REGENERATION, NEW BIRTH

The word "regeneration" means new birth, renewal, bring new life, grow new tissue or restore. In the Bible the word is only used in Titus 3:5;

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; "

Matt 19:28.

"And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "

The passage in Titus is referring to personal new birth, an act by the Holy Spirit in the life of a person who trusts in Jesus Christ and His act on the cross. Consider the story in John 3:1ff, Jesus meets Nicodemus. The passage in Matthew showed Jesus is not talking about personal regeneration but a universal new birth, in the future there will be a new creation of the world.
The Bible teaches that "Regeneration" or "Born Again" is:-

The simply act by God to give new life to the person who trusts in Jesus as his Saviour.

That person is given the life of God and His nature. This is a real experience, a change of life. Unfortunately there are some who teach that this is only a change of the mind, psychological, it can therefore be experienced without the faith in Jesus. Those who have experienced it say it is a real experience.
Nicodemus could not understand what Jesus was telling him. John 3:4.

"Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?"

Nicodemus was thinking about physical changes, Jesus was actually speaking about a "Spiritual New Birth," John 3:5,6.

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "

Jesus told Nicodemus that he ‘Ye must be born again.’ John 3:7.

"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. "

This was not just a suggested action, it was a command, a person cannot become part of the family of God without this action, see v3. All the world was born into a world of flesh and sin, controlled by Satan, unless you are regenerated spiritually then the future is only everlasting death, separation from God. With regeneration then the Believer can look forward to everlasting life in the kingdom of God, John 3:16,17.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

For a physical birth, two parents are required, this also applies to a spiritual birth, There are also two parents involved, the Spirit of God and the Word of God, see James 1:18;

"Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures."

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

Please also note that this new spiritual birth does not involve the action of men, we cannot be reborn by our own efforts, John 1:13.

"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Born "Children of God."

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: "

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

A True Believer is a child of God, the creator of the universe, each has the nature of God within because we are born again from above. As a child of God, with His nature, then you will live, love and walk in the way which brings joy and glory to the Father God.