5: his condemnation not being avoided, but rather increased, by his baptismal privilege.” 61 61 A Church Dictionary, by Walter Farquhar Hook, D. D., Vicar of Leeds, article, “Conversion”; 6th edit., Philadelphia, 1854. 3. A third form of doctrine on this subject, held by some divines of this church, is that regeneration properly expresses an external change of relation, and not an internal change of the state of the soul and of its relation to God. As a proselyte was regenerated when he professed himself a Jew, so any one initiated into the v”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 58: the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Again, “Be renewed in the spirit of your minds” and “put ye on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Again, “Put ye on 516 the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” 310 310 2 Cor. 3:18 ; Eph. 4:23, 24 ; Col. 3:10 ; 2 Cor. 4:16 . Accordingly through the blessing of Christ we are renewed by that regeneration into the righteousness of God from which we had falle”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 140: were subjects of no other influence than that of moral suasion, which all more or less experience, ano which all may resist. The language would be incongruous to express that idea. Besides, the very point of the illustration would then be lost. The Ephesians had been quickened by the very power which wrought in Christ when God raised Him from the dead. This was the immediate power of God. It was not exercised through second causes. It was not a natural process aided by divine efficiency; much less was it the result of any form of 697 mor”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 5: § 2. Nature of Regeneration. By a consent almost universal the word regeneration is now used to designate, not the whole work of sanctification, nor the first stages of that work comprehended in conversion, much less justification or any mere external change of state, but the instantaneous change from spiritual death to spiritual life. Regeneration, therefore, is a spiritual resurrection; the beginning of a new life. Sometimes the word expresses the act of God. God regenerates. Sometimes it designates the subjective effect of his act. The ”