THE FACTS OF LIFE -  GENESIS 101

At the conclusion of our last study, we learned that any success we achieve in reaching the goal's of our new life in Christ, depends on our collaboration  with God's Holy Spirit.  As this truth sinks into your heart and mind, you'll find the perfect balance needed to find and follow God's Will for you personally... Remember, it is God who works in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure!   (Philippians 2:13)   In really can't overemphasize the importance of this truth as one of the most fundamental yet powerful facts in Scripture.  Without a good grasp of this concept, no believer can hope to experience the "life more abundant" promised by our Lord.

Now, for the remainder of today's study, let's look more closely into the details of this process in hopes of understanding and appropriating it more fully to our own daily lives.  Let's begin by asking the question, "When and how does God start to work in us?"   Well, since the Christian experience begins with spiritual life, let's start around that period of time known as the "new birth".  I say "around" that time because even before the new birth takes place, God has already been working in the heart of the future believer, preparing them to hear, understand and receive the Gospel message.  To better conceptualize this process, let's turn to a well known method Jesus used to teach His disciples: the analogy.  Remember, Jesus frequently used parables and stories to teach unfamiliar spiritual concepts by comparing them to something familiar, natural and known to all.  He often used analogies from cooking (leaven), exploring (treasure, pearls), social events (weddings, birthing), cultural attitudes (good Samaritan), wealth (rich fool), and agriculture (harvest, sowing seed).  It is to this latter we now turn to find an answer to our question. 

1. SOWING: the seed: Virtually, everyone to whom Jesus spoke in his three year ministry, was familiar with the agriculture of that region so He frequently used stories about farming to teach spiritual truth.  Before reaping a harvest, for example, there first must be the selection of suitable soil, the seed must be sown, the crops must be watered  and, finally, the mature plant is harvested.   The seed, of course, is the Word of God which, when sown in the hearts of the unsaved, may or may not produce a harvest.  Whether or not the seed bears fruit depends upon the readiness of the ground to receive it.  Read Luke 8:4-15 for details.   This "soil" preparation, is the purview of God's Spirit who was sent, in part, to convict and convince the unsaved of the Gospel message.  (John 16:7-11)  Recall Jesus' words that "no man can come to the Father except by me"? (John 14:6).  Well, after Jesus left earth, the task of drawing men unto Himself fell to the Holy Spirit.  So, God begins His work in us before birth to ready our hearts and minds to receive the truth of His Word.

2. GESTATION: watering the seed:  This is a phase of salvation not often explored but, nonetheless, does hold some important truths in our study on the facts of spiritual life.  Not only do we find the Gospel writers using the farming analogy to explain spiritual truth, it is also found in the writings of other Apostles, including Paul and Peter.   In I Corinthians 3:6-9, for example, the Apostle Paul uses it to describe the various stages of growth before a spiritual harvest.  "You are God's field", he explains, "Some of us plant the seed and some water, but it is God who gives the increase".  Admittedly, Paul may be using this "watering" example in the broader sense of any and all ministry which fosters the growth of God's Word.  But, whether we use the analogy of farming or of the new birth, there is an important period of time between sowing seed and bringing it to fruition.  This interlude is sometimes overlooked as part of the conversion process but I bring it up here for a very good reason. 

From years of counseling experience, I often find a great deal of confusion, not to mention consternation, over the subject of witnessing and brining others to Christ.   In an understandable effort to sow God's Word and harvest souls, some zealous "soul winners", may intrude unwittingly on the work of God's Holy Spirit.  Remember, it is the Holy Spirit's task to bring God's Word to fruition in the hearts of hearers so that, at the proper time, when the seed is ripe for harvest, true conversion may take place.  I was raised in a church which emphasized "soul winning" and was taught early on to seize on any and all opportuni8ties to witness to the unsaved.  Over the years, as I grew more proficient at this task, I also grew more uncomfortable with it.  Eventually, it became clear to me that I was not only doing my job, sowing the seed, but also that of the Holy Spirit in pressing the listener to premature decision.  This sometimes resulted in an abortive attempt to hasten the new birth before the hearer's heart was ready to make that decision .  Just as in natural child birth, there is also a period of spiritual gestation required, by the Holy Spirit, to bring conviction for sin and true repentance before the believer can fully appropriate the promise of life eternal.  When I finally understood this simple truth, it instantly relieved me of a tremendous responsibility I had mistakenly taken upon myself,  Now, when I have opportunity to share my faith, I'm able relax, sit back and watch, in anticipation,  as God's Spirit leads in each situation.  As long as I am tuned into God's voice and ready to speak His Word, I have fulfilled my part in this great collaborative work with the Spirit of God.  This is "God at work in you, willing and doing His good pleasure."

3. BIRTH: fruition   At the precise moment the personal message of God's Word is understood by the sinner and God's Holy Spirit moves him or her to act upon it, a marvelous transaction occurs.  God's Holy Spirit, who has already been at work convincing the hearer to place his faith in Christ, brings life spiritual and eternal to the new believer.  (I Peter 1:23)   In that simple but profound act, a "new creature" is brought into existence in which old things are past and all things become new". (II Corinthians 5:17).  Just as in natural child birth, an wondrous series of events take place in the new born in preparation for the life which is to follow.  Much of this will be explored in the next study but for now, it's important to understand that this new creation is infused (baptized I Cor. 12:13) into the spiritual body of Christ as a functioning member of the church universal. 

This experience may or may not entail an emotional component but most individuals do experience the joy and relief from knowing that they are no longer under condemnation but are now alive in Christ and forever a part of God's family.  The important thing to realize is that the assurance of the new birth is not dependent on an emotional experience, as wonderful as that might be.  It is, rather, based on the veracity and reliability of God's Word and our acceptance of God's promise by faith, regardless of feeling.  It is then that God's Holy Spirit, residing now within the believer, bears witness with our spirit that we are, in fact, children of God.  (Romans 8:16).  These are, however, but a few of the benefits the new believer receives as a free gift of God Grace through faith in His promises. Most of these will be explored in the next study.  But for now, let's move on to the most important aspect of the new birth experience: living the life of this new creation.

As any mother will attest, the process of birth, whether the labor is short or long, may be the end of pregnancy but, as a parent, it's only the beginning.  Each of these events, birthing and parenting, are two sides of the same coin.  After the moment of birth, comes the long term task of guiding, providing, training, teaching, helping, correcting and supporting that child through growth and into adulthood.  This second growth aspect of the salvation is clearly shown by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 2:6-7.  In the new birth, we first rely on the Holy Spirit to give eternal life to the believer and bring him or her into the family of God in accord with the Will of God.  Secondly, we maintain our reliance on the Holy Spirit, who now resides within the believer, to continue this good work in and through us, a collaboration with Him which fulfills the Will of God in our growth into Christlikeness.  (Philippians 1:6) This act of continued growth is called: Discipleship.

Practical Homework: Examine your own spiritual life at this point and determine whether or not you're sure of your salvation.  If the answer is "yes", upon what do you base your confidence.  What I'm asking you to do is based on I Peter 3:15.

QUESTIONS

1. What two things does the Holy Spirit work to do in each of us?  Philippians 2:13

2. What is the job of the Holy Spirit in the world today? John 16:7-11)

3. How does the Holy Spirit bear witness with our spirit?  Romans 8:16 (read context verses 14-17)

4. What is yet another way the Holy Spirit works within us. Romans 8:26-27

5. Write down the what is expected of the believer after receiving Christ. Colossians 2:6-7

6. What do all believers share in common, both Jew and Gentile alike? I Corinthians 12:12-15

7. How do believers become part of the body of Christ?  I Corinthians 12:13

8. What is the purpose of ministry regardless of who does it? I Corinthians 3:8

9. What is the seed that brings the new birth? I Peter 1:23

10. What is another word for "collaborating" with the Holy Spirit within us? Galatians 5:25

11. Of what may the believer be confident according to Philippians 1:6