God In Us: The Holy Spirit and Salvation Part 1

People are dead in their sins and trespasses. 

Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

People must be born again to enter God’s kingdom.

John 3:7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.

People must be made alive by God.

Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) 

People must receive salvation by grace through faith.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 

The work of the Holy Spirit in our salvation includes effectual calling, conversion, regeneration, baptism, justification, union with Christ and the Spirit, and adoption. 

The Holy Spirit effectually calls people out of sin.

Effectual calling is the effective work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life convicting them of their sin and convincing them of the truth of the Gospel.

He convicts us of our sin and need of a Savior. 

John 16:8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

He convinces us of the truth of the Gospel.

John 16:13“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

The Holy Spirit effectually converts lost sinners to saved believers.

Conversion is a person turning away from sin and to God in repentance, and believing in Jesus Christ for salvation. It consists of a negative and a positive element: repentance and faith.  Conversion is considered the human response to God’s grace. 

Jesus preached a message of repentance and continuously promise that those who believe on Him would have eternal life.

The Holy Spirit miraculously regenerates dead sinners transforming to spiritual life.

Regeneration is the miraculous transformation of the individual and implantation of spiritual energy by God.  Being born-again is in view in the concept of regeneration.

He regenerates.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 

John 3:3-8  Jesus answered and said to 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? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into 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 be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The new birth is new.

The new birth counteracts the effects of sin.

The new birth is instantaneous.

The new birth is supernatural.

The new birth is not an end in itself.

The Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into the body of Christ.

1 Cor. 12:13 For ^aby one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 

Objective aspects of our salvation:

The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are in union with all believers.

Union with Christ

Believers are in Christ and Christ is in them.

2 Corinthians 5:17 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. . .

Colossians 1:27 Christ in you, the hope of glory. . .

John 15:4-5 I am the vine and you are the branches.  He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Union with the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit indwells.

John 14:17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

The Holy Spirit participates in the justification of all believers.

Judicial act of God declaring believers in union with Christ as righteous.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

 1 Cor. 6:11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

The Holy Spirit testifies of the adoption of all believers as children of God.

Adoption is the transfer of status from alienation and hostility to one of acceptance, love, and favor.

The benefits of adoption are forgiveness, reconciliation, liberty, care, discipline, and goodwill.

Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.

Romans 8:14-16 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God , these are sons of God. 14 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out , “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.

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