What’s the difference between regeneration and conversion?

The difference between regeneration and conversion is a slight difference, but it’s an important one.

Regeneration is the work of God the Holy Spirit as He supernaturally and immediately changes the disposition of the soul from spiritual death to spiritual life.

Conversion is a result of regeneration. When we are converted, we’re turned around and we move in a different direction.

Sometimes we get confused about this, because particularly when people give their testimony, they often say, “I was born again on February the 13th, 1975,” and so on. That person is testifying to a conversion experience. They may have been regenerated earlier than that but only became aware of their state of conversion at a later time.

So I think it’s important that we make sure that we distinguish between those concepts.

This transcript is from an Ask R.C. Live event with R.C. Sproul and has been lightly edited for readability. To ask Ligonier a biblical or theological question, email ask@ligonier.org or message us on Facebook or Twitter.