God's Spirit works to bring the gift of new birth and renewal to those who have been called to faith.
The Holy Spirit's work is promised
Ezekiel 36:26–27 See also Ezekiel 37:14
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
Jesus Christ proclaims the Holy Spirit's work
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit's work brings salvation
Titus 3:5–6 “washing” (apparently a reference to baptism) signifies regeneration. See also Ephesians 5:25–27
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Regeneration is a creative work of God's Spirit alone
It cannot be achieved by human means
John 6:63 See also John 1:13, John 3:6
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
It cannot be achieved through the works of the law
2 Corinthians 3:6 See also Romans 2:29, Romans 7:6, Romans 8:2; Galatians 3:2
And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.