Author: James Cheef Wright

16. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
17. If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the Temple of God is holy, which Temple ye are.

The Holy Spirit Gives Life to Your Spirit

Once a Christian is born again—born from above—the Holy Spirit begins the ongoing work of regeneration in the life of the believer. In our natural, carnal state, we are not fit for the Kingdom of God until the Holy Spirit transforms us. This is exactly what Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus in John 3:6: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” The New Living Translation makes it even clearer: “Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.”

In John 14:17, 15:26, and 16:13, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit can only bear witness with our spirit if we believe God’s truth: that He sent His only begotten Son, who bore our sins, died on the Cross, was buried, and rose on the third day—defeating death, healing us through His stripes, and making those who believe righteous through His shed blood. This is the Holy Gospel, and our faith as believers is rooted in it. In order to receive the Holy Spirit, faith must be rooted in the heart, not merely confessed with the mouth.

Revealed by the Risen Christ Not Taught by Man

Although Paul did not interact with Jesus during His earthly ministry, he did receive direct revelations from the risen Christ after encountering Him on his way to Damascus. Concerning the Gospel, Paul tells us in Galatians 1:12: “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” God revealed His Son in Paul and appointed him as the chosen vessel to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:15-16). After this calling, Paul spent three years in Arabia and Damascus before going to Jerusalem to meet with Peter and “James, the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:18-19).

The disciples—not only the Twelve—received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). But in Paul we see something more: not only the work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, but also the sanctifying work of enlightenment that comes only from the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Revelation given by the risen Christ deepened Paul’s understanding of the Spirit’s indwelling beyond the earthly expectations of the early disciples, who had walked alongside Jesus in His flesh.

A Temple Built by God Not by the Hands of Men

The Old Testament gives us an example for today: God revealed His truth and His judgments to prophets, judges, and kings who then delivered them to believers and unbelievers. In a similar way, Paul is an example of how the Holy Spirit reveals Christ within the believer—and how the Spirit convicts of sin to keep our walk holy and aligned with God.

The regenerating work of the Spirit makes the believer the Temple of God. This work fulfills a prophecy Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well when He said, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.” God is now found in the hearts of those made spiritually alive by His Spirit—no longer in structures made with hands, though corporate fellowship in the church building remains a vital place where God’s children can gather to experience God’s Word and the Spirit together..

You Are The Temple

In an attempt to comfort the disciples in His physical absence, Jesus tells them in John 16:7 that unless He goes to the Father, the Holy Spirit will not come to them. The Holy Spirit is mentioned sparingly in the Old Testament, so the disciples would have been just as clueless about the promise of His coming, as Nicodemus was when Jesus spoke of being born again. Imagine the fear this would have stirred in them: their Teacher, Protector, and Comforter would no longer walk beside them, leaving their hearts empty, with countless questions to be asked, and many answers still hidden from them.

Jesus provided the solution to their fears only a few statements later in John 16:13 when he declared, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Their pain and confusion would have shaded their hearts from this good news. But for us today, our hearts should be enlarged with joy—because the Spirit of Jesus dwelling within us makes us the Holy Temple of God. This is the same truth that emboldened Paul to travel wherever the Spirit directed him, preaching the Gospel and establishing churches.

Living as God’s Holy Temple

As the living Temple of God, believers are called to live godly lives. Our sacrifices are no longer the blood of bulls and goats, but the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God. We live godly by abandoning the desires of the flesh—the very desires that once practiced sin, and created separation from God. Instead, we walk in the Spirit, producing the fruit of the Spirit. We know we are born from above when love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance manifest in our lives, because these are the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

The work of the Holy Spirit is ongoing—shaping the thoughts and actions of the believer so they align with God’s commands for all, and His will for each of us individually. He does this by revealing the truth about the world around us and showing how it aligns (or conflicts) with God’s truth. When our thoughts, actions, words, or deeds drift from the likeness-of-Christ, the Spirit will convict us by stirring a holy discomfort within. Every conviction is an invitation to return to righteousness. But every time we ignore His conviction, we grieve the Holy Spirit, and our lives drift further from God’s righteous path. Ephesians 4:30 is a stern warning against this, “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.”

Just as God allowed the physical Temple to be destroyed when it was repeatedly defiled, the Temple of the believer will also face judgment if defilement becomes a pattern. Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 3:17, “If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the Temple of God is holy, which Temple ye are.” These words should not be taken lightly. God will bring one of His children home early, rather than risk them falling back into the bondage of sin and the hands of the evil one—the same way he allowed the physical Temple to be destroyed rather than let pagans mock and defile His Holy ground.

A Blessing Paid for With the Shed Blood of Jesus Christ

Although the warning is sobering, the privilege of being the Temple of God is a great honor that comes without burden. It means never being alone (John 14:18), because the Holy Spirit not only dwells within you but walks beside you—constantly communing with your spirit and guiding you into all truth (John 16:13). He gives strength in times of weakness as you lean on His holy walls, steadying your feeble knees so you may walk upright in righteousness. Your countenance becomes a testimony, drawing others because the God-Light shines through you—and ever brighter when your holiness during storms brings glory to His name.

With the Holy Spirit, you have endless access to the peace that only Jesus can give, because He is the comforter who reminds you that Christ is with you always (Matthew 28:20). Being God’s Temple is a blessing paid for by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. A gift available to anyone who believes in their heart that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior.

Scriptures That Bear Witness to the Holy Spirit Within You

Exodus 31:3
“I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills”

Psalm 51:11
“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me”

Romans 8:26
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Ephesians 3:16-19
“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Romans 15:13
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

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A Thankful Prayer for the Spirit of God

Father God in Heaven, no words and no sacrifice can express how thankful I am that You cleansed my unrighteous body and mind, and made them righteous and fit for Your Spirit to dwell within. Knowing that my body is Your Holy Temple turns my focus toward what is holy and draws my spirit away from the sins of this world. I find peace knowing Your Spirit dwells within me, and strength knowing Your Spirit walks beside me. As I learn and follow the Way of Your Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I pray in His holy name. Amen.

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Trinitarian Benediction

May your walk with God produce continued peace in your spirit.
May the strength found in Jesus Christ produce the courage God commanded.
And may the Holy Spirit lead you to forever follow Christ.

5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 
7. Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

Understanding What It Means to Be Born of Water and the Spirit

In Part 1 we discovered that “born again” is best understood as “born from above,” because although anōthen can mean again or from above, John consistently uses it to mean “from above” in his Gospel. But whether we say born again or born from above, we still must answer two essential questions: What does it mean? And how can we know a spiritual birth has truly taken place in us?

As always, scripture itself will answer these questions. One of my favorite principles in Bible study is “scripture for scripture”—letting the Word interpret the Word. This simply means using parallel passages to enlighten us to the passage we are studying. And in this case, “water” and “Spirit” are foundational to scripture. As such, they are foundational to understanding what Jesus meant when He declared, “Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

Before answering what it means to be born again, we must first understand the spiritual path that leads to this rebirth. Jesus answers this when He tells Nicodemus, “a man must be born of water and the Spirit.” So let us begin with water.

The Three Theories About What “Born of Water” Means

There are three major theological theories about what Jesus meant when he said a person must be born of water.

One theory suggests that Jesus is referring to natural birth and amniotic fluid. However, nothing in Jesus’ words points to natural childbirth. Other than Nicodemus mentioning the womb, natural childbirth isn’t a part of the discussion. Plus historically, the ancients did not make reference to water when speaking of pregnancy or childbirth. And no where in the Bible is water used that way.

Another theory claims that “born of water” is referring to baptism. Although based on certain theological traditions, it does not fit the context of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. This is because at the time, the baptisms John was performing were for repentance of sins, unlike later Christian baptisms that symbolize being united with Christ in His death and being raised with Him—a picture of new birth. But Christian baptisms had not been established at the time Jesus was speaking with Nicodemus about being born again.

The Biblical View: Water as Cleansing and Spirit as Regeneration

The third and definitive view is rooted directly in Scripture itself. This view holds that Jesus was referring directly to Ezekiel 36:25-27, a prophecy that addresses both water and the Spirit in the context of God’s promised work of renewal. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God says to the house of Israel:

25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 

27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

As I pointed out in Part One, Nicodemus—a teacher of Israel—should have immediately recognized this passage. Jesus was not introducing Nicodemus to a new concept, he was directing him back to a prophecy he was no doubt familiar with. He should have realized that Jesus was using water symbolically to represent divine cleansing—washing away the unrighteousness of the sinner—for no unrighteous person can enter the kingdom of God. He should have also recognized that the Spirit refers to God’s Spirit doing the work of inward renewal, giving a new heart, and the ability to be obedient to God.

How the New Testament Clarifies the Meaning of “Born of Water”

For the New Testament Christian, the meaning of “born of water” becomes clearer when we read just one chapter further. In John 4:10 after asking the Samaritan woman at the well for a drink, Jesus says to her:

“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

Just as Nicodemus was confused by Jesus’ words, so was the Samaritan woman. But Jesus did not rebuke her, for she lacked expert knowledge of the Torah or the prophets—unlike Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel who should have known the Scriptures. Instead, He explains what He means by “living water.” In John 4:14 He says:

“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.”

Just as the Father had done in Ezekiel 36 to describe cleansing and renewal of the house of Israel, the Son also uses water symbolically with the Samaritan woman to describe the life-giving, cleansing work that leads to eternal life— a consistent biblical theme where water symbolizes cleansing, renewal, and the removal of unrighteousness. The very process Jesus explained to Nicodemus as being necessary to enter the kingdom of God.

How the Spirit Gives New Life to the Believer

It is the Holy Spirit that performs the work of regeneration—giving the believer a spiritual heart, and making them a new creation. No writer of Scripture speaks more boldly about the Spirit’s work than Paul.

In 1 Corinthians 3:16 he reminds us:

“Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

And in 2 Corinthians 5:17 he declares:

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin and leads us to repentance. He holds a mirror to our lives, exposing our once ignored ungodliness. He gives us the desire to be obedient to God and restrains corrupt language, old habits, and fleshly desires that once separated us from God. This is the work of ‘regeneration‘—a transformation that begins in our spirit and renews our soul, making us a new creation from the inside out.

Jesus Will Know IF You’re Born Again

Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus that his knowledge of the Scriptures—even his position as a teacher in the synagogue—would not give him entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven. And today, there are many modern-day Nicodemuses on both sides of the pulpit.

Faith is not inherited from parents or guardians. Even if they’ve had you baptized when you were a child, that does not mean you were born again. Church attendance, religious activity, and the ability to quote Scriptures does not create a relationship with God. Tradition cannot purify the heart. Memorization cannot cleanse the soul. And outward religion cannot produce inward regeneration.

Jesus says something in Matthew 7:23 that is unmistakable and cannot be misunderstood. His words strike the core of every believer’s faith and obedience, leaving no doubt that only those who are truly born again will enter the Kingdom of God.

Jesus declares in Matthew 7:23:

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!‘”

Born again does not mean without sin, but the born-again believer no longer makes a practice of sin. They will still stumble, but their life is no longer characterized by rebellion, but by a desire to be obedient.

You Will Know IF You’re Born Again

Jesus understands the true nature of a person’s heart. When He quoted Isaiah in Matthew 15:8, He said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” He was exposing a timeless truth: expressions of religion can imitate faith.

Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has to be believed with the whole heart—not merely spoken with the lips. Only then does God send His Spirit to begin the work of regeneration. And once that work begins, the believer will notice subtle, but unmistakable changes: desires shift, habits become easier to break while losing their grip, and ungodly people will fall away—often without any conscious effort.

These changes are not self-improvement; they are the evidence of a spiritual birth. Spiritual birth rarely hits with a bang—the celebration happens in Heaven. Jesus tells us in Luke 15:10: “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” When the Spirit regenerates a person, Heaven rejoices, even if the believer feels the change subtly at first.

In the end, Jesus’ words to Nicodemus and to the Samaritan woman at the well unite into a single truth: spiritual birth is God’s cleansing and His Spirit making us new and acceptable for the Kingdom of God—and those who are born again from above will bear evidence of it.

Scriptures That Reveal God’s Cleansing and Spiritual Renewal

Isaiah 12:2-3
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

Hebrews 10:22
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

Ephesians 5:25-27
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

Titus 3:4-7
“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

2 Corinthians 7:1
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

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A Thankful Prayer for Being Renewed Spiritually

Father God in Heaven, I lovingly thank You that Your promise of being born from above has spanned generations and is granted to all who come to You under the New Covenant. Your living water has made me pure in Your eyes and has turned my heart away from idols. You have blessed me with a new heart and a new spirit—gifts I do not deserve but that You freely gave me. Only through the new creation Your Spirit forms within me can I be made worthy of Your Kingdom. As ungodly ways fall from me, I draw nearer to You in ways that reflect Your Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through His shed blood I am saved, and in His holy name I pray. Amen.

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Trinitarian Benediction

May God bless you to be cleansed of all unrighteousness and your sins forgiven.
May your new life be rooted in the likeness of Christ Jesus.
And may the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit within You forever bring glory to God.

3. Jesus answered, and said unto him, Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4. Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mothers womb, and be born?
5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Common Misunderstandings About Being Born Again

If you ask a Christian if they have been born again, most will quickly answer yes. But if you ask them how they know they’ve been born again, the answers vary. Some may point to being raised in church or believing in God. Others may mention being baptized or having accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Some may even point to the promise in Scripture of eternal life. There is nothing wrong with these answers as expressions of faith—but are any of them proof of being born again?

Being born again is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Christian life. And like most things that are misunderstood, it is often taken for granted. This should concern every self-proclaimed Christian, because Jesus made it unmistakably clear in John 3:3: “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” There is nothing confusing about that statement. There is no reason to over-complicate it by cherry-picking doctrines about law and grace, or faith and salvation.

So what exactly does it mean to be born again? How can a person know with certainty that they have been born again? And perhaps the most sobering question of all: Am I truly right with God if I cannot answer these questions?

Although the concept of being born again sounds simple to understand, even some of the most learned religious leaders and teachers—in the days of Jesus or today—are not able to comprehend it with a surface level reading of the text. So there is no reason to feel as if you are failing in your faith if you don’t understand it.

Nicodemus: A Religious Man Still in the Dark

John 3 introduces us to Nicodemus, a Pharisee. According to the first-century historian Flavius Josephus, there were 6,000 Pharisees during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. They prided themselves on separation from Gentile influence and held a strict adherence to the Mosaic law. They were experts in the Torah, many knowing it by heart. Most Pharisees were landowners, businessmen, and synagogue leaders—respected, educated, and morally disciplined.

But Nicodemus was not just any Pharisee. He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish ruling council—the closest equivalent to a Supreme Court. The Sanhedrin was led by the high priest and composed of chief priests, elders, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. It held authority over Jewish religious, civil, and criminal matters. It was the Sanhedrin that held a sham, biased trial to condemn Jesus before His crucifixion, and Caiaphas was the high priest at the time.

Yet, even with expert knowledge of the Torah and the prophets, Nicodemus still could not comprehend what Jesus meant when He said, “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” But, when we look deeper into the text, we discover not only why Nicodemus was confused, but possibly why many Christians today are as well.

The Dual Meaning of Anōthen — Again or From Above?

In John 3:3, the phrase “born again” is translated from the Greek gennēthē anōthen. Gennēthē comes from the root verb gennáō, which means “to beget” or “to give birth to.” The word anōthen carries a dual meaning. One meaning is ‘again‘, and it can also mean ‘from above‘. It is not entirely clear why Nicodemus interpreted Jesus’ words to mean “born again,” especially when Jesus immediately connected the phrase to “see the kingdom of God.” It is also noteworthy that John makes no attempt to clarify the meaning for his readers. The most reasonable explanation is that John assumed his audience would understand that Jesus meant born from above.

John uses the term anōthen in other passages, and he always uses it to mean “from above“. In John 19:23 when describing Jesus’ coat, he writes that is was woven “from the top throughout.” And in John 3:31 he declares, “He who comes from above, is above all.” John consistently uses anōthen to mean “from above,” not “again.”

Jesus’ Patience With Nicodemus’ Confusion

A lesson we can learn from Jesus in this dialogue is the remarkable patience He showed toward Nicodemus. Despite Nicodemus’ expert knowledge of the Torah and the prophets, he was utterly confused by what Jesus was saying. Asking—”Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb?“—was illogical and beneath the intelligence and training of a member of the Sanhedrin. As He often did with other Pharisees, Jesus did not rebuke Nicodemus. Instead, He simply and patiently said with clarity, “Except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” This statement should have made what Jesus meant absolutely clear to Nicodemus.

“Born of Water and Spirit” — A Prophecy Nicodemus Should Have Known

With his knowledge of the prophets, Nicodemus should have immediately recalled Ezekiel 36:25-27 where God promises Israel a future cleansing and spiritual renewal:

25. “I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 

26. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

27. “And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Jesus had not made a new revelation to Nicodemus. The promise of spiritual rebirth—cleansing, regeneration, and the indwelling of God’s Spirit—had been given to Israel centuries earlier. In seeking righteousness through the law, and his prominent religious status, Nicodemus had forgotten the very prophecy that explained what Jesus meant. Being “born of water and the Spirit” was not a new idea; it was the prophesied work of redemption that would cleanse God’s people, renew their hearts, and restore glory to His name.

We now have an understanding that “born again” likely means “born from above“, if we consider the consistent use of the word anōthen in John’s writing. We’ve discovered that even as a high-ranking Pharisee, deeply familiar with Scripture and the prophets, Nicodemus was still rather spiritually blind to the promises of God written in the scrolls — and even in direct dialogue with Jesus. In Part 2 we will discover what it truly means to be born by water and by Spirit.

Scriptures for a Renewed Spiritual Heart

Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a right and steadfast spirit within me.”

Ezekiel 11:19
“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”

Jeremiah 31:33
“I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Isaiah 43:18
“Do not call to mind the former things, Or consider things of the past.”

Psalm 119:11
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

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A Prayer for a Heart Renewed by God

Father God in Heaven, by promise You made me one of Your children. Ways that were contrary to You, and people who blinded me from You, were removed as You cleansed me and forgave me. You filled voids I did not recognize and showed me how heavy my stone heart truly was. You made me whole, vibrant, renewed, abundant, and fulfilled—not that I may boast, but that I may bring glory to Your name. As endless as my eternal life will be is as thankful as I am. In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

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Trinitarian Benediction

May the Lord God renew your heart and give life to your spirit.
May you be cleansed by the blood of Christ Jesus and rooted in righteousness.
And may the Holy Spirit forever shape you as an heir with Christ and a child of God.

24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

It may be human nature, or it may be lack of understanding, but many people tend to think of God as if He were human. Speaking of Him as if He reacts the way we do, feels the way we feel, or responds the way that we respond. I often hear people speak about God making someone pay who has wronged them, even politicians they disagree with. As if God is their personal judiciary, obligated to carry out their sense of justice.

Others treat prayer as a one-sided session of requests, wants, and desires, as if God exists to serve them. It is true, God is the judge of all the earth. Yes, He does provide our needs and even our desires according to His will. But is it possible to truly know God and still treat Him like a servant? Can there be a desire to be obedient to God if the relationship is one-sided, and one side continually takes God for granted? How can there be intimacy with God without seeking to know His desires?

Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well: “God is Spirit.” Until we understand what that means we will never approach Him as He truly is. But before we can understand how to approach God, we must first understand who God is — and to know who He is, we must know His name.

I AM vs Pagan gods

In the ancient world, a pagan gods name determined what the deity depended on. Ra was the Sun god of Egypt. Baal was the Canaanite storm god. Artemis of Ephesus was the fertility goddess. In fact, in Egypt alone, during the days of Moses, Egyptian texts name over 1,400 deities. — each tied to a specific force of nature or human need.

But when Moses asked God what name he should give the Israelite’s, God did not identify himself with the sun, moon, stars, harvest, or fertility. He did not tie Himself to anything created — showing that His being was not dependent on anything created.

Instead God said to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.”

The pagan gods of the nations were made by the hands of men. They never appeared to anyone, never sent angels to speak on their behalf, or chose prophets as their voice on earth. Their names revealed their limitations — Ra depended on the sun, Baal on storms, Artemis on fertility.

With the words “I AM WHO I AM” the God of Israel revealed that He is not defined by creation — He is the creator. Revealing His nature as: self-existent, existing before time itself, eternal, unchanging, and independent of all things. These are the very attributes that allow us to begin understanding what Jesus meant when He said, “God is Spirit.”

Because He is Spirit, God is omnipresent — everywhere at all times. David asks in Psalm 139:7, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” There is no place where God is not.

Because He is Spirit, God is omniscient — knowing all things past, present, and future. As David declares in Psalm 139:2, “You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar.”

And because He is Spirit, God is omnipotent — all‑powerful. The angel told Mary in Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

We cannot understand nor access God on a human level. As such, we must do so on a spiritual level — worship Him in Spirit. Physical worship and fellowship are necessary but should not be the only ways we communicate with and show our reverence for God.

To worship God in Spirit you must do so from the inside with your heart, mind, and soul, manifesting on the outside.

1. We engage God with our heart through an active prayer life.

This means we do not treat prayer as a dialogue, but as a monologue with God — we speak to and listen to God. We offer thanksgiving with our prayers, as Hebrews 13:15 teaches: “offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

It is not always about a prayer posture, it is also about presence. Prayer can be done anywhere, at any time, in any circumstance.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 Paul tells us to “Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing.” Prayer walks in the morning sun are a beautiful way to converse with God. Pray while commuting, pray whenever you feel the need — because prayer is the foundation of worship.

2. We engage God with our mind by meditating on His Word.

Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and when we meditate on the Word we not only open our spiritual eyes, we allow the Holy Spirit to communicate with our spirit. Romans 8:16 teaches us, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

This is why Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” God often uses His Word to give instruction, warnings, correction, encouragement, and even reveal His will for us.

3. We engage God with our soul by aligning our thoughts with His Spirit.

Our thoughts are indicative of the state of our soul. Our thoughts, desires, and intentions must be shaped by the Spirit of God. Philippians 4:12 instructs, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

As born-again believers in Jesus Christ, we should have thoughts of eternal value. Colossians 3:1 declares: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”

When we worship God in Spirit we bring our heart, mind, and soul into alignment with Him. It means not approaching Him as though He were human, but as the eternal, ever present, all knowing, all powerful Spirit that He is.

Worship God in Truth

To worship God in truth is to simply know God’s truth. Since all scripture is inspired by the Spirit of God, the only way to know God’s true character and nature — worship Him in truth — we must immerse ourselves in His Word. We understand this instinctively when we want infatuation to grow into love. In a romantic relationship, you get to know a persons true character by their actions and their words. In the beginning, we hang on their every word to see if their actions match what they say. Over time, this is how we learn who they truly are.

In the same way, we are to meditate on the Word of God. When we hang on every Word God has spoken, we not only come to know God — we also learn how His Word takes action in our lives. Scripture reveals His character and nature — His heart, His will, His desires for His children, His warnings as a protector, His promises out of love. Ultimately, His ways.

Believing God exists and knowing who God is through having a relationship with Him are not the same. Many believers attend church on Sunday, sit through Sunday school, and even participate in Bible study, yet still do not know who God is or walk in a relationship with Him. When you are in a relationship with God, you believe God — you trust His character, you submit to His authority, and you understand your position as His servant. But when you merely believe in God you treat Him like a servant. These are they who eagerly quote Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you,” but ignore Matthew 7:1-2 which warns “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.“

The servant can be confident when he or she asks anything of God because they know how to please Him — they have intimate knowledge of who He is. Intimacy with God bears the fruit of worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. As believers, this is how we come to know God’s truth, and this is how we approach Him as He truly is – a Spirit.

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24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Do You Truly Know God?

It may be human nature, or simply a lack of understanding, but many people tend to think of God as if He were human. Speaking of Him as if He reacts the way we do, feels the way we feel, or responds the way we respond. I often hear people speak about God making someone pay who has wronged them, even politicians they disagree with. As if God is their personal judiciary, obligated to carry out their sense of justice.

Others treat prayer as a one-sided session of requests, wants, and desires, as if God exists to serve them. It is true, God is Judge of all the earth. Yes, He does provide our needs and even our desires according to His will. But is it possible to truly know God and still treat Him like a servant? Can there be a desire to be obedient to God if the relationship is one-sided, and that side continually takes God for granted? How can there be intimacy with God without seeking to know His desires?

Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well: “God is Spirit.” Until we understand what that means we will never approach Him as He truly is. But before we can understand how to approach God, we must first understand who God is—and to know who He is, we must know His name.

I AM vs Pagan gods

In the ancient world, a pagan god’s name determined what the deity depended on. Ra was the Sun god of Egypt. Baal was the Canaanite storm god. Artemis of Ephesus was the fertility goddess. In fact, in Egypt alone, during the days of Moses, Egyptian texts name over 1,400 deities—each tied to a specific force of nature or human need.

But when Moses asked God what name he should give the Israelites, God did not identify himself with the sun, moon, stars, harvest, or fertility. He did not tie Himself to anything created—showing that His being was not dependent on anything created.

Instead God said to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.“

The pagan gods of the nations were made by the hands of men. They never appeared to anyone, never sent angels to speak on their behalf, or chose prophets as their voice on earth. Their names revealed their limitations—Ra depended on the sun, Baal on storms, Artemis on fertility.

With the words “I AM WHO I AM” the God of Israel revealed that He is not defined by creation—He is the creator. Revealing His nature as self-existent, existing before time itself, eternal, unchanging, and independent of all things. These are the very attributes that allow us to begin understanding what Jesus meant when He said, “God is Spirit.”

Because He is Spirit, God is omnipresent—everywhere at all times. David asks in Psalm 139:7, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” There is no place where God is not.

Because He is Spirit, God is omniscient—knowing all things past, present, and future. As David declares in Psalm 139:2, “You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar.”

And because He is Spirit, God is omnipotent—all‑powerful. The angel told Mary in Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

We cannot understand nor access God on a human level. As such, we must do so on a spiritual level—worship Him in Spirit. Physical worship and fellowship are necessary but should not be the only ways we communicate with and show our reverence for God.

To worship God in Spirit you must do so from the inside with your heart, mind, and soul, manifesting on the outside. But how exactly should we worship God in Spirit?

1. We engage God with our heart through an active prayer life.

When we pray we should not treat prayer as a monologue, but as a dialogue with God—we speak to and listen to God. We offer thanksgiving with our prayers, as Hebrews 13:15 teaches: “Offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name.

It is not always about a prayer posture, it is also about presence. Prayer can be done anywhere, at any time, in any circumstance.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 Paul ehorts us to “Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing.” Prayer walks in the morning sun are a beautiful way to converse with God. Pray while commuting, pray whenever you feel the need—because prayer is the foundation of worship and an intimate relationship with God.

2. We engage God with our mind by meditating on His Word.

Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and when we meditate on the Word the Holy Spirit not only opens our spiritual eyes, we allow Him to communicate with our spirit. Romans 8:16 teaches us, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.“

This is why Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” God often uses His Word to give instruction, warnings, correction, encouragement, and even reveal His will for us.

The importance of daily Bible reading cannot be overstated. You could say it is God’s preferred method for communicating with His children. People often ask what book they should start reading from, and that is a question that has no definitive answer. Each person’s life is unique and there are Scriptures for the unique situations each person is facing. And because the Word of God is alive and active, a familiar Scripture will speak to you differently depending on what you are facing in life. The important thing is to first open the Bible. Oftentimes the Holy Spirit will land you on the exact page you need to be in order to hear what God wants to tell you.

3. We engage God with our soul by aligning our thoughts with His Spirit.

Our thoughts are indicative of the state of our soul. Our thoughts, desires, and intentions must be shaped by the Spirit of God. Philippians 4:8 instructs: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

As born-again believers in Jesus Christ, we should have thoughts of eternal value. Colossians 3:1 declares: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”

When we worship God in Spirit we bring our heart, mind, and soul into alignment with Him. It means not approaching Him as though He were human, but as the eternal, ever-present, all-knowing, all-powerful Spirit that He is.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to commune with our spirit, our soul is reshaped—giving rise to new ways of thinking and understanding ourselves and the world around us. The veil of the flesh begins to lift, spiritual enlightenment takes root, allowing us to see the world through spiritual eyes—the way God intended.

Worship God in Truth

To worship God in truth is to simply know God’s truth. Since all scripture is inspired by the Spirit of God, the only way to know God’s true character and nature—and to worship Him in truth—we must immerse ourselves in His Word. We understand this instinctively when we want infatuation to grow into love. In a romantic relationship, you get to know a person’s true character by their actions and their words. In the beginning, we hang on their every word to see if their actions match what they say. Over time, this is how we learn who they truly are.

In the same way, we are to meditate on the Word of God. When we hang on every Word God has spoken, we not only come to know God—we also learn how His Word takes action in our lives. Scripture reveals His character and nature—His heart, His will, His desires for His children, His warnings as a protector, His promises out of love. Ultimately, His ways.

Believing God exists and knowing who God is through having a relationship with Him are not the same. Many believers attend church on Sunday, sit through Sunday school, and even participate in Bible study, yet still do not know who God is or walk in a relationship with Him. When you are in a relationship with God, you believe God—you trust His character, you submit to His authority, and you understand your position as His servant. But when you merely believe in God you treat Him like a servant. These are those who eagerly quote Matthew 7:7: “Ask, and it will be given to you,” but ignore Matthew 7:1-2 which warns: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.“

From the first few verses of Matthew 7 we see that the partial truth says to “ask and it will be given to you”—but the whole truth shows us that our hearts must be aligned with God’s command to not judge others in order to receive the desires we request of Him. In America, even our courtroom oath testifies to speak “the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God.” Because the Holy Spirit leads every child of God into all truth, we know that our God is a God of the whole truth.

A Confident Servant

The true servant of God can be confident when they ask anything of Him because they know how to please God—they have intimate knowledge of who He is. Intimacy with God bears the fruit of worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. As believers, this is how we come to know God’s truth, and this is how we approach Him as He truly is—a Spirit.

Scriptures That Show God’s Spirit Nature

Romans 1:20
“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

Jeremiah 23:24
“Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD.”

Proverbs 15:3
“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

1 Corinthians 2:10-11
“But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

1 Timothy 1:17
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

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A Thankful Prayer for God’s Spirit in Your Life

Father God in Heaven, I am able to remain at peace and find rest in You because You are where my heart is. Whether I am fulfilled or in need, even when I cannot see Your light through the darkness of this world, the fruit of Your truth testifies that You are there. When the thoughts of my soul wander, I find You leading my path straight again. When my spirit is hopeless, Your Spirit reminds me that my hope is in You. It is Your truth I seek, and it is Your Spirit that leads my spirit. In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I thank You. Amen.

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Trinitarian Benediction

As you navigate the fallen world today, may you recognize God in every aspect of your life.
May your heart always know your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as God in the flesh.
And may the Holy Spirit forever commune with your spirit, always bearing plentiful fruit.

3. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
4. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

It is no secret — and often said — that we live in a fallen world. There is no better proof of this than our natural attraction to what harms us and our resistance to what is good. Why is it that good girls like bad boys? Why do boys want to be “bad” in the first place? Why do we associate pleasure with the very things we come to regret, even though as children we were warned against them? There are many examples that show our pleasure principle leads to pure vanity. So why do most of us spend our youthful peak years feeding our flesh?

It may surprise many, but God’s perfect order for mankind is that we begin life in our natural, before we come to understand who we are spiritually. Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 15:46: “However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.” What Paul is saying is, our spirits first dwell in earthly, natural bodies before we receive our eternal, spiritual bodies. The natural comes first — and with it, all the impulses, desires, and weaknesses that Titus 3:3 describes so honestly,.

But there are other examples in Scripture that show it is God’s will for the natural to precede the spiritual. Ishmael — born of the flesh — came before Isaac, the child of promise. Cain, who thought he could choose how to please God and rejected God’s instruction, came before Abel, whose obedience pleased God. Esau, who sold his birthright to satisfy a momentary craving, preceded Jacob, who God later named Israel — the father of the twelve patriarchs from whom the twelve tribes of Irael came. Scripture continually shows us this pattern: first comes the natural, revealing the weakness of the flesh, and then the spiritual follows, revealing the power and purpose of God.

This natural-then-spiritual order is unique to mankind. Scripture shows that before God created humanity and earthly creatures, He had already created spiritual beings that dwelled in the heavenlies — angels who could observe mankind and even walk the earth. Job 38:7 tells us that “the morning Stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” when God laid the foundations of the earth. Genesis 6:2 speaks of the angels who abandoned their proper place in Heaven, saying, “the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and they took to them wives, of all which they choose.” But even these were not the first to rebel against the spiritual order God established.

God’s will for the natural to come before becoming spiritual only makes sense when we consider the fall of Lucifer. Ezekiel 28 gives a vivid description of who Lucifer was before iniquity was found in him. Verse 12 describes him as “full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.” Verse 13 reveals “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering,” showing the honor and splendor God had given him. Verse 14 goes even further: “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so.” These verses reveal the extraordinary trust and authority God placed in Lucifer. And verse 15 tells the tragedy of his fall: “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquitie was found in thee.”

Most people say the first sin in the world was the partaking of the forbidden tree. But few recognize that the first sin in the universe was the pride of Lucifer. Pride is the same sin he used on Eve when he told her in Genesis 3:5, “you will be like God.” The exact words Lucifer said in his own heart that led him to oppose God. This is why God hates pride in man. Pride corrupted a perfect spiritual being, and pride led humanity into rebellion. Yet, it was also Lucifer’s fall that led God to create mankind in His own image — lower than the angels, yet possessing something the angels do not have: free will.

It wasn’t a curse, and we did not have a choice about being born into this world already marked by spiritual decline and moral depravity. But we do have a choice about whether we stay in that natural state of mind or embrace the spiritual life that God breathed into us from the beginning. Before mankind, all of God’s creations were spoken into existence. But with Adam, God did something different — He breathed His own breath into Adam giving him life, and that same breath gave life to each of us.

Adam and Eve were made glorious, clothed in a heavenly countenance that covered their nakedness. But when sin entered, their glory was lost. Their fleshly eyes were opened, their nakedness exposed, and spiritual blindness took hold. Sin had become woven into the human DNA.

Not only do we have free will — we also have redemption, another attribute the angels do not receive. As Titus 3:3 says, we all begin life “foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” This is our “before Christ” condition, inherited through the tainted bloodline of sin. But once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, His shed blood cleanses us of our sins and all unrighteousness. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, making our bodies the Temple of God. From that moment, the Holy Spirit begins His work of regeneration — the renewing of our minds and the transformation of our hearts. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” This is the true definition of being born again.

And this is a beautiful thing, because we begin to form an intimate relationship with our Father God. His Spirit begins to reveal truths not only about who He is, but about who He created each of us to be. His kindness and love, shed abroad in our hearts, begins to manifest in our daily lives. Instead of fear-laden thoughts filled with worst-case scenarios, our minds become courage-filled with the expectation of God’s best. Not because we deserve anything good, but because we are now right with God. He blesses the believer so that we can become a blessing to others — and in doing so, our lives bring glory to Him.

This is how we know that God loves us — because He does not give us what our rebellion deserves. He did not turn His back when Adam and Eve fell to the influence of the evil one. Instead, He appeared asking Adam, “Where are you” (Genesis 3:9) God knew exactly where Adam was physically, but He also knew Adam had been lost spiritually. This same heart of God is revealed again when Jesus says in Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

We begin as lost sheep, wandering the earth in the natural condition described in Titus 3:3. But God, in His mercy, reaches out to each and every one of us, calling us by name. And for those of us who truly answer His call, He restores, He renews, and He brings us back into fellowship with Himself. Not because He is obligated to, but because He has watched His perfect creation rebel against Him, and go on to bring down His weaker creation. But through Christ Jesus, we the fallen are raised from the natural to the spiritual, from death to eternal life.

Amen.

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3. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
4. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

Our Natural State as Fallen Beings

It is no secret—and often said—that we live in a fallen world. There is no better proof of this than our natural attraction to what harms us and our resistance to what is good. Why is it that good girls like bad boys? Why do boys want to be “bad” in the first place? Why do we associate pleasure with the very things we come to regret, even though as children we were warned against them? There are many examples that show our pleasure principle leads to pure vanity. So why do most of us spend our youthful peak years feeding our flesh?

It may surprise many, but God’s perfect order for mankind is that we begin life in our natural state before we come to understand who we are spiritually. This does not mean that God wants us to be led by sin. Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 15:46: “However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.” What Paul is saying is, our spirits first dwell in earthly, natural bodies before we receive our eternal spiritual bodies. Also true is that our natural impulses come first in life—and along with them our fleshly desires and weaknesses that Titus 3:3 describes so honestly—before we learn who we are spiritually.

But there are other examples in Scripture that show it is God’s will for the natural to precede the spiritual. Although Abraham and Sarah moved ahead of God, Ishmael, born of the flesh, came before Isaac the child of promise. Cain, who thought he could choose how to please God and rejected God’s instruction, came before Abel, whose obedience pleased God. Esau, who sold his birthright to satisfy a momentary craving, preceded Jacob, whom God later named Israel—the father of the twelve patriarchs from whom the twelve tribes of Israel came. Scripture continually shows us this pattern: first comes the natural, revealing the weakness of the flesh, and then the spiritual follows, revealing the power and purpose of God.

God’s Order for Mankind: Natural Then Spiritual

This natural-then-spiritual order is unique to mankind. Scripture shows that before God created humanity and earthly creatures, He had already created spiritual beings that dwell in the heavenly realm—angels who could observe mankind and even walk the earth. Job 38:7 tells us: “the morning Stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy“, when God laid the foundations of the earth. Genesis 6:2 speaks of angels who abandoned their proper place in Heaven, saying, “the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and they took to them wives, of all which they chose.” But even these were not the first to rebel against the spiritual order God established.

God’s will for the natural to come before becoming spiritual only makes sense when we consider the fall of Lucifer. Ezekiel 28 gives a vivid description of who Lucifer was before iniquity was found in him. Verse 12 describes him as: “full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.” Verse 13 reveals: “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering,” showing the honor and splendor God had given him. Verse 14 goes even further: “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so.” These verses reveal the extraordinary trust and authority God placed in Lucifer. And verse 15 tells the tragedy of his fall: “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”

Most people say the first sin in the world was the partaking of the forbidden tree. But few recognize that the first sin in the universe was the pride of Lucifer. Pride is the same sin he used on Eve when he told her in Genesis 3:5, “you will be like God.” This was the very delusion that led him to oppose God. This is why God hates pride in man. Pride corrupted a perfect spiritual being, and pride led humanity into rebellion. Yet it was also Lucifer’s fall that led God to create mankind in His own image—although lower than the angels, yet possessing something the angels do not have: free will with the gift of redemption. So it makes sense, when considering the rebellion God experienced from His angelic creations, that mankind would first experience life through the trials of our fallen state, to allow our free will to lead us to choose God and mature spiritually.

Fallen but Not Cursed: Gifted With Free Will and Redemption

It wasn’t a curse, and we did not have a choice about being born into this world already marked by spiritual decline and moral depravity. But we do have a choice about whether we remain in that natural state of mind or embrace the spiritual life that God breathed into us from the beginning. Before mankind, all of God’s creations were spoken into existence. But with Adam, God did something different—He breathed His own breath into Adam giving him life; and that same breath gives life to each of us.

Adam and Eve were made glorious, clothed in a heavenly countenance that covered their nakedness. But when sin entered, their glory was lost—their fleshly eyes were opened, their nakedness exposed, and spiritual blindness took hold. Sin had become woven into the human DNA.

Not only do we have free will—we also have redemption, another attribute the angels did not receive. As Titus 3:3 says: we all begin life “foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” This is our natural “before Christ” condition, inherited through the tainted blood of sin. But once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, His shed blood cleanses us from all sin and all unrighteousness. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, making our bodies the temple of God. From that moment, the Holy Spirit begins His work of regeneration—the renewing of our minds and the transformation of our hearts. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” This is the true definition of being born again spiritually. When we choose to leave our natural minds to seek the mind of Christ—our desires and motives are no longer carnal, but godly.

A Relationship That Saves His Lost Sheep

The beautiful thing is this: when we begin to form an intimate relationship with our Father God, His Spirit begins to reveal truths not only about who He is, but about who He created each of us to be. His kindness and love, shed abroad in our hearts, begin to manifest in our daily lives. Instead of fear-laden thoughts filled with worst-case scenarios, our minds become courage-filled with the expectation of God’s best. Not because we deserve anything good, but because we are now right with God. He blesses the believer so that we can become a blessing to others—and in doing so, our lives bring glory to Him. With every person that surrenders their life to Christ, we are also defeating the same evil in the spiritual realm that Jesus did with every demon He cast out, and through His work of the Cross. Christians are God’s warriors against evil and those who rebel against Him, just as the Israelites were as His chosen people.

God does not give us what our rebellion deserves, unless we stubbornly choose to reject Him. He did not turn His back when Adam and Eve fell to the influence of the evil one. Instead, He appeared asking Adam, “Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9). God knew exactly where Adam was physically, but He also knew Adam had been lost spiritually. This same heart of God is revealed again when Jesus says in Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

We begin as lost sheep, wandering the earth in the natural condition described in Titus 3:3. But God, in His mercy, reaches out to each and every one of us, calling us by name. And for those who truly answer His call, He restores, He renews, and He brings us back into fellowship with Himself. Not because He is obligated to do so, but because He has watched His perfect creation rebel against Him and go on to bring down His weaker creation. But through Christ Jesus—we the fallen—are raised from the natural to the spiritual, from being dead in sin to eternal life.

Scriptures That Reveal the Journey From Spiritual Blindness to Spiritual Enlightenment

1 Corinthians 2:14
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

Ephesians 4:18
“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Galatians 5:16
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Colossians 3:10
“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”

Galatians 5:22-23
“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

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A Thankful Prayer for Spiritual Awakening

Father God in Heaven, Your love, Your mercy, and Your grace have redeemed me, even though I was born fallen and in sin against You. Unable on my own to align my spirit with Yours, You reached out Your hand and called me by name. Your convictions were never to shame me or blame me, but to lead my spirit to the truth of who I am in Christ Jesus, and away from the fleshly nature that separated me from You from birth. I am eternally thankful for Your love, Your mercy, and Your grace. By the sacrifice and example of Your sinless Son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I give thanks and pray in His holy name. Amen.

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Trinitarian Benediction

As the world tries to keep you in darkness, may you hear God when He calls you to Himself.
May you grow to fully embrace your identity in Christ Jesus.
And may the Holy Spirit sow the seeds in you that bear His fruit.