What is Awaken?
Awaken New England is an evangelistic ministry that seeks to preach the Gospel and to deliver those who are afflicted by demonic influence throughout New England. In addition to its evangelistic ministry, it hopes to raise up leaders who will plant churches that saturate New England with the gospel, and spark revival.
What is the Gospel?
When you read through the gospels, we believe there are two solid aspects which can be found in the gospel design. Both run concurrent and are vitally important to the essence of Christianity.
1) Salvation. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news? (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15). This aspect is the most visible aspect of the gospel. The salvific proclamation includes: 1) man being totally depraved (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23); 2) man’s inability to save himself because of his tremendous debt and offense towards God. By understanding man’s fallen nature and inability to “heal” himself, we learn that man must look to someone greater and more qualified to heal him from his soul’s brokenness (Isaiah 53).
God shows His love to man by providing a solution to his brokenness. God was not pressured by any outside source to save man. It was solely motivated by love and His righteousness (John 3:16). God, in His great love for fallen man: 1) sends His only begotten Son to be a propitiation (sacrifice to appease the wrath of God; Romans 3:25, 1 Jn 2:2, Hebrews 2:17); 2) reconciles us to God (Ephesians 1:16); 3) opens the door to sonship (John 1:12); 4) forgives us of our sins (Colossians 1:14; Ephesians 1:7); and 5) offers us eternal life (John 17:3). Our salvation revolves around one central figure—Jesus Christ. God’s great love and mercy is extended to man. We celebrate these fantastic truths because they are essential to our salvation.
Regeneration—The Need
Regeneration is a term that is seldom used in the church. However, it is imperative that every believer understand this term and experience it. Awaken New England emphasizes this very doctrine and experience when the gospel is proclaimed. At the core of the gospel is regeneration. Without regeneration, one cannot be truly saved.
The term regeneration means “birth beginning, again” or “born-again”. Becoming “born-again” is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in which an individual begins to be inhabited by the Spirit of God through the repentance of sins and believing in Jesus Christ. To be clear, it is NOT merely someone saying the “sinner’s prayer”, raising a hand when in an invitation is given, or filling out a card. It is literally the work of the Holy Spirit!
The Apostle Paul writes,
“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).
Jesus says, “Truly Truly, I say to you unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel many years prior in regards to regeneration by saying,
”I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Eze. 36:26-27).
Indeed, regeneration essentially transforms the individual so that they will delight in God and desire to walk in His commandments. Prior to regeneration, every human being is in opposition to God and His commandments (Rom. 3:9-23).
Regeneration is essential for everyone who confesses to be a believer in Jesus.
