Life, spiritual

The nature of spiritual life

It is new life

Acts 5:20 ESV

“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

See also Ac 11:18; 2 Pe 1:3; 1 Jn 3:14

It is true life

1 Timothy 6:19 ESV

thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

It is eternal life

Romans 5:21 ESV

so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

See also Da 12:2; Mt 19:29; Jn 6:27; 1 Jn 5:11; 1 Jn 5:20

It is abundant life

Ps 16:11; Je 17:8

See also Ps 1:3; Jn 10:10

The origins and nature of spiritual life

Spiritual life is the work of the Holy Spirit

Jn 3:6; Jn 3:8

See also Eze 36:26; Jn 3:3; Jn 3:5–7; Ro 8:11; Tt 3:5–7

Spiritual life unites believers to Jesus Christ

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

See also Ro 6:3–5; Ro 8:10; 1 Co 12:13; Col 2:13; 1 Jn 5:12

Spiritual life makes believers the children of God

John 1:12–13 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

See also Dt 30:20; Mt 6:9; Ro 8:15; Jas 1:18; 1 Jn 4:7; 1 Jn 5:1

Spiritual life brings people to know God

John 17:3 ESV

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

See also Mt 11:27

Spiritual life brings about faith

Jn 3:15; Jn 20:31

See also Jn 3:16; Jn 3:36; Jn 5:24; Jn 6:40; Jn 11:25

Keeping in step with the Spirit

A new way of life is made possible

Galatians 5:25 ESV

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

See also Ro 8:5–6; Ro 8:9–16; Ga 5:16–18; Ga 5:22–24

Bondage to the written law is ended

Romans 2:29 ESV

But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

See also Ro 7:6; Ro 8:2; 2 Co 3:6; Ga 5:17–18

Obedience to God is made possible

Romans 8:4 ESV

in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

See also Eze 36:27; Ro 8:13; Ga 5:16; 1 Th 4:7–8

Deepening unity is encouraged

Ephesians 4:3 ESV

eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

See also Col 2:13; Php 2:1–4

Strength and encouragement are received

Acts 9:31 ESV

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Gifts for those living in the Spirit

Gifts are given for building up the church

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 ESV

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

See also Ro 12:6–8; 1 Co 12:27–30

Visions are given

Ac 2:17; Joe 2:28; Re 1:10; Re 1:12–13; Re 4:2; Re 17:3; Re 21:10

Miracles are worked

Matthew 12:28 ESV

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

See also Ac 10:38; Ro 15:19; Ga 3:5

Ministry is enhanced

2 Corinthians 3:6 ESV

who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

See also 2 Co 3:7–9

Those living in the Spirit receive revelation and guidance

God is revealed as Father

Galatians 4:6 ESV

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

See also Ro 8:14–16

God’s purposes are revealed

1 Corinthians 2:9–10 ESV

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

See also Ro 15:13; 2 Co 5:2–5; Ga 5:5; Eph 1:17–18

Guidance is given to believers

Acts 8:29 ESV

And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”

See also Ac 10:19; Ac 11:12; Ac 13:2; Ac 16:6–7; Ac 20:22–23

Help is given to pray

Ro 8:26–27; Eph 6:18; Jud 20

The Holy Spirit sanctifies those in whom he lives

Through the Spirit, Jesus Christ lives in believers

Ephesians 3:16–17 ESV

that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

The Spirit transforms believers

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

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.

See also Ro 15:16; 2 Th 2:13; 1 Pe 1:2

The fruit of the Spirit is seen in believers’ lives

Ac 13:52; Ro 5:5; Ro 8:6; Ro 14:17; Ro 15:30; Ga 5:22–23; Col 1:8; 1 Th 1:6

Examples of life in the Holy Spirit

Jesus Christ

Mt 4:1; Mt 12:18; Mt 12:28; Lk 4:14; Lk 4:18; Lk 10:21; Ac 10:38

Simeon

Luke 2:25–27 ESV

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,

Peter

Ac 4:8; Ac 10:19; Ac 10:44

Stephen

Ac 6:5; Ac 6:10; Ac 7:55

The first Christians

Ac 4:31; Ac 6:3–5; Ac 11:24; Ac 11:27–29; Ac 13:1–3; Ac 15:28