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The Operation of the Holy Spirit
The 1st phase: The Spiritual Birth
In the context of biblical spiritual birth are concepts that are essential components of a believer's journey toward salvation and becoming a child of God, as follows:
Calling - Spiritual birth is a deep inner knowing that leads to awakening to one's true spiritual nature. It can manifest as a sudden realization; a sense of purpose, or guidance from a higher power. This call catalyzes personal growth and transformation, reminding us that we are all spiritual beings connected to something greater than ourselves. Answering this call opens up a deeper connection with ourselves, others, and the divine, allowing for moments of profound insight, peace, and joy.
In the Bible, spiritual birth is referred to as being "born again" or "born of the Spirit." This concept is found in the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of John, where he tells Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Spiritual birth is a transformation of the heart and soul, where a person is made new in Christ and receives the Holy Spirit. It is a process of repentance, faith, and surrender to God, leading to a new life in Christ.
Should you sense a call to awaken to undergo a spiritual birth process, please be encouraged to seek a relationship with God through prayer, reading the Bible, and connecting with a community of believers. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life, transforming you from the inside out and guiding you to a life with God. He has foreordained you to a course to accomplish, calling you beforehand, as in Ephesians 1:11 (ASV), "… having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will; "The word translated here means "predetermined" to a course, a purpose for us to follow. The calling was set before we were ever born into this earth. Now it is up to us to follow the course so that we may experience spiritual birth per the vision God had in mind for us before the creation of the world (Ephesians 2:10).
The Apostle Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course..." 2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV). Paul battled to stay on track, and he succeeded. He completed the path that God had set out. So, similarly, once you've started on the path, stick with the course and don't give up until you finish, accomplishing what God has planned for you.
Regeneration - regeneration refers to renewal from spiritual rebirth, which occurs when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior and is born again in the Spirit. This concept is based, as well, on the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament (John 3:3). Regeneration is seen as a transformative process where a person's old self is crucified with Christ. They are made new in Him (Galatians 2:20). This spiritual rebirth cannot be achieved through human effort or works. It is a gift of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Through regeneration, believers are made new creations in Christ, with their hearts and minds transformed by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). This spiritual birth marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of growth and sanctification as the believer seeks to live in obedience to God's will and reflect His love and grace to the world. It is the course or race if you will, mentioned by Paul in his 2nd letter to Timothy chapter 4 verse 7.
Overall, regeneration in the biblical sense is a profound and transformative experience that brings about a new life in Christ and a deepening relationship with God. It is God's mercy and grace and the source of hope and strength for believers as they walk in faith and obedience.
Repentance - is a key aspect of the biblical concept of spiritual birth. In the Bible, repentance is described as a turning, away from sin, toward God. It is a change of heart and mind that leads to a transformation in one's life. They are spiritually reborn.
This spiritual birth is a new beginning, a fresh start in which the individual is made new in Christ. The apostle Paul describes this transformation in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
Repentance is a necessary step in the process of spiritual birth because it acknowledges our need for a Savior and our desire to be reconciled with God. Without repentance, we cannot experience fully God's grace and forgiveness. As Jesus said in Luke 5:32, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." This is what one does while on the track threading the path, as mentioned by Paul. He uses the analogy about athletes competing for the prize in the Isthmian games; relatively, in meeting his goal for which he was called heavenward (1 Corinthians 9:26). He runs a race, and he urges his learners to also run in the same manner, to finish their race so that they may win the prize of life. In conclusion, repentance is a crucial aspect of the biblical concept of spiritual birth, whereby we experience the transformative power of God's love and grace, leading to a new birth in Christ and a life lived following His command (John 10:27).
Faith - the biblical spiritual birth, refers to the belief that through faith in Jesus Christ, individuals experience a spiritual rebirth and become new creations in Christ. This concept is based on biblical verses explaining how we can establish a connection with God, such as Ephesians 2:8, which states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith." Faith is the only way we profit from what Jesus has done for us.
Those who have faith in biblical spiritual birth, believe that the concepts mentioned so far, as in, calling, regeneration, and repentance in accepting Jesus as their savior, signify, that they got born again, thereby receiving the Holy Spirit to guide and empower them in their Christian walk (John 14:26).
The process of new birth is seen as a transformative experience that brings about a deep personal relationship with God and a new way of living per His will.
Blog: How to have a relationship with God
Overall, faith in biblical spiritual birth is a foundational step for Christians, as it emphasizes the importance of a relationship with God availing the transformative power of faith, complete trust or confidence in Jesus Christ.
Justification and Adoption- justification in spiritual birth is rooted in the belief that all humans are born into sin and separated from God. This separation is a result of the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve disobeyed God and brought sin into the world (Genesis 3). As a result, all humans are born with a sinful nature and need redemption and reconciliation with God (Romans 5:12). It is only through faith in Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit that a person is freed from his sinful nature and thus reconciled to God and receives the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:18).
Justification brings the sinner compassion and complete pardon from God through faith in Jesus Christ in entering into that relationship.
Logically, Justification comes after regeneration because only after having faith can the sinner be pardoned (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). Faith comes with an animated spiritual life; which is expressed through regeneration. Next to the sequence, comes the pardon of sin, and then justification. Having been justified, adoption follows.
Discussing adoption, we consider the time of true faith through personal relationships. Verses like Romans 8:16-17 and Galatians 4:1-7 explain how believers are adopted as sons. In many other passages in Paul's letters, he tells us that the phrase "in Christ" shows that he is connected to Christ in His death and resurrection. Thus Hebrews 2:11-15 explains that Christ, by faith, is an older brother in the flesh. The "rights and privileges" mentioned herein are as follows: heir Rom. 8:17, salvation Heb. 11:7, eternal life Titus 3:7, describes the position of God's adopted sons and daughters.
Regeneration, justification, and adoption represent three different perspectives on the moments of saving faith. Regeneration involves the transformation of a spiritually dead sinner into a spiritually alive individual; justification deals with the legal aspect of this transformation; and adoption concerns the believer's acceptance as a child of God.
These concepts work together in the spiritual birth process, leading individuals from a state of spiritual deadness and separation from God to a new life of reconciliation, transformation, and adoption into His family.
The 2nd Phase: Spiritual Growth
Sanctification, Perseverance, and Glorification
The Spiritual Birth (2nd Phase)
-Calling:
- e.g., Acts 16:31 Effective Calling –
Ineffective Calling –
-Regeneration:
-Born-againess, John 3:5-7
What is it? Verse 6 “…birth to spirit” –
Verse 7 “…again – “Anothen” (Greek), from above.
-John 3:8a, “…wherever it pleases”
The sole exclusive sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, verse 6.
-John 3:8c, “but you cannot tell…” how & when.
"Yet, the birth giver can tell”
Q. How do we know our spiritual birth?
-John 3:8b, “You hear its sound”: after the birth, we know it by its
results/signs => assurance.
-What are they?
-Repentance:
-Turnaround by 180 degrees
-Change of spiritual and mental direction of life
In 3 elements: Intellectual, Luke 5:8, John 16:8 –
Emotional, Matthew 26;75 a, b –
Volitional, Acts 4;19-20, 5:41 –
-Unrepeated Repentance, compared with Repeated, when?
-Faith:
-two levels – a. At spiritual birth, Ephesians 2:8-9 / Acts 16:31
Matthew 13:3-9, 18:23, 4 kinds of soil/faith:
Historical/Intellectual faith –
Temporary/Emotional faith –
Faith of miracles/Experiential faith –
The saving/Genuine faith –
Matthew 16:16, Romans 10:9-10
Matthew 16;17, 1 Corinthians 12;3 Cf. Matthew 7:21-23, 24f
b. At spiritual growth, 1 Corinthians 12:9, power faith, Given when?
-Justification:
-Based on (the saving/genuine) faith. Romans 3:28
-Justified by faith
=> Justified by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness through faith.
-No more guilt/responsibility of sin (original & actual) in the past, present, & future in Christ.
-The legal act/sentence of God
Q. What about the pollution of sin?
-Adoption:
-Based upon justification. Why? See Psalms 5:4, 1 Peter 1:15-16
-John 1:12-13, Romans 8:15-16, Galatians 4:6
-Now, entitled to receive eternal life & bliss of heaven as the children/heirs of God/along with Christ.
Spiritual Growth (2nd Phase)
-Hebrews 5:13-14:
-2 Peter 3:18:
-Sanctification:
-Kadash (Hebrew), Hagiazo (Greek), Meaning?
-Repentance, repeated.
-From/by the fullness of the holy spirit in a real sense
a) Co-operative, Acts 1;4-5, 8, 14.
b) Gradual/progressive by refilling, Acts 2:4, 4:31.
c) Present imperative, Ephesians 5:18, meaning?
d) Bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Galatians 5:22-23.
e) Accompanied by the manifestation of the Spirit, if he is pleased to do it, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.
f) How to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Acts 1;4-5, 8, 14.
Q. Possible to sin? 1 Thessalonians 5;19, Psalms 51:11-12,
compare with Born-againess.
Perfectionism or Imperfectionist? See Romans 3:10, 1 Corinthians 4:3-4, Galatians 2: 11-13
-Perseverance of the Saints:
-Patience in faith, Matthew 24:13.
Compare with Matthew 24:22/Philippians 1:6; Matthew 24:24/John 10:28- 29; Romans 8:30
=>God’s preservation/protection?
-Glorification:
-Completion/perfection of sanctification
-Two stages: 1st spirit (at death, physical)
2nd body (spiritualized at Christ’s 2nd coming)
Compared with Christ’s body after resurrection, 1 John 3:2.
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