Transformative Journey of Salvation and the Holy Spirit

Salvation is far more than a one-time event or a ticket to heaven; it is the beginning of a transformed life, a restoration of relationship with God that continues to unfold every day. The journey of Christian birth—repentance, belief, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit—sets us on a path where change is not just expected, but necessary. Just as it would be absurd for a graduate to return to their childhood home and live as if nothing had changed, so too is it unthinkable for someone who has encountered Christ to remain unchanged. The new birth in Christ is a life-altering event that demands a new way of living, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Receiving the Holy Spirit is not a passive experience, nor is it reserved for a select few or a bygone era. Jesus promised the Spirit to all who believe, and this promise is for today. The Spirit’s filling is not automatic; it requires desire, surrender, and a willingness to be changed. Just as a hungry baby eagerly receives nourishment, so must we crave the presence of the Holy Spirit, submitting our lives to Jesus and allowing Him to fill us to overflowing. This filling is not about spiritual gifts for their own sake, but about being empowered to live out God’s purposes—bearing witness to Christ, living holy lives, and displaying the fruit of the Spirit.

Salvation is a process that encompasses justification, sanctification, and glorification. Justification wipes our slate clean, declaring us righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice. Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Spirit, making us more like Jesus and freeing us from the power of sin. Glorification is the final transformation, when we will be made perfect in God’s presence for eternity. Each stage is a work of God’s grace, and none of it is earned by our own efforts. Good works flow naturally from a life that has been changed, not as a means to earn salvation, but as evidence of it.

Ultimately, God’s desire is not just to work in us, but through us, so that His power and glory might overflow into the world. The assurance of salvation gives us confidence to share, to grow, and to walk daily with Him. As we stay close to Jesus, filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are kept from stumbling and presented blameless before God with great joy.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Salvation is a Life-Transforming Beginning, Not an End The new birth in Christ is not a finish line but a starting point for a radically changed life. Just as major life events like graduation or marriage bring about new responsibilities and changes, so too does salvation demand a new way of living. Remaining unchanged after encountering Christ is as unthinkable as a bride returning to her parents’ home after her wedding. True salvation always leads to transformation and growth. [04:08]
• 2. The Filling of the Holy Spirit Requires Desire and Surrender The Holy Spirit does not force Himself upon us; we must hunger and thirst for His presence. Like a baby who must desire food to be fed, we must earnestly seek and be willing to receive the Spirit’s filling. This involves yielding our minds, spirits, and bodies to Jesus, allowing Him to fill us to overflowing so that His life and power can flow through us. [09:10]
• 3. The Purpose of the Spirit’s Filling is Empowerment for Witness and Holiness Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not primarily about personal experiences or spiritual gifts, but about being empowered to live according to God’s word and to be effective witnesses for Christ. The Spirit gives us courage, boldness, and the ability to stand for Jesus even in the face of opposition, as seen in the lives of Peter and John. The evidence of the Spirit’s work is seen in both our witness and our growing holiness. [16:57]
• 4. Salvation Encompasses Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification God’s saving work is comprehensive: justification deals with our past sins, sanctification addresses our present struggles, and glorification promises future perfection. Justification is a one-time declaration of righteousness, sanctification is the ongoing process of being made holy, and glorification is the final transformation into Christ’s image. Each stage is a gift of grace, not a result of our own merit. [34:02]
• 5. Assurance and Overflow: God’s Power Works In and Through Us The assurance of salvation gives us confidence to walk with God and to share Him with others. But God’s work is not just for our benefit; He desires to overflow His power through us, aligning us as His church to display His glory to the world. Staying close to Jesus and being continually filled with the Spirit keeps us from stumbling and enables us to live lives that honor Him.
  
  ** [41:09]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:30] - Salvation: More Than Just Being Safe
• [01:29] - The Four Steps: Repent, Believe, Be Baptised, Receive
• [02:40] - Life-Changing Events Demand Change
• [04:08] - Christian Birth: The Beginning of Transformation
• [05:07] - Receiving the Holy Spirit: Biblical Foundations
• [06:17] - Salvation: Rescue and Restoration
• [07:21] - The Normalcy and Overflow of the Spirit
• [08:12] - Desire and Willingness for the Spirit’s Filling
• [09:10] - Submitting to Receive the Spirit
• [11:06] - What It Means to Be Filled with the Spirit
• [13:33] - The Promise of the Spirit for Today
• [16:11] - Empowered to Witness and Live Holy Lives
• [18:03] - The Spirit’s Power in the Early Church
• [19:48] - The Fruit of the Spirit and Spiritual Desire
• [23:26] - Focusing on the Giver, Not the Gifts
• [26:36] - Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification
• [34:02] - The Process and Promise of Salvation
• [41:09] - Closing Blessing and Benediction

Bible Reading

1. Acts 2:37-39 (ESV) — > Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

2. John 7:37-39 (ESV) — > On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

3. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV) — > For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Observation Questions

1. In Acts 2:37-39, what are the four steps Peter outlines for those who want to respond to the gospel? ([05:07])
2. According to John 7:37-39, what does Jesus say is required to receive the “rivers of living water,” and what does this represent? ([09:10])
3. In Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the relationship between grace, faith, and good works? ([30:21])
4. The sermon compares salvation to life-changing events like graduation or marriage. What point is being made with these comparisons? ([04:08])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why is it “unthinkable” for someone who has encountered Christ to remain unchanged, according to the sermon? ([04:08])
2. The sermon says the filling of the Holy Spirit is not automatic but requires desire and surrender. What might this look like in a believer’s life? ([09:10])
3. How does the sermon describe the purpose of being filled with the Holy Spirit? Is it mainly for personal experience, or something else? ([16:57])
4. The sermon breaks down salvation into justification, sanctification, and glorification. How does understanding these stages affect the way someone lives out their faith? ([34:02])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that remaining unchanged after salvation is as unthinkable as a bride returning to her parents’ home after her wedding. In what areas of your life do you see evidence of transformation since coming to Christ? Are there areas where you still feel unchanged? ([04:08])
2. Jesus describes the Spirit’s filling as something for those who “thirst.” What does spiritual thirst look like for you personally? Are there things in your life that dull your hunger for God? ([09:10])
3. The sermon says the Holy Spirit’s filling is not about spiritual gifts for their own sake, but about being empowered to witness and live holy lives. In what ways do you sense God empowering you to be a witness or to grow in holiness? ([16:57])
4. Ephesians 2:10 says we are created for good works. Can you identify a “good work” God has prepared for you to walk in this week? What might it look like to step into it? ([30:21])
5. The sermon talks about justification (past), sanctification (present), and glorification (future). Which of these do you find easiest to believe and rest in? Which is hardest, and why? ([34:02])
6. The assurance of salvation is meant to give us confidence to share and to grow. Do you feel confident in your salvation? If not, what questions or doubts do you have? ([01:29])
7. The sermon says God wants to work not just in us, but through us, so His power and glory might overflow into the world. What is one way you can allow God’s power to overflow through you to others this week? ([41:09])