What is meant by the renewing of the Holy Spirit?

The renewal wrought by the Holy Spirit includes the following: When Baptism regenerates us through faith, at the same time it gives us a new spiritual life. The Holy Spirit begins living in us, enlightens our minds and our understanding, directs our will toward everything good, and gives us strength to live as God’s children, to resist lusts and be renewed according to the image of God.

On the Last Day in the resurrection, Christ’s Church will be glorified, at which time we will be free of our Old Adam and completely cleansed and holy.

Tit. 3:5: According to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

Rom. 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

2 Cor. 5:17: If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.

Eph. 5: 25-27: Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Does Baptism regenerate?

Baptism does regenerate, for the Bible calls it a washing of regeneration. Baptism is a means through which the Holy Spirit causes us to be born again.

Tit. 3:5: According to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

Joh. 3:5: Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Note: Those who in mission areas have already been born again through the Word, also need Baptism. They too are regenerated through Baptism according to God’s Word. The power and effect of Baptism does not change, even though before Baptism, the Gospel is proclaimed and heard. Baptism and the Word of the Gospel do not nullify, but strengthen the effect of each other. During the time of the Apostles, the Gospel was proclaimed first, and then Baptism was administered. To those who were baptized under such circumstances, the Apostle Paul proclaims that Baptism regenerates (Tit. 3:5). – Those, on the other hand, who after having been baptized, are spiritually dead because of their unbelief, may like the Prodigal Son repent and return to their Father in the shelter of their Baptism, and become alive again. Luther: “Repentance, therefore, is nothing else than a return and approach to Baptism, that we repeat and practice what we began before, but abandoned.”

What gives Baptism its power to save?

How can water do such great things? It is not the water indeed that does them, but the Word of God which is in and with the water, and faith, which trusts such word of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is simple water and no Baptism. But with the Word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul says, Titus Chapter third: According to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying.

Water in itself cannot save us, but God’s Word places the saving gifts into Baptism. Through faith, which trusts this Word of God, a person receives these gifts for himself.

Eph. 5:25-26: Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.