What change occurs at regeneration?

There are only a few passages that reveal what happens at regeneration. We can look at John 3:5 where Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit”. In this passage Jesus is referring to both regeneration and conversion. The use of the word “born” in this passage is that of God begetting a child. This is supported by Ephesians 1, which states that we are predestinated unto the adoption of children. Thus, at regeneration one is adopted by God as His child. The use of the word “water” in this passage is referring to that used for washing (for other uses of this Greek word used for washing see Matthew 27:24, Luke 7:44, John 13:5, Hebrews 10:22). Paul supports this in Titus 3:5, when he also refers to both regeneration and conversion in his phrase, “by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”. From Colossians 1:13, we find that during regeneration a change in ownership also occurs. The person is rescued from the power of darkness and translated into the dominion of Christ. Several other passages reveal that at regeneration there is a loosening which occurs where a person is freed from the bondage of the carnal man and from the law. An example of this would be likened unto a man in prison who has his legs and arms are shackled, with no way of escape. At regeneration the shackles are removed and the way of escape is made possible, but the man remains within the prison cell.

From these passages we can confidently say that a washing occurs, an adoption takes place, a loosening is accomplished, and a change in ownership is carried out. These are the only things that scripture reveals to us about regeneration.