Text: Titus 3:5
Introduction:
This word is found only in Matt. 19:28 and Titus 3:5. The literal meaning is "new birth." In Matthew 19:28 the word is equivalent to the "restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21). In (Ti 3:5 ) it denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life (1Jo 3:14) becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (2Co 5:17) being born again (Joh 3:5) a renewal of the mind (Ro 12:2) a resurrection from the dead (Eph 2:6) a being quickened (Eph 2:1,5)  (Easton Bible Dic.)
     A. One who is born into this world spiritually dead must be born a second time, of a new Father, into a new family.
         1. This is the only way to obtain eternal life and become a child of God.
     B. Human beings apart from Adam and Eve came into this world only one way, by a process of birth.
         1. This is the result of conception where parents gave to the child the nature and life, which they themselves possessed.
         2. If we are to be born into God’s family, it must be through the new birth, of a new Father who can give us a new
             nature, so that we may be called sons or children of God.
     C. The doctrine of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man is not true.
         1. One is either a child of God or the Devil. John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye
             will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he
             speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."  I John 5: 19 "And we know that we
             are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness."
I. WHAT REGENERATION IS NOT.
     A. Regeneration or the new birth is not religion, Nicodemus was a religious man but he was lost John 3:1.
         1. Religion is what we do and regeneration is what God does for us ~ He regenerates us by His Spirit, "by the washing
             of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."
     B. Baptism is not regeneration or the new birth.
         1. Baptism is very essential to Christian duty.
         2. It is the first command enjoined upon the believer but it is no part of the new birth.
     C. The Lord’s Supper is not the new birth.
         1. The observance of it does not help to procure the new birth or keep one saved after he is saved.
     D. Good works will never gain entrance into heaven for the lost sinner.
         1. Good works are essential to an obedient Christian life, but all the good works one can do will not help him to be
             saved.
II. BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL STATE OF SIN AND DEPRAVITY IN MAN IT IS NECSESSARY THAT HE BE CONVICTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SENSE AND FEEL HIS PERSONAL GUILT AND DEFILEMENT OF SIN BEFORE HE CAN BE REGENERATED OR BORN AGAIN. John 6:44
     A. Repentance and faith are absolutely required on man's part in order to be born again or regenerated.
     B. The conviction of the Holy Spirit, which prepares man for repentance and faith, is God's part in bringing man to
         regeneration. Prov. 1:23-33; Rom. 2:4; Acts 2:37
III. REPENTANCE MUST PRECEDE REGENERATION OR THE NEW BIRTH.
     A. Genuine repentance is a broken heart of a sin-laden sinner crying to God for pardon and mercy.   Isa. 55:6-7
     B. Three elements in repentance, which includes the entire personality. Joel 2:12-13
          1. The Intellectual element or Mind.
              a. One must recognize that he has sinned against God and is under the just judgment of God.
          2. The Emotional element or Godly Sorrow. II Cor. 7:9-10
              a. The Holy Spirit causes the guilty sinner to feel very deeply that his eventual doom can be blamed on no one but
                  himself.
          3. The Spiritual element or the act of the Will.
              a. A voluntary change of purpose, a turning from self and sin, to seek pardon and accept Christ.
IV. FAITH AND REGENERATION. Eph. 2:8-9
     A. "Faith" is an indefinable spiritual gift from God, by which man is enabled, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, to
          exercise a voluntary choice of trust in Christ as his personal Savior.
          1. There can be no genuine repentance without faith.
          2. There can be no genuine, trusting faith without repentance.
     B. In their time element order, as given in the Scriptures, repentance always precedes faith.
          1. But in their relationship to regeneration, both are said to be "unto life" or regeneration. Acts 3:19; 11:18; 20:21; John
              5:24;
     C. Without faith or belief in Christ men die in their sins, John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins:
          for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
          1. We are saved by faith in Christ. Eph. 2:8
          2. We are justified by faith in Christ. Rom. 5:1; Acts 13:39 "And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, 
              from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."
          3. Our hearts are purified by faith in Christ. Acts 15:9 "And put no difference between us and them, purifying their
              hearts by faith.
          4. We "are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal.3: 26
Conclusion: The act of regeneration is that man's spirit is born or begotton of God's Spirit unto eternal life. I John 5:1 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:" John 3:6
     A. The regenerated one is dead to sin, Rom. 6:6-11; Col. 3:3.
     B. The believer’s spirit is made to partake of the divine nature, John 3:6; II Pet. 1:4; I John 3:9.
     C. Regeneration signifies the remission of sins, Luke 1:77; Acts 10:43; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 4:32.
     D. Regeneration signifies the imputation of the righteousness of Christ, Rom. 4:6, 11, 22-24.