The Believer’s Ongoing Battle: Mortification of Sin by the SpiritA vital aspect of the believer’s life is the ongoing mortification—putting to death—of sin. Romans 8:13 makes clear that this process hinges entirely on the work of the Holy Spirit: “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” This is not a matter of human effort alone but a divine act of mortification enabled solely by God’s Spirit.“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchmen keep watch in vain.”Ps. 127:1 John Owen, in his classic treatise The Mortification of Sin, warns that neglecting the Spirit’s power leads to inevitable failure in resisting sin. His famous exhortation—“Be killing sin, or it will be killing you”—underscores the urgency and necessity of active resistance, yet he insists that true victory is impossible without the Spirit’s sovereign enablement. Human resolve and determination prove insufficient; only the Spirit provides the strength to crucify sin, leading to holiness, spiritual growth, and life in Christ. John 15:5: “Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
The Spirit’s Deep Searching of the Heart and Inner ManThe Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in penetrating the deepest parts of the human heart—the inner man—searching and revealing what is hidden. Romans 8:27 and 1 Corinthians 2:10–11 describe the Spirit’s work as one of divine exploration, uncovering the deep things of God and exposing hidden motives within us. John Calvin explains that the Spirit’s penetrating insight brings to light God’s profound truths and aligns our desires with God’s will. Through prayer and meditation, the Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26), helping believers conform their inner life to God’s purposes. This inward searching produces divine qualities—peace, love, joy, confidence, and purpose—that transcend external circumstances and physical senses, giving believers an inward compass that guides their affections and decisions.
The New Birth: Regeneration and Divine DependenceThe experience of the new birth—regeneration—fundamentally transforms the human heart. It awakens an innate desire to seek all salvation from God, freeing believers from the temptation to rely on their own efforts, plans, or human ingenuity. Instead of trusting in self-reliance, regeneration reorients the heart toward divine dependence, fostering a craving for fellowship with God through His Word and Spirit. The believer no longer believes that personal strategies can bring lasting change or salvation; rather, they recognize that true transformation occurs by God’s sovereign grace alone.
Faith as the Creative Force of Future RealitiesFaith is the divine instrument that creates future realities by trusting in God’s covenant promises. It is more than mere mental assent; faith actively shapes what is yet unseen as if it were already present. Hebrews 11 illustrates this vividly, showing how faith caused ancient saints to see promises fulfilled long before they materialized physically. Covenant theology teaches that God’s commitments are unbreakable and that He faithfully provides, protects, and delivers according to His Word. Believers learn that their mental and spiritual outlook—shaped by faith—can influence future outcomes more powerfully than present circumstances, creating a spiritual environment in which God’s promises become tangible in experience."Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:" Ps.102:18
Resurrection Power and the Eternal PerspectiveResurrection power—described in Ephesians 1:19–20—demonstrates that the same divine might that raised Christ from the dead now energizes believers. This power enables them to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing the glory to come over temporary worldly pleasures and values. In a world marred by sin, evil, and spiritual darkness, believers are called to value eternal realities above fleeting earthly pleasures. Recognizing that the physical realm is temporary and under the influence of Satan (1 John 5:19), they intentionally reject worldly priorities. As 2 Corinthians 4:18 declares, “the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Their confidence rests not on material possessions or worldly success but on their union with God’s omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience.
Spiritual Warfare in the Invisible RealmThe invisible spiritual realm is a battlefield where believers are engaged in spiritual warfare, wielding divine power through the resurrection life of Christ within them. Ephesians 6:12 underscores that the battle is not primarily against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil—principalities, powers, and spiritual rulers of darkness. Believers are equipped with divine armor and the power of resurrection life, which enables them to stand firm against these unseen enemies. This warfare is metaphysical—fought in the spiritual realm but evidenced in the physical world through transformed lives, victories over sin, and perseverance in faith. The indwelling presence of Christ and the power of the Spirit make believers more than conquerors, enabling them to overcome spiritual darkness and claim victory through divine authority.
Christ in Us: The Hope of GloryAt the core of Christian hope is the profound mystery that “Christ in us [is] the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). This indwelling Christ guarantees believers’ future glorification and provides the foundation for their present life. This divine presence transcends physical senses, anchoring hope in the unseen but sure reality of Christ’s abiding presence within. It empowers believers to live as “kings of a new spiritual kingdom,” confident in the ultimate victory and glory that awaits them. The indwelling Christ anchors their hope amid deception and spiritual confusion, providing inner strength to persevere and remain faithful.
Hope in the Sphere of God’s PromisesMartyn Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that believers are saved within the sphere of hope, which encompasses their entire spiritual journey—past justification, present sanctification, and future glorification. The Holy Spirit seals this hope as a divine guarantee—an earnest deposit—affirming that God’s promises of inheritance, salvation, and eternal life will be fully realized (Ephesians 1:13–14). This hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in divine truth, which sustains believers through trials and leads them toward their ultimate inheritance. As they await the fullness of God’s glory, they walk by faith, empowered by the Spirit, and anchored in the unshakable reality of Christ within.
The Spirit’s Deep Searching of the Heart and Inner ManThe Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in penetrating the deepest parts of the human heart—the inner man—searching and revealing what is hidden. Romans 8:27 and 1 Corinthians 2:10–11 describe the Spirit’s work as one of divine exploration, uncovering the deep things of God and exposing hidden motives within us. John Calvin explains that the Spirit’s penetrating insight brings to light God’s profound truths and aligns our desires with God’s will. Through prayer and meditation, the Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26), helping believers conform their inner life to God’s purposes. This inward searching produces divine qualities—peace, love, joy, confidence, and purpose—that transcend external circumstances and physical senses, giving believers an inward compass that guides their affections and decisions.
The New Birth: Regeneration and Divine DependenceThe experience of the new birth—regeneration—fundamentally transforms the human heart. It awakens an innate desire to seek all salvation from God, freeing believers from the temptation to rely on their own efforts, plans, or human ingenuity. Instead of trusting in self-reliance, regeneration reorients the heart toward divine dependence, fostering a craving for fellowship with God through His Word and Spirit. The believer no longer believes that personal strategies can bring lasting change or salvation; rather, they recognize that true transformation occurs by God’s sovereign grace alone.
Faith as the Creative Force of Future RealitiesFaith is the divine instrument that creates future realities by trusting in God’s covenant promises. It is more than mere mental assent; faith actively shapes what is yet unseen as if it were already present. Hebrews 11 illustrates this vividly, showing how faith caused ancient saints to see promises fulfilled long before they materialized physically. Covenant theology teaches that God’s commitments are unbreakable and that He faithfully provides, protects, and delivers according to His Word. Believers learn that their mental and spiritual outlook—shaped by faith—can influence future outcomes more powerfully than present circumstances, creating a spiritual environment in which God’s promises become tangible in experience."Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:" Ps.102:18
Resurrection Power and the Eternal PerspectiveResurrection power—described in Ephesians 1:19–20—demonstrates that the same divine might that raised Christ from the dead now energizes believers. This power enables them to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing the glory to come over temporary worldly pleasures and values. In a world marred by sin, evil, and spiritual darkness, believers are called to value eternal realities above fleeting earthly pleasures. Recognizing that the physical realm is temporary and under the influence of Satan (1 John 5:19), they intentionally reject worldly priorities. As 2 Corinthians 4:18 declares, “the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Their confidence rests not on material possessions or worldly success but on their union with God’s omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience.
Spiritual Warfare in the Invisible RealmThe invisible spiritual realm is a battlefield where believers are engaged in spiritual warfare, wielding divine power through the resurrection life of Christ within them. Ephesians 6:12 underscores that the battle is not primarily against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil—principalities, powers, and spiritual rulers of darkness. Believers are equipped with divine armor and the power of resurrection life, which enables them to stand firm against these unseen enemies. This warfare is metaphysical—fought in the spiritual realm but evidenced in the physical world through transformed lives, victories over sin, and perseverance in faith. The indwelling presence of Christ and the power of the Spirit make believers more than conquerors, enabling them to overcome spiritual darkness and claim victory through divine authority.
Christ in Us: The Hope of GloryAt the core of Christian hope is the profound mystery that “Christ in us [is] the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). This indwelling Christ guarantees believers’ future glorification and provides the foundation for their present life. This divine presence transcends physical senses, anchoring hope in the unseen but sure reality of Christ’s abiding presence within. It empowers believers to live as “kings of a new spiritual kingdom,” confident in the ultimate victory and glory that awaits them. The indwelling Christ anchors their hope amid deception and spiritual confusion, providing inner strength to persevere and remain faithful.
Hope in the Sphere of God’s PromisesMartyn Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that believers are saved within the sphere of hope, which encompasses their entire spiritual journey—past justification, present sanctification, and future glorification. The Holy Spirit seals this hope as a divine guarantee—an earnest deposit—affirming that God’s promises of inheritance, salvation, and eternal life will be fully realized (Ephesians 1:13–14). This hope is not wishful thinking but a confident expectation rooted in divine truth, which sustains believers through trials and leads them toward their ultimate inheritance. As they await the fullness of God’s glory, they walk by faith, empowered by the Spirit, and anchored in the unshakable reality of Christ within.
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