What does the Bible say about the necessity of a new heart?

In Luke 16, Jesus emphasizes the need for a new heart when He states that no servant can serve two masters and that true faith involves a single-minded devotion to God. This necessity of a new heart is reiterated throughout Scripture, indicating that without being transformed by God's grace, one cannot genuinely serve Him. The reference to needing to be born again stresses that a genuine change of heart is required for salvation and righteousness, which is only granted through the Holy Spirit. As such, seeking a new heart and understanding our dependence on God's grace to provide it is crucial to our relationship with Him.