Regeneration is not the same thing as eternal life, though they are related. Regeneration is the work that God does in a person where that person is caused to be born again (1 Pet. 1:3; John 3:3) and indwelt by God (John 14:23). It is the work of the Holy Spirit who changes us and transforms us. With this regeneration is the gift of faith (Phil. 1:29), which is in Christ (John 6:29). But, eternal life means that the believer who is thus regenerated will live forever with the Lord. In other words, he will not be damned and spend eternity in hell. So, regeneration is the change of a person, but eternal life is a change in destiny. Regeneration deals with the indwelling of God. Eternal life deals with our relationship with God.
Regeneration and Eternal Life
Both regeneration and the granting of eternal life are God’s work. He causes us to be born again (1 Pet. 1:3) and gives us eternal life (John 10:27-28). In this regenerative work of God, we are enabled to believe (Phil. 1:29). In fact, we would say that regeneration logically precedes faith. In other words, they happen at the same time, but it is regeneration that occurs in us and enables us to actually believe. It is not our belief that enables regeneration.
Jesus grants us eternal life, which is related to never perishing. Please note the following verses where our Lord connects eternal life with never perishing.
- John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
- John 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
- John 10:27–28, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
As you can see, Jesus relates eternal life with never perishing. It is the blessing of God and the guarantee of His work through the cross. It is comforting to know we will never perish. It is also comforting to know that God indwells us (John 14:23). It is the regeneration within us that coincides with the indwelling of God and our change from being dead in our sins to a life in Christ. Because of this, we believe, we trust, and we are justified before God by faith ( Rom. 3:28; 4 4:55:1). As a result, with regeneration we also have eternal life.
Conclusion
Eternal life is not the same as regeneration. Eternal life is a condition of time and location—forever with God in heaven. Regeneration is the condition of our souls—indwelt by God and made new creatures in Christ (John 14:23; 2 Cor. 5:17). Both are for the Christian. They go together, but they are not the same thing.
