Growing up, I was the youngest of five siblings—three boys, two girls. My brother Kenny, five years my senior, was an exceptional athlete. I loved him picking me up to play on his team for Wiffle ball, basketball, or football games.
We typically won, and I was very aware it wasn’t because of my abilities—it was because of what he was capable of. What I brought was incomparably less than the victory we achieved, as his strengths worked in spite of my weaknesses—a beautiful though simplistic picture of how God works in spite of our weakness through the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives.
In Titus 3:5-7, Paul tells us: “He [Christ] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit…”
Here, the word for rebirth is paliggenesia, which means spiritual rebirth. The word for renewal is anakainosis, which means renovation.
We see both concepts in John 3:1-10, with Nicodemus, a religious Pharisee who struggled to understand God’s work in his life.
One night, seeking privacy from prying eyes, Nicodemus sought Jesus. He acknowledged God was with Him, and Jesus revealed: “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (v. 3) Nicodemus was confused, asking how someone could be born again physically. But Jesus clarified—it’s not physical rebirth; it’s a spiritual process that offers salvation for eternity.
Then, Jesus moved to the second part: “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (v. 5-6)
In this conversation, Jesus explained how to live a life blessed by the Holy Spirit. First, it begins with our spiritual rebirth—our salvation. Then, it continues with the Holy Spirit’s regular renewal (v. 8)—a continual relationship with Him, in which we hear His voice and follow His leading.
In verse 8, Jesus explains how this happens: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Living with the Holy Spirit’s power brings great respect for God and His incredible, transformative work in our lives.
John Henry Newman, a renowned theologian, said, “Fear not that life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.” Friends, this is what life without the Holy Spirit’s power is like. We can live sure of our salvation (rebirth), but if we live void of the Holy Spirit’s power and His continual renewal in our lives, we will remain stagnant on earth. Instead, let’s live aware of and aligned with the incredible work He wants to do in and through us as we remain committed to Him!
