Necessity of Spiritual Revival and Renewal in Christianity
Necessity of Spiritual Revival and Renewal in Christianity
The psalmist's plea—"Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me" [2]—captures a recognition woven throughout Scripture: the human condition requires divine intervention to restore what sin has corrupted. This necessity forms the theological foundation for Christian teaching on spiritual renewal, a doctrine that addresses both the initial transformation of regeneration and the ongoing work of sanctification.
The Corruption That Demands Renewal
Christian theology identifies the corruption of human nature as the fundamental reason renewal is necessary. As one biblical reference work notes, "The corruption of human nature requires" the new birth [4]. This corruption extends to the mind itself, which "stands in need of renovation, being corrupted by sin" [5]. The problem is not merely behavioral but ontological—affecting the very nature of human existence. Paul's language of the "old man" and "new man" in Colossians and Ephesians reflects this understanding: "what we have from Adam becomes old and tends towards ruin" [8], requiring a transformation that only divine power can accomplish.
The necessity is absolute rather than optional. Jesus himself declared that "none can enter heaven without" the new birth [4], and spiritual rebirth is "absolutely necessary if one is to produce the good fruit that Jesus demands" [6]. This exclusivity underscores that moral reformation alone cannot address the depth of human need.
The Nature of Regeneration and Renewal
Scripture uses multiple metaphors to describe this transformation: becoming "a new creature in Christ Jesus," being "born again," experiencing "a renewal of the mind," and undergoing "a resurrection from the dead" [3]. The Greek term palingenesia, rendered "regeneration," literally means "new birth" and was used by classical writers to describe the changes produced by spring's return [3]—a fitting image for the radical transformation Christianity envisions.
This work is "effected by God," specifically through "the Holy Spirit" [4], and occurs "through the instrumentality of the word of God" and "the resurrection of Christ" [4]. The agency is divine: regeneration "is of the will of God" and "of the mercy of God" [4]. Those who were "foolish, disobedient, and deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, could not possibly have works of righteousness to plead; therefore, if saved at all, they must be saved by mercy" [10].
The Ongoing Process of Sanctification
Renewal does not conclude with regeneration. Sanctification "involves more than a mere moral reformation of character" and represents "the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration" [1]. This progressive work "extends to the whole man" [1] and requires continual divine activity. The new principle of grace "is renewed day by day, increases in holiness and righteousness, grows in grace, and particularly in knowledge" [9].
The Spirit's role remains central throughout this process. Believers are to "be renewed in the spirit of your mind" by "the Holy Spirit; who is in the saints, and is the author of renovation in them; and who is the reviver and carrier on, and finisher of that work" [5]. This language of revival and carrying forward indicates that spiritual vitality requires repeated divine intervention, not merely an initial transaction.
Two Dimensions of Transformation
The apostle Paul identifies "two things that are necessary in order to our living to Christ": regeneration and reconciliation [7]. Regeneration itself "consists of two things": first, "weanedness from the world," enabling believers "not to mind nor regard this world, nor the things of this world, but to live above it" [7]; second, the positive putting on of the new nature. Calvin's commentary notes that regeneration contains "two parts—the putting off of the old man, and the putting on of the new" [8], a definition drawn from Pauline texts that describe both negation and affirmation.
The renewed ones "are filled with spiritual joy and comfort, as with new wine, arising from discoveries of the love of God, a view of interest in the blessings of the covenant, and an application of Gospel truths and promises" [11]. This joy accompanies the transformation, marking it as more than duty—it becomes the believer's sustaining reality, "a well of living water, springing" within [11].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
- Psalms “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. -- Psalms 51:10”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Regeneration — Only found in Matt. 19:28 and Titus 3:5. This word literally means a "new birth." The Greek word so rendered (palingenesia) is used by classical writers with reference to the changes produced by the return of spring. In Matt. 19:28 the word is equivalent to the "restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21). In Titus 3:5 it denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life (1 John 3:14); becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17); being born again (John 3:5); a renewal of the mind (Rom. 12:2); a resurrection from the ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: New Birth, The — The corruption of human nature requires -- Joh 3:6; Ro 8:7,8. None can enter heaven without -- Joh 3:3. Effected by God. -- Joh 1:13; 1Pe 1:3. Christ. -- 1Jo 2:29. The Holy Spirit. -- Joh 3:6; Tit 3:5. Through the instrumentality of The word of God. -- Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23. The resurrection of Christ. -- 1Pe 1:3. The ministry of the gospel. -- 1Co 4:15. Is of the will of God -- Jas 1:18. Is of the mercy of God -- Tit 3:5. Is for the glory of God -- Isa 43:7. Described as A new creation. -- 2Co 5:17; Ga 6:15; Eph 2:10. Newness of life. -- Ro 6:4. A spir”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:22: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Or by the Spirit that is in your mind; that is, by the Holy Spirit; who is in the saints, and is the author of renovation in them; and who is the reviver and carrier on, and finisher of that work, and therefore that is called the renewing of the Holy Spirit, Tit 3:5 or rather the mind of man, which is a spirit, of a spiritual nature, immaterial and immortal, and is the seat of that renewing work of the Spirit of God; which shows, that the more noble part of man stands in need of renovation, being corrupted by sin: and this”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 7:18: 7:18 Spiritual rebirth is absolutely necessary if one is to produce the good fruit that Jesus demands. Good works flow from faith; good works and faith cannot be separated (see Jas 2:14-26).”
- 2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 5:16: In these verses the apostle mentions two things that are necessary in order to our living to Christ, both of which are the consequences of Christ's dying for us; namely, regeneration and reconciliation. I. Regeneration, which consists of two things; namely, 1. Weanedness from the world: "Henceforth we know no man after the flesh, Co2 5:16. We do not own nor affect any person or thing in this world for carnal ends and outward advantage: we are enabled, by divine grace, not to mind nor regard this world, nor the things of this world, but to live above it. The”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 38.2: through Christ. And as what we have from Adam becomes old, 439 439 “ Deuient vieil et caduque ;” — “Becomes old and frail.” and tends towards ruin, so what we obtain through Christ remains for ever, and is not frail; but, on the contrary, tends towards immortality. This passage is worthy of notice, inasmuch as a definition of regeneration may be gathered from it. For it contains two parts — the putting off of the old man , and the putting on of the new , and of these Paul here makes mention. It is also to be notice”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 3:10: And have put on the new man,.... Concerning which, and the putting it on; see Gill on Eph 4:24, which is renewed in knowledge; this man, or principle of grace in the soul, is a new one, which never was there before; and there is a daily renovation of it in the spirit of the mind, by the Spirit of God; for as the outward man decays, the inward man, which is the same with this new man, is renewed day by day, increases in holiness and righteousness, grows in grace, and particularly in "knowledge"; light and knowledge of a man's self, of his lost state and condition”
- Titus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness - Those who were foolish, disobedient, and deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, could not possibly have works of righteousness to plead; therefore, if saved at all, they must be saved by mercy. See the note on Eph 2:8; and see a discourse entitled, Salvation by Faith proved, 8vo., 1816, in which I have examined every system invented by man for his restoration to the Divine favor and image: and have demonstrated, by mere reason, their utter insufficiency to answer the end for which they have been invented; and have proved that the”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 5:37: But new wine must be put into new bottles,.... Such as the disciples of Christ were, and sinners called to repentance are, who are renewed by the Spirit and grace of God: and these are filled with spiritual joy and comfort, as with new wine, arising from discoveries of the love of God, a view of interest in the blessings of the covenant, and an application of Gospel truths and promises. And both are preserved; both these renewed ones, who are preserved unto the kingdom and glory of Christ; and the grace that is put into them, which is a well of living water, springing”