"Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace" (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, Article IV. A).
New birth is synonymous with a new heart changed by the grace of God in Christ. It is a creative act of the Spirit of the living God. It is often referred to as being born from above. To be born from below is to be born on earth of the flesh. To be born from above is to be born of the Spirit who comes from a above. This new birth is absolutely essential to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus said, "You must be born again" (John 3:7).
The new birth is a change of heart wrought only by the Holy Spirit. It is a work of God's grace accomplished only by the Spirit of the living God. Millard Erickson wrote: "New birth is a supernatural occurrence. It is not something which can be accomplished by human effort. Jesus made this clear in John 3:6. 'That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' It is also important to bear in mind that regeneration is especially the work of the Holy Spirit" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing, 2001) 312.
The Holy Spirit prepares man to receive the change of heart in new birth through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). The Spirit of God makes us aware of the sin in not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Man is enabled to respond to this conviction through repentance toward God, a change of mind involving a godly sorrow about sin, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith, as well as the change of heart, take place at the same time (John 1:12-13). Charles Ryrie affirms this truth, saying: "Of course, there can be no chronological order; both regeneration and faith have to occur at the same moment" (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1986) 376.
In both the Old and New Testaments man is saved by God changing hearts. In the Old Testament God says: "And I will give them a new heart to know me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God; so they shall return unto me with their whole heart" (Jeremiah 24:7). God changes our hearts.
