If Barns actually wrote that in the context you are suggesting then Barns is all wet. Keep in mind that just because Barns says something does not mean it to be so. Jesus was born once, died once and was resurrected once. His birth was not His death, His His death was not His resurrection , and His resurrection was not a second birth.
If we had this discussion concerning 1 Cor. 15:20 concerning the resurrection as the first fruit of them that slept (those that had died), would you have had problem with we also being fruit from the dead at out resurrection? Is this not how firstfruits is used, as a harvest term? Well the same Holy Spirit that inspired firstfruits inspired firstborn/begotten depending on the translation used.
Resurrection is spoken of as a birth many times in both the Old and New. Concerning the post to Amy. He did not have the Holy Spirit to give. That was the promise given to Abraham and his one seed Christ. The Holy Spirit of promise which Christ would receive from the Father to bless the nations with.
Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Should be through the faith. If you read chapter 2 and 3 and Romans in KJV it would be through the faith of Christ.In Acts 2:32,33 it is stated that Jesus received the Holy Spirit from the Father (probably on the morrow after the resurrection) then beginning the on the day of firstfruits he began to shed forth it on the called out ones by measure.
Was his resurrection a regeneration? I know you do not think so. But he is to have the preeminence and in this very verse includes born from the dead. Was the water baptism of Jesus a shadow of his true baptism that is death and resurrection for remission of sins and to fulfill all righteousness?
He went down into the water that is under= death shed his blood=we were washed.
He came up out of the water=resurrection to life.
The Spirit of God descended from heaven in the form of a dove and landed on him=receiving the Holy Spirit or renewing in his case of the Holy Spirit
And after his suffering a voice saying=This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Now let's compare a couple of verses and you tell me who they are about. we could include a lot of verses that we thing are about us but are about Jesus the Christ. They include words like justified, righteousness, faith and others. I'll do two if you want more say so.
We know this is about Jesus. Rev. 1:5
And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Is this next one not the very same as his true baptism shown above. Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing (washed us from our sins in his own blood) of regeneration,(the first begotten of the dead) and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (what did he do with it just like in Acts 2:33 after he received it next verse) Which he shed on us abundantly.
If you dove tail in Eph. 2:8,9 the gift is the Holy Spirit that brings eternal life
salvation through the faith of Christ.
Please do not be hasty but study this a little and let me know. If I misquoted scripture or took out of context let me know. A case in point is Titus.