The new birth is essential because it enables individuals to believe in God and His promises, as faith is the outcome of being regenerated.
The necessity of the new birth is foundational in Reformed theology. According to the sermon, faith does not precede the new birth; rather, it is a product of being born again. This concept is supported by passages that indicate one must be regenerated to see and enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3-6). Zacharias and Elizabeth were described as righteous before God, which affirms that they had been transformed by God's grace prior to their belief. The new birth grants spiritual understanding and inclines the heart towards God, making faith not just possible, but a natural response to God's regenerative work.
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