Spiritual Essence

This whole thing is spiritual in its essence. A Christian is what he is not by ecclesiastical manipulation but by the new birth. He is a Christian because of a Spirit who dwells in him. Only that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. The flesh can never be converted into spirit, no matter how many church dignitaries work on it. Confirmation, baptism, holy communion, confession of faith—none of these nor all of them together can turn flesh into spirit nor make of a son of Adam a son of God. “Because ye are sons,” wrote Paul to the Galatians, “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” And to the Corinthians he wrote, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” And to the Romans, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his.”

Verse

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6

Thought

Confirmation, baptism, holy communion, confession of faith—none of these nor all of them together can turn flesh into spirit nor make of a son of Adam a son of God.

Prayer

Abba, Father, we long for Your Spirit to reside in our hearts.