William Hoste lays out 5 important facts about new birth: 1. God is its Author. It cannot be worked up; it must come down. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…Of His own will He brought us forth [birthed us] by the word of truth” (Jas 1:17-18). 2. The Holy Spirit is its Agent. “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit’” (Jn 3:5-6). 3. The Word is its Instrument. “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Pet 1:23). 4. The Lord Jesus is the Life provided. “This is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (1 Jn 5:11). 5. Faith is the Means of receiving it. “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (Jn 1:12). Faith just takes God at His word.