Born in the Spirit for God’s Glory
Born of the Spirit for God’s glory
Jhn 3:1 Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin) among the Jews,
Jhn 3:2 who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), we know [without any doubt] that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs [these wonders, these attesting miracles] that You do unless God is with him.”
Jhn 3:3 Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above–spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”
Jhn 3:4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?”
Jhn 3:5 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot[ever] enter the kingdom of God. [Ezk 36:25-27]
Jhn 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The Holy Spirit is God in Spirit form—not a force, not a feeling, but the very presence and power of God at work in the earth and in us.
From the very beginning, the Spirit has been active. In Genesis, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters, involved in creation and divine formation. Throughout the Old Testament, we see the Spirit moving—empowering prophets, judges, kings, and craftsmen.
In the New Testament, the Spirit plays a central role in the life of Jesus. It was by the Spirit that Mary conceived, and at Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit descended on Him like a dove, confirming Him as the Messiah who baptizes with fire. The Spirit then led Him into the wilderness to be tested and proven.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit our Helper, Advocate, Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth. After His resurrection, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Paul later writes that it was the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead—resurrection power in full display.
Jesus called the Spirit the Promise of the Father, and on the Day of Pentecost, that promise was fulfilled. The Holy Spirit fell, empowering the disciples to speak in other languages—and through one Spirit-filled sermon by Peter, 3,000 souls were saved.
This same Holy Spirit is still at work today—bringing life, power, truth, and transformation to those who believe.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5
1.The New Birth is Spiritual, Not Religious
When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, he wasn’t just curious—he was hungry. A respected teacher, yet spiritually empty. Jesus didn’t offer him rules or rituals. He said plainly:
“You must be born again.”
This phrase isn’t about turning over a new leaf—it’s about receiving a new life through the Holy Spirit.
You must be cleansed (forgiven and purified), and
You must be reborn (given new life)
Both happen through the Holy Spirit’s work at salvation
The Kingdom of God
The spiritual reign and presence of God.
Only those who are spiritually reborn by the Holy Spirit can see, understand, and experience this Kingdom.
It’s about a new life, not just a new belief.
2.The Spirit Regenerates – We Are Born Again
What is Regeneration?
Regeneration means new birth—a supernatural work where the Spirit brings us from spiritual death to spiritual life.
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” – Titus 3:5
Before salvation:
- We were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1-3)
Eph 2:1 And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins,
Eph 2:2 in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God].
Eph 2:3 Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind].
- Blinded to truth (2 Corinthians 4:4)
2Co 4:3 But even if our gospel is [in some sense] hidden [behind a veil], it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing;
2Co 4:4 among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2Co 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.
2Co 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the face of Christ
At salvation:
- Breaks the grip of sin
Rom 6:6 And we know that our old being has been put to death with Christ on his cross, in order that the power of the sinful self might be destroyed, so that we should no longer be the slaves of sin.
Rom 6:7 For when we die, we are set free from the power of sin.
Rom 6:8 Since we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
- Begins a brand-new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- 2Co 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].
- Indwelt by the Holy Spirit–
- Baptized into the body of Christ-
1Co 12:12 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one [Holy] Spirit we were all baptized into one body, [spiritually transformed–united together] whether Jews or Greeks (Gentiles), slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit [since the same Holy Spirit fills each life].
- Baptized into one body”means the Holy Spirit places us into the Church, the Body of Christ—not by water, but by spiritual union.
- This happensat conversion—when you are saved, the Spirit immerses you into the life, identity, and community of Christ.
- It’s not a second experience or ceremony—it’s part of your initial salvation
This is not self-help—this is soul resurrection.
3.The Spirit Renews Us– We Are Washed and Made New
What is Renewal?
Renewal is the ongoing cleansing and refreshing of our inner man by the Spirit. It’s not just about behavior—it’s about spiritual transformation from the inside out.
- Old desires begin to fade
- New hunger for righteousness awakens
- We learn to love what God loves and hate what God hates
- The Spirit gives strength to walk in truth
Tit 3:3 For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
Tit 3:4 But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ],
Tit 3:5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Tit 3:6 whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Tit 3:7 so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee).
2Co 4:16 Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17 For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]!
This renewal is both instant and progressive. Salvation happens in a moment—but sanctification continues.
The Spirit Indwells – We Become God’s Temple
What does it mean to be indwelt by the Spirit?
When you accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you—not just visit, but dwell.
This means:
- You carry God’s presence everywhere you go
- You are never alone—He is with you and in you
- He is a constant reminder of your transforming life.
Your body and your life are now sacred territory
Rom 8:9 However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God]. [Rom 8:14]
Rom 8:10 If Christ lives in you, though your [natural] body is dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of righteousness [which He provides].
Rom 8:11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
JESUS PROMISED AN ABIDING PRESENCE
Jhn 14:15 “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.
Jhn 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor–Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever–
Jhn 14:17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive[and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.
Jhn 14:23 Jesus answered, “If anyone [really] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him.
Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth–the teachings of] Christ.
Col 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God].
- The Spirit Makes Us Spiritually Alive With Christ
This is a miracle of identity and position:
- We are now seated with Christ
Eph 2:4 But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us,
Eph 2:5 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace–His undeserved favor and mercy–you have been saved from God’s judgment). [Rom 6:1-10]
Eph 2:6 And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places,[because we are] in Christ Jesus,
- Adopted into the family of God (Romans 8:15)
- Alive to righteousness, dead to sin (Romans 6:11)
We were spiritually dead—but when we believed:
Salvation Is More Than Forgiveness—It’s Resurrection
The moment of salvation is not just a decision—it’s a supernatural rebirth by the Holy Spirit.
- He regenerates you
- He renews you
- He indwells you
- He makes you alive with Christ
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” – 2 Corinthians 5:17