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Bridging the chasm of history pt2

The promised work of the Spirit.

In the OT, The prophets spoke of the pouring out of God's Spirit. It would be shared by all who belonged to God's covenant people, and will be poured into our hearts and be moved to obey and follow His laws and words.

The Spirit, essentially, does 2 things. Firstly, it calls us to follow God in the first place - the Spirit initiates regeneration. Following our response in faith and repentance, the Spirit continues to effect this regeneration by constantly calling us to God.

This same Spirit "outpouring" is also the basis for the Baptist church's belief in the priesthood of all believers.

Acts 2:14-41 describes this promised outpouring of the Spirit, and Peter's explanation for it. It declares the identity of Jesus in power.

The Spirit convicts us of sin and righteousness and judgement. He gives us new birth, enabling us to turn back in faith. "No-one can come to the Son unless the Father draws him" - John 6:44

Faith and repentance are not acts done by us, but are gifts of God, and we need to respond in such a manner.

Knowing this, we then understand the Spirit must act in order for evangelism or missions to have any basis. It is often suggested that where the Spirit is not limited by means of action, He prefers to act through the preaching of the Word. Therefore, the chasm of history does not stand here. There is no "hip" or "in" way to share the Gospel, except from God's Word. If the Spirit is needed for a person to know God, then we should also act in the ways which are preferred by God.
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