A vision of the restored temple which Jesus prophetically applies to individual believers]) - The Spirit of God given at Pentecost to all believers is the fulfillment of God's promise through His Son and realized in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit that descended on Jesus at his Baptism has made His home in everyone who has received Him by faith. - Acts 2:1-13 (Joel 3:28-29; John 7:37-39; Ezekiel 47:1-12

Listen to Zach bring the word on our Annual Youth Sunday.

It is the Father's purpose to make His Son known, loved, honored, praised, and have preeminence in everything. The Spirit of God dwelling in us, convinces us of the truth of who Jesus is, of what he accomplished and what he is now doing so that we might join him in his mission. - John 16:5-15

Jesus' Spirit comes to abide in His followers, love them and make himself known to them by indwelling them as the Holy Spirit. But more than being a comfort because he is with us, Jesus will continue to teach us all things (past, present, and future). - John 14:15-26

Our life of renewal is first and foremost spiritual. We are born of the Spirit of God and in that moment, born into a life of righteousness (justification). Our best attempts at obedience will always fall short of seeing the Kingdom of God. If we want to become our most authentic and true selves the way God intended in His Kingdom, then it begins in surrender and letting God have all of you, even your inmost being. - John 3:1-8

The gift of God's will for our renewal is the clearest sign that God is for us! Believing God is for you and not out to get you is necessary for our renewal and the ground of our trust in Him rather than trust in our flesh! - Romans 8:28-39

We are redeemed and renewed by the Father's plan, accomplished by the Son and applied by the Holy Spirit. What is applied to us is our justification, obedience, indwelling, resurrection, adoption, inheritance and glory. And this is not just a future promise but for this present age! - Romans 8:1-27

For the follower of Christ, the role of the law is not a prerequisite to salvation but a motivation for our sanctification. It convicts and directs us to Christ our redeemer that we might bear fruit that reflects our new nature. - Romans 7:1-25

Romans 6:1-23 - In Christ, we have not been simply 'renewed' at a moment in our past like a mile marker we past on the highway a few miles back. Our renewal is a new way of living and being in which we are dead to sin and grace is an active ingredient, every moment of every day.

Growth cannot happen unless we acknowledge our need for justification which requires our acknowledgement of the depth of our sin. As terrifying as it is to see how pervasive sin is, God's grace abounds more! - Romans 5:12-21