How We Grow: The Role of the Holy Spirit

What do we need to know about our sanctification to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in it?

1 Cor. 6:11.

1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

It begins at our regeneration

John 3:3-8.

John 3:3–8 (ESV)

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Regeneration s wrought by the Holy Spirit

Titus 3:5.

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Notice again that the Holy Spirit is the agent of our rebirth.

It is God’s progressive work that transforms

2 Cor. 3:17-18

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 ESV

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Notice that Paul says, the Lord is the Spirit.

He goes on to make clear that our spiritual growth depends upon the activity of this same Lord.

Transformed describes a fundamental change. This word is where we get our english word metamorphosis.

Now, notice the nature of the work God does in our spiritual growth:

Passive: are being transformed is a passive verb, which means that our conformation to the image of Christ is a work of God, specifically in this context, the Holy Spirit.

Present Tense: this same verb is in the present tense so we know that our spiritual growth is ongoing, that is progressive.

When we put this all together, our spiritual growth is ultimately accomplished by the Spirit over the course of our lives, and is really His transforming us into the image of the Lord, that is, of Christ.

It contains an element of mystery

The mode of the Spirit’s operation in sanctification is encompassed with mystery. We do not know the mode of the Spirit’s indwelling nor the mode of His efficient working in the hearts and minds and wills of God’s people by which they are progressively cleansed from the defilement of sin and more and more transfigured after the image of Christ. John Murray - “Redemption Accomplished and Applied”

This is not to suggest that we are unaware of the work of the Spirit in our spiritual growth. We do not perceive it subconsciously.

But this is to say that the work of the Spirit surpasses our full comprehension. It goes beyond our analytic and introspective capacities.

Again, John Murray:

In every distinct and particular movement of the believer in the way of holiness there is an energizing activity of the Holy Spirit, and when we try to discover what the mode of that exercise of His grace and power is we realize how far we are from being able to diagnose the secret workings of the Spirit. - “Redemption Accomplished and Applied”

And this is the point in bringing up the mysterious quality of our spiritual growth. Though we can know that God is at work in us to transform us more into the image of Christ, the mode, that is, the exact process the Spirit employs to bring this about is beyond our ability to full understand. But what this mystery does make clear is that our transformation is a miracle, and it transcends anything that is limited to this world.

What is the Spirit’s aim in our sanctification?

To conform us more to the image of Christ

See 2 Cor. 3:18 again.

Both words, transformed and conformed, have a common root, form, meaning a pattern or mold. - Jerry Bridges, “Growing Your Faith”

So, being transformed refers to the process; conformed refers to the product.

Jesus is the mold. We are being transformed and conformed to His likeness.

To empower believers to contend with indwelling sin

Christians are delivered from the defilement of sin through regeneration.

John 3:6.

John 3:6 ESV

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Christians are delivered from the reign of sin

Romans 6:6.

Romans 6:6 ESV

6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

And yet Christians contend with sin. We are not yet free from the effects of sin.

Romans 7:15.

Romans 7:15 ESV

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

So, the Spirit empowers us to fight against our sin.

Rom 8:12-17.

Romans 8:12–17 ESV

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

As children of God, we are not indebted to our flesh. We live according to the Spirit, and as we do we put to death the deeds of the flesh.

We are led by the Spirit.

The opposite of a spirit of slavery is the spirit of adoption. We are part of God’s family. He is our Father. We belong to Him, and this provides us freedom.

And notice in verse 16, the Spirit confirms this with our spirit, and it is this confirmation that provides us the assurance of our salvation.

Gal 5:16.

Galatians 5:16 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

As we obey God, we will not succumb to the desires of our flesh.

But keep in mind that while our relationship with sin is changed in our salvation, the sin that indwells us is still sin. It’s not that sin itself becomes lees evil or offensive to God. This is a sobering consideration. Perhaps we hear the words of the Apostle John with a heightened sense of sobriety:

1 John 2:1 ESV

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Know that the Spirit of God is at work in you to fight against your sin.

To enable us to serve God faithfully

2 Tim 3:16-17.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Notice where Scripture came from: God. It was breathed out by God, and the doctrine of inspiration of Scripture makes clear that the Holy Spirit was the agent of its inspiration.

And the purposed of the Spirit inspired book is to equip the people of God for every good work.

What makes our work for God good is not merely doing the works. Our works are good when they are fueled by the Spirit’s ministry through the Word of God.

Acts 1:8.

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1 Thess 1:5.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 ESV

5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

What do we need to understand about our responsibility in the Spirit’s work of sanctifying us?

There is a future salvation for the saved.

There is an aspect of salvation that the saved do not yet possess.

Believers are called to engage in God’s work of spiritual growth because living this way reflect that we know this world is not our final destination and we point to our hope in Christ when we live faithfully to Him.

This is some of what Paul is getting at in 1 Thess.

1 Thess 5:8-9.

1 Thessalonians 5:8–9 ESV

8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul is contrasting believers with Unbelievers, and one significant difference is their recognition that Jesus will return and bring to fruition their salvation.

1 Peter 1:5 ESV

5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 2:2 ESV

2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

We cooperate with God as we anticipate our future salvation

We are not passive in God’s work of sanctifying us.

Murray said, God working in us is not suspended because we work, nor our working suspended because God works.

But we should not think of our cooperation as a 50/50 deal, as if God does His part and we do ours. As we noted before, our spiritual growth is all of God’s work. God works in us, transforms us and the desire for intimacy with God increases as a result. As that desire increases, we respond in obedience and faith.

Philippians 1:9–11 ESV

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Phil. 2:12-13.

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

2 Peter 1:5–8 ESV

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:1–3 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.