Part of the Spirit's work is to regenerate believers. New life comes through faith, repentance and the work of the Spirit. Something essentially different has come to be by the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. Tabernacle Baptist Church, Ithaca NY Theology of the Spirit

2. Introduction
• Is there a genuine difference?
“When those outside the church see
no difference in our lives they begin to
question our integrity, our sanity,
or even worse, our God.”
– Francis Chan

3. “Regeneration is the miraculous
transformation of the individual and
implantation of spiritual energy.”
–MJ Erickson

4. Introduction
• Two key clarifications:
– The Spirit is the AGENT of regeneration, not man.
– Salvation, by grace through faith, is the MEANS
of regeneration, not the sacraments.

5. NATURE
•Deity
•Personal
WORKS

6. Work of the Spirit
• The Spirit invites sinners to enter into a
personal relationship with God.
– The term “seekers” is an appropriate Biblical
expression (1 Chr 28:9; Isa 55:6; Heb 11:6)
– Their seeking is a work of God (Rom 3:11; Eph 2:1)
– The Spirit woos and draws them by wonderful,
irresistible grace (Jn 6:44, 12:32)

7. Work of the Spirit
• The Spirit convicts sinners of their sins and
convinces them of their just end. (Jn 16:8-9)
– Our sinfulness puts up an impenetrable barrier (Eph
2:12, 13, 17; Rom 3:9-20)
– We deserve to be separated forever from God (Rom
6:23; Mt 7:21-23)
– Not by works of righteousness (Gal 5:11; Titus 3:5; Eph
2:8-9) or superior intelligence (1 Cor 1:18, 2:14; 2 Cor 4:4)
– The Spirit uses His Word and His children to bring to
conviction (Rom 1:16, 10:14, 17)

8. • “if conviction comes to an individual the
Spirit must do it. … regeneration is the work
of the Spirit, but we must sometimes let
ourselves think that our clever or convincing
presentations can convict. Not so. God must
do even that.” – CC Ryrie

9. Work of the Spirit
• The Spirit calls sinners to repentance and
waits for their response of faith.
– It is a universal offer that not everyone responds
to (Lk 14:16-24; Jn 7:37; Rom 1:1; 8:28; 1 Tim 6:12; 2 Pet
1:3, 10)
– This is a choice, not a forced decision or foregone
conclusion (Acts 16:31; Jn 1:11-12)
– “Faith is not the cause of salvation. … Faith in
Christ is not a work.” RP Lightner

10. • “Conviction, then offers proof, but odes not
guarantee the truth will be accepted which is
necessary for conversion.” -- CC Ryrie

11. Four Case Studies
• The rich young Ruler
(Lk 18:18-27)
• Nicodemus
(Jn 3:1:15)
• The crowd at Pentecost
(Acts 2:22-24, 32-33, 37)
• The Ethiopian eunuch
(Acts 8:34-40)

12. • “God did not demand simply belief in the
ultimate triumph of good, or faith in the
evangelical church, or even faith in his own
existence and power. It is always faith in
God’s Son as the divine substitute for sin’s
penalty that results in God bringing life to the
spiritually dead sinner.” RP Lightner

13. Work of the Spirit
• The Spirit regenerates the believer instantly.
(Mt 19:28; Titus 3:5; Jn 3:5)
– New nature (2 Cor 5:17)
– New righteousness (Rom 6:18)
– New life (1 Jn 3:9, 4:7, 5:1)
– New destiny/destination (Phil 1:6; 1 Thes 2:12)

14. “Apart from the work of God the Spirit there
would be no application of this great salvation
to man’s needs. It is the third member of the
Godhead who procures salvation
for all who believe.”
-- Robert P Lightner

15. “Without the work of the Holy Spirit, there can
be no conversion.”
-- MJ Erickson

16. “God regenerates (John 1:13) according to His
will (James 1:18) through the Holy Spirit (John
3:5) when a person believes (1:12) the Gospel
as revealed in the Word (1 Peter 1:23).”
– Charles C Ryrie

17. NATURE
WORKS

18. Conclusions
• Is there a genuine EVIDENT difference?
“The basic change in the direction of one’s life
from an inclination toward sin to a positive
desire to live righteously is termed
regeneration, or literally, new birth.”
– MJ Erickson

19. Conclusions
• If the Spirit is …
– DRAWING you, keep seeking.
– CONVICTING you, confess your sins.
– CALLING you, repent and believe.
– REGENERATED you, live your new life.