Now we turn to the Holy Spirit and his distinct role in the great work of redemption. While the Father planned it and the Son accomplished it, the Holy Spirit applies it. Without his work, the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice would never reach us, and we would remain unchanged by what Christ has done.
The Spirit Brings Redemption to Life
The Holy Spirit is the one who takes what Christ has done and makes it real and effective in our lives. Redemption isn’t just something that happened historically; it’s something that happens personally. The Spirit is the one who brings the work of Christ to bear on each believer’s heart and life.
Jesus himself promised this when he told his disciples about the coming of the Spirit. In John 16:13-14, he said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. … He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
The Spirit’s Work in Our Salvation
The Holy Spirit is involved in every step of our salvation. Let me walk you through the key ways he works:
The Spirit Regenerates
The first thing the Spirit does is give us new life. We are born into this world spiritually dead because of sin, but the Spirit brings us to life. This is what Jesus meant when he told Nicodemus, “You must be born again” (John 3:3). He explained further, “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Without this work of regeneration, we would remain blind to the truth of the gospel and unable to respond to God. The Spirit opens our eyes, softens our hearts, and makes us alive to God.
The Spirit Convicts
Before we can turn to Christ, we must recognize our need for him. The Spirit convicts us of our sin, showing us the depth of our guilt and the danger we face apart from God’s grace. Jesus described this in John 16:8: “When he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”
The Spirit Grants Faith and Repentance
Even our faith and repentance are gifts from the Holy Spirit. He enables us to turn away from sin and trust in Christ. Without his help, we would never be able to take these steps. As Paul writes in Philippians 1:29, “It has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”
The Spirit Justifies
The Spirit is the one who applies the work of justification to us. He unites us to Christ so that his righteousness is credited to us and our sins are forgiven. Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 6:11: “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
The Spirit Sanctifies
Salvation doesn’t stop with being forgiven. The Spirit continues to work in us, transforming us to become more like Christ. This is the ongoing process of sanctification, where the Spirit helps us to put sin to death and grow in holiness. As Paul writes in Galatians 5:16, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
The Spirit’s Role in the Church
The Spirit doesn’t just work in individuals; he also works in the community of believers, the church. He equips the church with spiritual gifts, empowers its mission, and unites believers into one body.
Paul speaks of this unity in Ephesians 4:4-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
The Spirit as the Seal and Guarantee
Finally, the Holy Spirit is given to believers as a seal and guarantee of their inheritance. This means he is the mark of God’s ownership over us and the promise that we will one day receive the full blessings of salvation.
Paul describes this in Ephesians 1:13-14: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
What This Means for Us
The Holy Spirit’s work is essential to our salvation. Without him, we would remain spiritually dead, blind to the gospel, and unable to respond to God. But because of his work, we are made alive, justified, sanctified, and assured of our eternal inheritance.
This should lead us to:
- Depend on the Spirit: We need his help every step of the way in our walk with God.
- Submit to the Spirit: As he leads us toward holiness, we should follow his guidance.
- Worship the Spirit: He is fully God, deserving of our love, gratitude, and praise.
This is the role of the Holy Spirit in redemption: bringing life, faith, and transformation to the people of God, ensuring that the work of the Father and the Son reaches its full effect in us.
A Modern English translation of Book 1, Chapter 5 of John Owen’s The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
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