The Bible teaches that the new birth is specifically brought about through the word of truth, the gospel, which is the instrumental means by which God regenerates the soul.
According to James 1:18, it is by God's own will that we are begotten by the word of truth. This new birth signifies that believers become a kind of first fruits among God's creatures, thus enabling them to serve Him in holiness. The apostle Paul reinforces this notion by stating in 1 Peter 1:23 that we are born again through the imperishable seed of God's word, asserting that the gospel is the dual instrument by which God accomplishes this spiritual rebirth.
Furthermore, in John 3:5, Jesus emphasizes the necessity of being born of both water and the Spirit, indicating the transformative and vital role of the gospel in regeneration. The new birth is not merely a reformative change but a complete renewal of the person, and it is profoundly tied to hearing and responding to the gospel, thereby producing true faith and repentance in those who believe.
Scripture References:
John 3:1-16, John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:3, John 4:4, Galatians 5:17, 2 Peter 1:4, John 1:12-13, Galatians 4:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 4:7-13, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 Peter 1:20-21, Romans 6:4, Colossians 3:10, John 3:3-7, 1 John 3:9, Ephesians 2:1, Ezekiel 36:26-27, James 1:18, Romans 7:4-6, John 3:1-6, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Ezekiel 37:5-6, 2 Timothy 1:14, John 3:3-8, Titus 3:5
Commentary