WOW! Just read most of all that was posted today.
I will only add a few things.
The new birth again the topic of John 3:1-8 is a birth by the Spirit of the Living God, that enables a person to see, hear and believe.
Except a man be born again by the Spirit of God, he cannot see the kingdom of God, or, another way of saying he cannot understand the truths that are taught and performed within this holy spiritual kingdom.
So, the new birth must proceed any spiritual activity that is from God. This is the very purpose of this recorded discourse, if we missed this truth we are missing the true purpose of the discourse given to us.
A truth taught with this discourse is that the flesh profiteth nothing~flesh is flesh, that is, sinful, at enmity against God, it is not subject unto God, neither indeed can be, impossible. A person must be born again, and we should not marvel at this truth, since man in his natural condition cannot believe, repent, believe until he is born again.
Another truth taught in this discourse, is the new birth is a birth that man has no active part in, he is totally passive, just as much so as we were in our natural birth, I do not remember that birth as a matter of fact very little until much older, not much different in our spiritual birth by God. I explained much of this above already.
It is impossible to pinpoint when we were born of God, maybe close, maybe not. The Spirit of God came and went unnoticed~one may get close to the time, or season, but not too close. Consider John 1:13 and tell me if you think a person knew exactly when he happen~impossible. Neither a man will is involved or the will of another man, totally of God~God knows, man does not know. I can get close to the season when I was, but impossible to give the precise time. I can give the precise time when I experience a commitment, but that was a conversion experience not a regeneration experience ~two different subject altogether, even though many make them one and the same.
I'll come aback and finish John 3