THE HOLY SPIRIT, applying the saving grace of Jesus, works in us in four ways to bring us into "new life in Jesus".
First work of the Holy Spirit -- bringing us to repentance.
We see our evil condition before God. We are conscious of sin's grip on our minds, desires and feelings. We are aware of evil committed over the years. We realise that in God's eyes, there is nothing good in us. We are guilty of enmity against Him. We become full of shame, unable to rid ourselves of sin's guilt and power.
We cry to God for mercy, confessing both our sinful nature and our many sins to Him.
We feel a hatred of sin and a determination to turn from it.
This is the Holy Spirit's first work in our lives. It is "repentance toward God" or a sorrow over sin and a heart-cry for forgiveness. As we repent, God begins to save us and change us.
Second work of the Holy Spirit -- bringing us to saving faith and new birth.
The Holy Spirit now turns us towards Jesus our Saviour. We know that Jesus is God become man. He shows God to us! He takes our place in judgment. We "see" Jesus suffering and dying for us.
We realise that He, and only He, is our Saviour. He has "redeemed" us and cancelled our sin. God the Judge has accepted Jesus as the "substitute", the One condemned in our place, who pays the penalty for our sin.
When we "see", we believe! We call on Jesus to save us. We have a sense of being forgiven and accepted by God. We are "justified by faith" meaning that God, because of Jesus, declares us "Not Guilty", crediting the perfect obedience of Jesus to us!
We are "born again"; "born of the Spirit".
We become spiritually alive! We receive eternal life.
We are "adopted" by the Spirit into God's family. We become His children.
We confirm that we are saved by witnessing aloud that Jesus is our Saviour and Lord.
This is the Holy Spirit's second work in our lives. It is "saving faith", "new birth", "becoming God's child" or "receiving the gift of eternal life".
Third work of the Holy Spirit -- baptism in water, the burial with Jesus Christ of our old nature.
The Holy Spirit now makes us aware that, like Jesus Himself, we need to be baptised by immersion in water.
Unlike Him, our "old nature" needs "burial".
As a "disciple", "trainee" or "follower" of Jesus, we must be "baptised into the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit".
And so we are baptised into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We invoke His name and are carried under the water. Sin-power is removed from our conscience.
Our sins are "washed away".
We rise to a new life.
God assures us in baptism that our old nature is dead.
We believe it! And we then "account" ourselves as "dead to sin and alive to God".
This is the third work of the Holy Spirit. It is so closely associated with the fourth work that the two together form our "one baptism". They are two essential parts of our complete baptism, bringing us to a real "belonging" to Jesus Christ.
Fourth work of the Holy Spirit -- Jesus causes the Holy Spirit to baptise us with life and power and to join us with His 'body' or family.
Jesus now joins us to His resurrection.
He baptises us with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
God the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
The Holy Spirit comes as "living waters" bubbling up within us and flowing from us.
We are "anointed with power" and made holy.
The Holy Spirit came to the first Christians powerfully.
They "spoke in new tongues". They appeared intoxicated.
Today, as in Biblical times, people "fall under the power".
Holy Spirit baptism can come before water baptism or after or at the same time.
Speaking in tongues accompanies Holy Spirit baptism. Sometimes there is laying on of hands.
The Holy Spirit brings a sense of holiness, love and power, often with tingling, shaking, laughter, joy and praise.
Holy Spirit baptism makes us a church family. It causes the body-brotherhood of Jesus to be formed and to increase.
It makes us a people of one heart and soul.
All of us need the four works of the Holy Spirit. Through them we begin!
New life in Jesus
