The Holy Spirit in Conversion: Part 4

Memory Passage
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:3-4

Scripture Reading: John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-5
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved.

Insights
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.' (John 6:63) When Martin Luther was debating whether fallen man is utterly dependent upon the Holy Spirit for regeneration, he cited this text and added: "The flesh profits nothing. And that 'nothing' is not a 'little something.'" The flesh is not merely weak with respect to the power of rebirth. It is utterly impotent. It has no power whatever to effect rebirth. It cannot aid or enhance the Spirit's work. All that the flesh yields is more flesh. It cannot yield an ounce of Spirit. The nothing is not a little something. Finally Jesus says, 'You must be born again.' If there is the slightest ambiguity with the use of the conditional word unless, the ambiguity completely evaporates with the word must." -R. C. Sproul, The New Genesis

Consider this!
A most profound thought is that Regeneration precedes Faith. We as spiritually dead people have nothing within ourselves that would generate interest in spiritual matters, let alone have the ability to give ourselves spiritual rebirth. We are drawn to God by the Holy Spirit, and even the faith we have to believe is given by God through the work of the Spirit! Once we have experienced regeneration, we then live with the same dependency on the Spirit that we relied on for salvation. The Spirit is always active in our lives, and the more we acknowledge His presence and recognize His leading, the closer our relationship will be with God.

Personal Reflection

1. Have you ever falsely attributed your salvation to some small effort you made toward God? If so, how?
2. While we acknowledge the work of the Spirit within us, what are some of the things you can do because the Spirit is alive in you and has made you spiritually alive?

Prayer
Lord God, I want to worship you this day for you have done wondrous things for me. You have given me spiritual life in Christ. I have been born again! Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Triune God, who has freely given me my salvation in Christ. My heart is full of gratitude and love for you, Almighty God. Amen
 

Next: The Filling of the Holy Spirit: Part 1