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1 Corinthians 12:1-3 ESV
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

I. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. Before the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to followers of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is gifted to individuals, so they can belong to God.
II. GETTING TO KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. The Holy Spirit is often the forgotten God, but is equally God with the Father and Son, and vital to our salvation.
B. The Holy Spirit assures of our salvation by marking and sealing us as belonging to God. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
C. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the Gospel and leads us to repent of sin and confess Jesus as Lord. (Romans 10:9-10)
III. THE NECESSITY OF THE SPIRIT IN SALVATION
A. Being born sinners means we are born dead to the things of God and unable to respond appropriately to God. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
B. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes, we respond in repentance and faith, and then all true believers in Jesus receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:37-39)
IV. THE CREDIT IN CONVERSION
A. All credit in conversion goes to God, not our choice.
B. To believe in our choice more than God’s sovereign call is unbiblical and leads to a lack of worship.
NEXT STEPS
1. Remember your calling as a nobody, that God has through Christ made into somebody in His kingdom. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
2. Only with a proper view of conversion can our worship of God be appropriately large and lavish.
3. Don’t overcomplicate grace. Cry out to God and trust Him to save you.

NEXT WEEK:
Supremacy of the Savior in Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor 12:4-11