HOW IS THE HOLY SPIRIT INVOLVED IN A PERSON’S SALVATION?

Answer 13: Regeneration—enables a fallen, self-centred person to turn to God

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…” (Ephesians 2:1). What an amazing passage of the Bible. These 9 words sum up our state before becoming children of God so perfectly. Before becoming a Christian we were all dead weren’t we? The thing about being dead is, well, you are dead. There is nothing anyone can do about not being dead. Dead is dead.

What did God do while we were dead? “…but God being rich in mercy…when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” (v5) He made us alive. There is literally nothing we can do or could have done to make us alive, but he did it for us.

What an amazingly comforting thought. There is nothing we can do to contribute to our salvation. A dead person cannot help anyone, let alone themselves. We have to rely 100% on God. And there is no better place to put our trust.

And it’s also an awesome thought when you are thinking about those around you. When you are struggling to know how to convince your friends or relatives that God is the only answer. When nothing you do or say seems to convince them that following Jesus is the only way to live. The thing is, we cant rely on pretty words or smart arguments can we? It doesn’t matter how much you talk to or show a corpse what to do, they are not going to be convinced! They are dead!

Instead we have to 100% rely on the Holy Spirit to do his work in their lives. It is only through the miraculous regeneration of the Holy Spirit that that dead person can come to life and be “alive together with Christ.” (v5) Isn’t this truth amazing! It takes all the pressure off you to say the right thing. Because it’s not about you or what you say or do, it’s about the Holy Spirit.

What do you need to do then? Pray! When you family is ignoring you, or even shunning you. When you are tearing your hair out, not knowing what to say, hand it over to God and ask him to send the Holy Spirit into the situation. Rely on his guidance on what to say, what to do and when to say and do it. And then speak with the confidence that it is the Holy Spirit working through you that will work his saving grace in their lives