How do we know regeneration is essential for salvation?

Regeneration is not merely a suggestion but a foundational doctrine within the Christian faith. Jesus emphasizes this in John 3:3, where He states that unless a person is born again, they cannot see the Kingdom of God. This new birth is brought about by the Holy Spirit, signifying a profound change in the heart and nature of an individual. The necessity of regeneration highlights human inability to achieve salvation by works or human effort, pointing instead to the sovereign grace of God that transforms the heart through the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, passages like Ephesians 2 speak to our deadness in sin and the need for divine intervention, underlining the critical nature of being regenerated for one's salvation.