Topical Bible: Spiritual Life: God is the Author of

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The concept of spiritual life is deeply rooted in the understanding that God is its ultimate author and sustainer. Throughout the Scriptures, God is depicted as the source and originator of all spiritual vitality and renewal. This entry explores the biblical foundation for recognizing God as the author of spiritual life, drawing from various passages that highlight His role in creation, redemption, and sanctification.

Creation and the Breath of Life

The Bible begins with the account of creation, where God is portrayed as the giver of life. In Genesis 2:7 , it is written, "Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." This passage underscores the divine act of imparting life, both physical and spiritual, to humanity. The breath of life signifies more than mere existence; it represents the spiritual essence that connects humans to their Creator.

Spiritual Renewal and Regeneration

God's role as the author of spiritual life is further emphasized in the New Testament through the concept of regeneration. In John 3:5-6 , Jesus explains to Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit." Here, the new birth is attributed to the work of the Holy Spirit, highlighting God's active involvement in renewing and transforming the believer's spiritual life.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the believer's spiritual life, acting as the agent of God's transformative power. In Romans 8:11 , Paul writes, "And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who dwells within you." This passage affirms that the same Spirit responsible for Christ's resurrection is at work in believers, imparting spiritual life and vitality.

Union with Christ

Union with Christ is another key aspect of understanding God as the author of spiritual life. In Galatians 2:20 , Paul declares, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." This union signifies that the believer's spiritual life is intrinsically linked to Christ's life, death, and resurrection, with God orchestrating this profound connection.

Eternal Life as a Gift from God

Eternal life, a central theme in Christian theology, is consistently presented as a gift from God. In Romans 6:23 , it is stated, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This verse contrasts the consequences of sin with the divine gift of eternal life, underscoring God's role as the giver of spiritual life that transcends temporal existence.

The Role of Scripture

Scripture itself is a vital means through which God imparts spiritual life. Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as "living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword." The living nature of Scripture reflects its divine origin and its power to penetrate the human heart, bringing about spiritual awakening and growth.

Conclusion

The biblical narrative consistently affirms that God is the author of spiritual life, from the initial act of creation to the ongoing work of regeneration and sanctification. Through the Holy Spirit, union with Christ, and the transformative power of Scripture, God imparts and sustains the spiritual life of believers, guiding them toward eternal communion with Him.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 36:9
For with you is the fountain of life: in your light shall we see light.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Preface of the Author.
... For this reason the author has undertaken to offer the ... the significance of the
individual spiritual life and of the ... about the objective work of God, viz., in ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/preface of the author.htm

The Law of God
... towards a man, as now born again by the Spirit of God and of ... that it may be a perpetual
rule for directing his life in a godly and spiritual manner: (Titus 3 ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 12 the law of.htm

Smith -- Assurance in God
... treason toward God's people; and the author of the ... to him through the workings of
his inner spiritual life. ... This was how God's revelation came to this brother ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/smith assurance in god.htm

Spiritual Desolation.
... Palladius, the author of the "Lives of the Fathers of the Desert ... The masters of the
spiritual life say that souls thus favored by God, should ask him to ...
/.../de liguori/uniformity with gods will/6 spiritual desolation.htm

Conformity to the Will of God.
... peace which is the foundation of the spiritual life, and will ... the accusation a more
serious sin of your past life. ... myself as I am." Then will God be glorified ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/i conformity to the will of.htm

On Magistracy
... good, to the glory of God who is its author. (Romans 13:4.) For since man, according
to his two-fold life, (that is, the animal and the spiritual,) stands in ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 25 on magistracy.htm

On the Free Will of Man and Its Powers
... or of a superior-kind and relating to spiritual life,) inordinately and ... let the
consideration of the whole of the life of man ... God is the author of salvation. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 11 on the free.htm

Spiritual Revival, the Want of the Church
... else, because we feel that we can agree better on worldly things than we can on
spiritual. ... It is not a new man that is wanted; it is the life of God in him. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 44 1898/spiritual revival the want of.htm

Edwards -- Spiritual Light
... it than in the communication of that spiritual and divine ... as a new supernatural
principle of life and action ... this difference, that the Spirit of God, in acting ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/edwards spiritual light.htm

The Holy Scripture.
... Paul declares, the Scripture was inspired of God. ... a dead-letter, unspiritual,
mechanically opposing the spiritual life, it is ... with reference to the life of the ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xii the holy scripture.htm