God." (John 3:3 ESV). Regeneration is not an option. It's essential for salvation and it's also essential for our continued spiritual growth.Robert S. McGee gives this definition: "Regeneration is the renewing work of the Holy Spirit that literally makes each believer a new person at the moment trust is placed in Christ as Savior."
In the previous post I mentioned that Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit. One aspect of regeneration involves the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (the third Person of the Trinity) in the physical body of the believer. Another aspect is the instant inner transformation of the human spirit by the Holy Spirit. The prophet Ezekiel foretold the new birth: "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." (Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV).
So, at conversion, the Holy Spirit enters our body, removes our old, spiritually dead stony heart and replaces it with a heart of flesh. In this passage, I think the word flesh is used not as a description of the physical heart muscle, but as a metaphor for a new spiritual heart that is supple and alive to God. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here."
The new birth has wonderful implications for who we are now in Christ. First, as mentioned in the previous post, God the Holy Spirit lives inside of us. Because we are imputed with the very righteousness of Christ, sin no longer forms a barrier between us and God. He completely accepts us, forgives us and is pleased to dwell in our hearts. God isn't ashamed of us, therefore we shouldn't be ashamed of ourselves. He lives inside of each Christian, despite the fact our physical bodies and brains are tainted by sin. So, the new birth forms a direct link to our relationship with God. How much more direct can it be when He dwells inside you?
Another now implication involves our new heart. My true identity is the new creation, which is my transformed spirit (small s as distinguished from the large S Holy Spirit) inside me. My theological belief is that my transformed spirit (or heart) is perfect and complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:9-10). When I say this, I'm not referring to my mind and thoughts inside my physical brain. My physical mind is still unrenewed and tainted by sin. There is debate among Christian scholars about whether humans are bipartite (body and soul) or tripartite (body, soul and spirit). John Calvin sided with bipartite and Martin Luther with tripartite. I tend to lean towards the tripartite position, but I don't think it's an important debate.
So, as a tripartite advocate, I believe my soul is different from my spirit. I view the soul as being the mind, will, passions, emotions, psyche -- basically everything that goes on in our physical brain and nervous system. The soul is tainted by sin, even though the spirit is regenerated, perfect and complete. Now, it's not as if my body and soul are independent from my spirit. The three are meant to work together as a unit. Of course, this side of paradise, the unity ain't perfect. In fact, they are at war with each other. Read Romans 7. When we get to heaven and receive our spotless resurrected bodies and minds, then the three parts will work in perfect unity.
The good news for the Christian now is that the sinful flesh (soul) received a mortal wound at conversion. I heard one pastor describe it as a chicken with its head cut off. When you lop of the poor chicken's head, you've definitely killed it, but its body continues to run around for awhile. Likewise, our sinful flesh seems to be alive and kicking, but it's actually in death throes. This is why, in Romans, we are told to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. Unfortunately, the death throes of the sinful flesh will continue until our actual physical body kicks the bucket.
What about the process of spiritual growth? A significant aspect of growth pertains to the process of the soul (sinful flesh) conforming to the regenerated spirit. Here's a key verse: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2 ESV). So, one aspect of spiritual growth has to do with how our fallen mind and soul undergo renewal. This is done by the Holy Spirit, but we definitely have a part in the process. One obvious thing we need to do is read the Bible, so that the truth of God's Word will renew our minds and correct the false beliefs that exist in our brains. The Holy Spirit will take the Word and wash our souls with it. But we need to take the initiative and read or listen to Scripture.
I'll just throw in one final tip on growth that has definitely helped me. It's based on 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." I've overcome habitual sin, not based on blood-and-guts resisting -- but, rather, on confessing my weakness to God. In prayer, I confess to God that I'm unable to resist sin on my own power. Then, as a prayer, I quote 2 Corinthians 12:9, thanking Him that His power is made perfect in my weakness. By doing this, I have experienced specific victory over sin. It's God, not me, doing the work. But I needed to confess my weakness and ask Him for help. I continue to pray this when temptations cross my path. Of course, it's also wise to take another path, if possible, when you see a temptation ahead of you on your current path. That way you can simply avoid the temptation. Just a suggestion.
Over the course of these posts, I've briefly described propitiation, justification, reconciliation and regeneration. They are four key results of the Gospel that occur at conversion, and continue to form our identity in Christ throughout our lives. During my quiet times, I always thank God for these four truths in my life. When I'm grounded in these truths, it really helps me keep my focus on how much God loves me (propitiation), is pleased with me (justification), accepts me as I am (reconciliation) and can change me (regeneration). My brief summary is just a teaser. For a detailed study, read The Search for Significance, by Robert S. McGee. I've read a lot of Christian non-fiction and self-help books and that one tops my list.
I still haven't exhausted this topic of spiritual growth. I'm sure, like me, you're wanting lots of how to's on growth. Again, that's not precisely what these posts are concerned with. I'm trying to put spiritual growth in perspective within the grand scheme of the Christian faith.
This post will be the end of this series...perhaps. But really, spiritual growth is always part of the Christian life and thinking. So it will continue to show up in this blog.
If you really want the nitty gritty on the how to's of spiritual growth, I again recommend a great 10-hour audio series by Dr. John Coe called Spiritual Formation. It is free and you can find it in the Biblical Training website: www.biblicaltraining.org. I like John Coe because he first lays the foundation of our identity in Christ, then finishes with actual things things we can do that will allow the Holy Spirit to form Christ in us.
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