Last time we began to look at the characteristics of The Holy Spirit in Regeneration.
We saw that 1. The free action of the Holy Spirit is vividly portrayed in the Bible, and 2. The Spirit is irresistible in Regeneration.
This brings us to;
3. The Spirit's work in Regeneration is incomprehensible.
God's mysterious dealings with men are never without reason, but, the reason is known only, to
Himself.
As there is both a mystery, and a manifestation, in The Incarnation, so, there is, also, mystery and
manifestation in Regeneration-I Timothy 3;16; Colossians 1;27--[Turn].
The word ''mystery'' signifies something hidden.
Even though, The Incarnation has been manifested, it is still a mystery, because it can never be
fully comprehended.
Grace is manifested in Regeneration, but, The New Birth, itself, remains a mystery.
That we live, we know, but how we live, we cannot describe.
Thus, the mighty gale, which blows from Heaven, wafts its way into the souls of the elect, performing a work, that is manifested only, by conversion and sanctification.
God has chosen, to reveal all things to men--
Deuteronomy 29;29--[Turn].
4. The Spirit's work in The New Birth is invisible.
The first movement of The Spirit in Redemption's Application is unseen.
It is the secret, creative, and immediate work of God, in the soul, and therefore, not subject to
the consciousness of man.
Though the impartation of life, in the soul of the elect, be momentous, yet man has no immediate
evidence of it.
Man is so accustomed to associate great events in History with outward display, that it's
difficult for him to be divested of the idea that external significance is inseparable from real importance.
In the Spiritual Realm, things of real and lasting importance, do not appear before men with great display of outward show.
The conception, birth, and early life of Christ manifests this fact.
Thus, it is, with everyone born of the Spirit. The mysterious agent of the Holy Spirit in
Regeneration is unseen to man.
5. The 3rd Person of the Godhead is absolutely essential, for man's survival on earth.
There is no place, Where God is not.
As God cannot be measured by time, so He cannot be limited by space.
As no place can be without God, so no place can compass and contain Him.
Psalm 139;7-8; Jeremiah 23;24--[Turn].
Every man is dependent on God for his existence--Acts 17;28-[Turn].
The natural life, which men live, is from God.
The beginning, maintaining, and continuing of life depend on God's power and providence.
6. The Holy Spirit has life-giving properties.
Regeneration is the communication of life by the operation of the Spirit.
This act of the Spirit in the soul, makes man, a fit subject for the effectual call and conversion.
Life and Death are opposites, and there is no third stage between them.
The immediate agency of the Holy Spirit is the efficient cause of Regeneration--Ephesians 2;1;
2 Corinthians 4;6--[Turn].
7. The Holy Spirit works without means in Regeneration, and with means in Conversion.
Prepratory Grace must not be interpreted as a means, to prepare sinners for the impartation
of life.
Nothing prepares for such a quickening.
You see, life comes entirely, from the work of God.
God by providence, disposes life and arranges its course, until the time of Regeneration, called in
Ezekiel 16, ''the time of love.''
Now, as the child of Ezekiel 16, was preserved, until God spoke life into his soul, so, the person
whom God gave to Christ, will be physically preserved until the day of Regeneration.
Prepratory Grace contributes nothing to the origin of life, which comes by the Spirit's immediate work.
God's giving of life to the spiritually dead, is distinct from His truth, just as sight is, from light.
Since Quickening is an immediate and creative act, no instrumental and secondary causes are connected with it.
Scripture is effective only, in those who are renewed--I Corinthians 2;12-14-[Turn].
But Scripture cannot produce life.
A saved man sees, because he is born of the Spirit--John 3;3--[Turn].
Once sight is given, the individual is guided by the Holy Spirit through The Word, to conversion.
The influence of the Holy Spirit is necessary to receive the Truth properly--John 6;64-65;
I Corinthians 2;12-15; Ephesians 1;17, 20; Acts 16;14--[Turn].
God's selection and Christ's blood can't save apart from the application of redemption by the
Holy Spirit.
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