The Saving Work Of God The
Holy Spirit
John 6:63
I fear that we are apt to think of the
covenant of grace as a covenant made between God the Father and God the Son. It
was not. It was a covenant made between the Father,the
Son,and the Spirit. The work of God the Holy Spirit is as necessary for the
salvation of God's elect as the works of the Father and the Son. God the Father
elected us unto salvation (Eph.1:3-6;II
Thess.2:13-14). He chose us, adopted us, and predestinated us unto heavenly
glory. We rejoice in that! Without election no one could ever have been saved.
But the Father's election, by itself could never have saved us. We had to be
redeemed too. God the Son volunteered to redeem us, becoming our Surety and
Substitute. He brought in everlasting righteousness and obtained eternal
redemption for us (Heb.9:12). But redemption alone could not bring us to God.
Redemption is a work of God for us. It changed our standing. But it did not
change us. We can never enter heaven until a change is wrought in us. "Ye
must be born again!" That is the work of God the Holy Spirit (John
3:5-7).God the Spirit agreed to effectually apply the blood of Christ to every
chosen, redeemed sinner, create each one anew in Christ, call them, give them
faith, and seal them in the grace of God forever (Eph. 1:13-14). The triune God
has saved us; and the triune God shall be praised by us forever!
Don Fortner