3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 and again - having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 1 Peter 1:23 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 A person is not born again with hearing the Gospel message. A person must call on the Name of the Lord Jesus in order to be saved. Jesus said - I am the way and the truth and the life, mo one comes to the Father except by Me. For all have sinned and come short... 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8-9 JLB
Being born again is not something we do; but what God does in all of His election of grace (Romans 11:5). That is what is meant by God giving them a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26); a new man!
Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Isaiah 43:6-7 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Before God saves a person it is impossible that they will call on Him and seek Him in a way that is pleasing to God.
Romans 3:11-12 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Isaiah 64:6-7 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
The OTHER GOSPEL spoken of in Galatians 1:8-9 pertains to the gospel of works, that all of man's religions preach; that maintains that man, of Himself, can do something to get himself saved. The Gospel Paul preached was the Gospel of Grace by Divine Election (Ephesians 1:3-11); not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
TGBTG!
God has done all He is going to do.
Now it is up to us individually to either accept or reject the gift He has given us in His Son.
18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. Romans 5:18
The free gift is available to all men. It is up to man to accept this gift by obeying the terms -
6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8
in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Man's free will is what caused sin to enter the world and spread to all mankind.
Man's free will is what has caused the cure for this sin.
It is therefore a mans freewill whether to accept or reject this gift from God.
The only way to be born again is for a man to believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If there were some other way, then why would Jesus have to suffer a gruesome death?
He is the Only Way!
JLB