We are "born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, _but of God"_ (John 1:13). It was of His own
will he begat us (Jas. 1:18): Our regeneration is a creative act
on the part of God, not a reforming process on the part of man. It
is not brought about by natural descent, for all we get from that
is "flesh." It is not by natural choice, for the human will is
impotent. Nor is it by self-effort, or any human generative principle.
Nor is it by the blood of any ceremonial sacrifices. It is not by
pedigree or natural generation. It is altogether and absolutely
the work of God. Practically speaking, we have no more to do with
our second birth, than we had to do with our first birth.
The Holy Spirit is the Divine Agent in our regeneration. For this
reason it is called the "renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tit. 3:5).
We are "born of the Spirit" (John 3:5).