Renewing Your Mind Experiencing the New Birth
9 snips
Oct 23, 2025 
Michael Reeves, president and theology professor at Union School of Theology, dives into the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the Reformation. He contrasts the genuine spiritual life emphasized by the Reformers with the ritualism of medieval Catholicism. Discussing the inner transformation of hearts versus mere moral changes, Reeves highlights how true communion with God enhances faith and love. He also warns against modern ritualism and stresses the Spirit's role in providing comfort and assurance, emphasizing that genuine church renewal hinges on reclaiming this spiritual significance.
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Spirit vs. Sacramental System
- Medieval sacramentalism effectively replaced the Spirit, making grace a controlled, impersonal commodity.
- The Reformers insisted the Spirit is the giver of life, requiring a radical inward new birth, not mere ritual.
Salvation As Divine Rescue
- Reformers taught salvation is a divine rescue, not a cooperative effort with God.
- True change requires the Spirit to give new hearts that desire and receive life from God.
Heart Transformation Over Behavior
- Reformers emphasized being born again: internal love for God replacing self-love.
- William Tyndale argued only the Spirit can liberate hearts and win them to know God.