No one can schedule his own regeneration. No external ritual can allow a person to be born again. Regeneration is a sovereign and supernatural work of God the Holy Spirit, through the instrumentality of God’s Word. According to our Lord’s declaration, this new birth that we receive in the Spirit is something that happens outside the realm of human will, knowledge and power. Thus says the Lord in John 3:8, “The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” We cannot predict when and where the wind is going to blow any more than we can affirm with certainty when someone can be born of the Spirit. In the same way God alone controls the wind, He is also sovereign over our regeneration. According to God’s own schedule, the Holy Spirit circumcises our hearts and gives us a new nature; He gives us a new birth and a new life through our faith in his Son Jesus Christ.

Regeneration is a supernatural work accomplished exclusively by the Holy Spirit, according to God’s own schedule and sovereign will, in every repentant sinner who believes the Word of God. It is the circumcision of the heart of the repentant sinner who has put his faith in Christ. However, we should keep in mind that every repentant sinner who responds with faith to the Word of God is initially enabled by the Holy Spirit. God Himself gives repentant sinners the faith to believe his word. So God initiates the call of those whom He foreknew and He regenerates them according to his own schedule.