God the Holy Spirit, Mentor's Guide, MG14

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G O D T H E H O L Y S P I R I T

regeneration can only occur because God chooses to act and it can only be received as a gift (see John 1.12-13, John 3.3-8).

b. The analogy of creation: just as the breath of God entered into Adam and made him into a living person, so at conversion the Spirit of God breathes again into Adam’s descendants and restores life to them (2 Cor. 5.17; Gal. 6.15). Human beings are no more responsible for their spiritual creation than they are for their physical creation.

c. Key Verse: Titus 3.4-6

2. The Word and the Spirit work together to accomplish regeneration.

a. The Word of God (that is first of all, Jesus Christ, and also, the Gospel that testifies to him) can be said to be the source of regeneration just as the Spirit of God is the source of regeneration.

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b. This is one of the great truths that the Protestant Reformation emphasized concerning the Spirit. We can distinguish the work of the Spirit in salvation but we cannot separate it from the work of the divine Word.

c. Key verses:

(1) 1 Pet. 1.23

(2) James 1.18

(3) John 3.5-6