From the 1975 classic “WHAT’S GONE WRONG WITH THE HARVEST” by James Engel
Regeneration
The objective of persuasion is to lead to regeneration, but not every apparent decision will have this result. Some will be brought to the point of decision and draw back from the commitment that is demanded. This is depicted in Figure 3 by an arrow indicating that the communicator must once again stress the fundamentals of the gospel message and its implications. In effect, by refusing to accept Christ, the individual has regressed to stage -5.
Whatever the content of the message, communication can never do more than set the stage for regeneration, which is accomplished only through the Holy Spirit. In Titus 3:5 Paul speaks of the love of God and points out that ‘‘He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” This verse overflows with meaning for the exegete who is directed to world evangelization. One authority puts it like this:
The act of regeneration made them partakers of the divine nature. This is the basis upon which the Holy Spirit works in the Christian’s life. He has in His hands now an individual who has both the desire and the power to do the will of God. He augments this by His control over the saint when that saint yields to Hint and cooperates with Him. The first is paliggenesia, the second, anakainosis, the first regeneration, the second, renewing. 7
Obviously, God and man work together in this mysterious New Testament process. If there has been no proclamation and no persuasion, the communicator has failed to provide that essential level of understanding that the Holy Spirit uses to bring about regeneration. In short, God expects His Body to communicate — to understand the audience, to speak to felt needs, to build awareness.
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