The Life Giver

Last time we met, we discussed the Holy Spirit as the third person of the trinity. From scripture, we concluded the Trinity is a divine mystery in which no man can completely understand and attempts to use human analogies ultimately fail. We answered the question. Why does what believe about the Holy Spirit matter. It matters because the Christian life is supposed to be lived with boldness and power that comes from the Spirit indwelling us. That without the Holy Spirit we have no power to do anything but with the Holy Spirit we have been given all that we need to accomplish all that God has called us to do. In Christ we are Strong! In the Holy Spirit we have been made alive.

However, scripture tells us that we have not always been alive.

Now some may be asking the question? “What does this mean?” Are you telling me that it is possible for a person to be born breathing and yet not be alive?

I. We are alive but dead, dead in sin.

Let’s look at what scripture has to say about this very thing.

Ephesians 2:1–2 CSB

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.

Paul insist that even though you were born alive. You are born into a system o death. You are born already dead.

This idea of being born dead was not original with Paul .

Jesus Himself spoke of the same idea when talking with Nicodemus

John 3:3 CSB

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

II. We must be born again through regeneration.

The reason one must be “born again” is because at first we are born into death through the sinful nature of the Flesh.

Jesus reiterates this idea in verse 5

John 3:5 CSB

Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

The water describes the natural process of physical birth.

In comparison being born of the Spirit is a completely unnatural idea. It is an unnatural process. One that can only be enacted by the Holy Spirit.

In Theology we call this regeneration.

Regeneration:

Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Regeneration

regeneration. A biblical motif of salvation that emphasizes the rebirth or re-creation of fallen human beings by the indwelling Holy Spirit

How many of you have ever had the privileged of seeing a life being born. It could be anything. From the birth of a baby to the birth of a kitten. Its is all pretty dramatic isn’t it. I mean it’s amazing how life can go from conception to birth.

I mean it is a pretty dramatic process. One moment the baby is in the womb oblivious to the world around it. Then the very next is taking its first breath.

This is exactly what Jesus is saying the Spirit does in us. He says you must be born again. Through the goodness of God the gospel seed has been implanted and from that drawing of the Holy Spirit. It begins to grow and as a person receives the Gospel message, repents and believes . Then something beautifully dramatic takes place, rebirth.

We who were dead in our sins and trespasses, born into a system of death, are now reborn into a system of Life. And just like watching a baby being born into this world, its a beautiful miracle when a person is born again, regenerated, brought to life.

This is the work of the Holy Spirit.

titus 3:5-6

Titus 3:5–6 CSB

he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior

It is new life birthed by the Holy Spirit in you. Now notice the last verse we just read.

There are dear brothers and sisters in Christ who are confused by the timing of the Holy Spirit being poured out on us. There are some who believe that person is saved and then at a later date, The holy spirit comes. Usually in a very dramatic fashion. The person will fall down to the ground during a service(slain in the spirit) or speaking in tongues. In fact, they believe they are saved yet unable to walk in the full measure of power given by the holy Spirit until this dramatic event comes.

A few years ago, I worked at an after school program at a Church of God. They hired me to help them take a service their church provided to the community and rechange the focus into a gospel ministry. When they hired me. I told them that obviously, we would have some different beliefs surrounding the work of the Holy Spirit, but if my job was to love on some kids and share Christ with them that I could do that anywhere. So they hired me.

Well one day I went out to lunch with one of the staff members, that I had become friends with and I asked Him this question. If the sign of the holy spirit is speaking in tongues and I have never experienced that why would you all want me? He looked at me a little confused. Then asked, “what do you mean? “ I mean if I don’t have the holy spirit why would you want me working for you all?

I could see that this question gave him pause. He really didn’t know what to say because I believe the holy spirit’s power in me was evident through the ministry that I was able to do during a truly difficult time in my life.

You see Titus paints a different picture for us. We are regenerated because of the work of Christ applied to us through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling.

Now when does the scriptures say about the measure of the Holy spirit that we receive at salvation?

Does scripture say that he sprinkles it one us. Maybe an image that He gives us just enough to bring about new life?

No, Scripture tells us that he poured out His Spirit on us abundantly when we receive Christ.

There is no need for a second filling of the Holy Spirit because we get it abundantly when we have been regenerated.

How does a person know if he has been regenerated, brought to life, by the Holy Spirit?

How do you answer this question?

Over the years, especially in conservative evangelical circles, I have met many who would answer the question something like this:

When I was such and such age I prayed the sinners prayer. Something to the effect of :

Dear Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness. I believe that you died and rose again. Please save me. Amen.

While I am not against the sinners prayer as a heart felt expression of ones belief in the Gospel to God, saying a prayer is not evidence of ones regeneration. In fact, I challenge you to find saying the sinners prayer as evidence of Salvation anywhere in scripture. Why? Because anyone can say words.

So then...

Q: How does a person know if he/she is regenerate?

The answer is simple.

A: You have been made into something new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

Notice the strong wording Paul uses, “If anyone is in Christ”. This means there are no exceptions.

In Christ = New Creation/Birth

If you rely on a prayer for your salvation, but continue the same pattern of Life as you did before your profession, your salvation is suspect. Why? Because the Holy spirits indwelling brings about new birth. The Holy Spirit brings about new life. It’s what He does. He is the Life-giver. There is no such thing as a spiritually unchanged Christian.

Notice with me all of the passed tense language in the following passage.

Ephesians 2:1–5 CSB

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

If you are still living in sin without a care in the world you are unregenerate and lost. It doesn’t matter what you prayed. You’ve never been changed.

Now notice I didn’t say if you struggle with sin. We all struggle with sin, but we fight it. We don’t walk in it. Sometimes we battle successfully and sometimes we fail.

You see regeneration is different than sanctification. Sanctification is the theological word for “ God is still working on you”. It is the idea that we are being changed into the image of Christ. Sanctification is a process that all believers will continue in this side of eternity.

Look my wife and children will tell you that this preacher is still being sanctified. I am far from perfect. I mean if you want to see my need for sanctification come to the forefront, allow me to go too long between meals.

When my blood sugar gets low, is when it becomes obvious that I still need some sanctification. Anyone else in here like that. You get a little hangry?

Regeneration means that you are fighting sin and your desire is to be free from it. You want to be like Christ. You want to grow.

Regeneration has made our hearts a battle field.

J. I. Packer

If there is no conflict with sin inside of you, If there is no desire for Christ and his work then there is no regeneration in you. The Holy Spirit is absent and You are still dead in your sins and a child under God’s wrath. A prayer does not save if the heart is unchanged.

Repentance is an inescapable consequence of regeneration.

Charles Colson

Romans 6:1 CSB

What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?

Romans 6:2 CSB

Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

The Holy Spirit brings new life and those whom he indwells do not live in the same manner as the dead.

Romans 6:3–11 CSB

Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit through the free gift of salvation empowers us and regenerates us. It gives us new life, purpose, and a new heart, A heart that loves God and wants to serve Him.