The Westminster Confession calls to a necessary element of
salvation: "the inward work of the Holy Spirit" (WCF 1:5).
John said that "unless one is born again he cannot see the
kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Peter said, "Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great
mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1
Peter 1:3). Later in the same chapter Peter further
clarifies, "Having purified your souls by your obedience to
the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another
earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born
again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through
the living and abiding word of God; for 'All flesh is like
grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass
withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord
remains forever.' And this word is the good news that was
preached to you" (1 Peter 1:23-25).

Peter tells us that being born again in Christ is a
necessary part -- even the foundation -- of the gospel or
good news of Jesus Christ. Regeneration is not optional. It
is a fact. All Christians are born again, and if someone is
not born again s/he is not a Christian. God has sent His
Holy Spirit through the ministry of Jesus Christ -- his
birth, death and atonement for sin. And there is no
salvation apart from the invasion of the Holy Spirit into
the life of the believer. Just as God invaded human history
through the birth of Jesus Christ, so the Holy Spirit
invades our personal lives through the regeneration of
individual believers.

The sending of the Holy Spirit is the initial or essential
gift of God's grace, for the Holy Spirit carries the
message of salvation and redemption to God's people. The
Holy Spirit brings the message of salvation to each person
individually. Through the Holy Spirit the message of
salvation is internalized -- made real in a personal way --
because the Holy Spirit resides within the hearts and minds
of Christians.

Paul wants to "impart this in words not taught by human
wisdom but taught by the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 3:13). Most
versions of the Bible use the word speak rather than
impart. The Greek literally means to utter speech. It is
important to note that the gospel is shared through words
transferred from one person to another, sometimes spoken,
sometimes written. This impartation of the Holy Spirit is
not magical, but is a function of ordinary speaking and
writing. No candles in a darkened room, no special
charismatic languages, no mumbo jumbo, no special touch
from the master. Just words. Paul's letters provide the
example of how it happens.

Paul was converted (born again) on the road to Damascus. He
was taught about Jesus Christ by the Spirit, not by men
(Galatians 1:1). Paul's conversion changed his heart and
mind, and he spent the rest of his life talking about
Jesus. His talk consisted of preaching, writing letters and
individual counseling or conversations.

Paul tells us that his recommended method of teaching is to
compare spiritual things to spiritual things. In other
words, worldly things are inadequate to explain spiritual
things. Another way to say it is that the truth of
Scripture is self-evident to the born again. Or Scripture
teaches Scripture. Or analogous things in the world always
fall short of biblical truth. The illustration of biblical
truths with nonbiblical, worldly stories always falls short.

Would you go to a natural man to learn spiritual truth? Of
course not. Would you go to a non-Christian to learn about
Christianity? Of course not. And why not? As Paul said,
"the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit
of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1
Corinthians 3:14). Show me someone who thinks that
Christianity is foolish, and I'll show you a worldly
person. The reason that they think Christianity is foolish
is that they cannot perceive the reality of God.