The new birth is a miracle. From where does this miracle creating power come? How is one born again? Here is my answer:
The miracle creating power of the new birth explodes out of Christ’s death and resurrection and is channeled toward us by the Spirit in the preaching of the gospel of Christ.
Both answers are seen in 1 Peter. First, the explosion:
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)
Second, the channeling of that power to us by the Spirit in the preached word:
[Y]ou have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God… And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:23, 25)
In other words we are born again by the gospel accomplished (the explosion) and the gospel applied (the explosion being channeled to us).
No Other Boast 