Weekly Sermons

God of our salvation

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.                        -Genesis 1:1-2

“And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever…”  -Genesis 6:3a

He (the Holy Spirit) will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come.             -John 16:8

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely!”                       -Revelation 22:17  

Being religious won’t get you to Heaven!                                         V. 1-3

Jesus hadn’t come to make bad people good through religion, but to make dead people live through salvation.

Being born of the Spirit will get you to Heaven                              V. 3-8

It may help us understand these two concepts if we lay them on top of each other:

Physical birth    =       Born of water    =       Dead in sin          =       Hell-bound

Spiritual birth    =       Born of Spirit     =       Alive in Christ     =       Heaven-bound

“The Holy Spirit’s basic job is to make God’s truth come alive inside of us!”                                                -Tony Evans, One Church Under God, page 90

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”                 -John 6:44

“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.”                                                                                                        -John 12:32

Being born of the Spirit happens when we believe in Jesus                   V. 9-21

What the Spirit does for the believer at the moment of salvation – Regeneration by the Spirit; Baptism (immersion) of the Spirit; Indwelling of the Spirit, making us a temple of God; Sealing by the Spirit, guaranteeing our future inheritance.

Not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.                      -Titus 3:5

The word for regeneration is palingenesia. It means new genesis, or new beginning. It is exactly what Jesus meant by the need to be born again!  

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…and all have been made to drink into one Spirit.    -1 Cor. 12:13

You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus by the Spirit of God.  -1 Cor. 6:11

The love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.                                          -Romans 5:5

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?                                    -1 Corinthians 3:16

…Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.             -Ephesians 1:13-14 (see also 2 Cor. 1:22)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.                                                -2 Cor. 4:7

Pass Me Not O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry.

While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by.

Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry.

While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy, find a sweet relief.

Kneeling there in deep contrition, help my unbelief.

Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry.

While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by.

If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!                                                                                                                    -Luke 11:13

I do believe in you, Lord Jesus – If I have never truly been born again, born of Your Spirit, Lord, please give me the birth of the Spirit right now. I trust you alone for salvation, Jesus, and I entrust my life to you from this day forward.

Let’s Pray!