Dynamics of Spiritual Life

1. Spiritual Life Isn't Automatic; It Requires Renewal

Because of the default mode of the human heart, revival is a pattern repeatedly used by the Holy Spirit to reconnect Christian communities with the power of the gospel.

Human nature's default. The human heart, even after conversion, has a natural tendency towards spiritual decline, legalism, cheap grace, and conformity to the world. This isn't a bug, but a feature of our fallen state, requiring God's intervention. History shows a cyclical pattern of apostasy and renewal among God's people, from the Judges era to the present.

God's gracious pattern. Revival and renewal are God's repeated response to this human tendency, often initiated by His sovereign mercy and sometimes in response to the groaning prayers of His people. These are seasons where the Holy Spirit's ordinary operations are greatly intensified, revitalizing spiritual vitality in the church and fostering its expansion. They are necessary in every age and culture.

Beyond mere excitement. Revival is not just extraordinary religious excitement; it's a restoration to normal spiritual life after corporate declension. It's a pattern of God breathing new life into His people, essential for every major advance of His kingdom on earth.

2. Renewal Starts with Knowing God's Holiness and Our Deep Sin

Acceptance of Christ and appropriation of every element in redemption is conditional on awareness of God’s holiness and conviction of the depth of our sin.

Essential preconditions. Knowing the true God and knowing ourselves are the indispensable foundations for spiritual life and renewal. As Calvin noted, these two forms of knowledge are deeply intertwined and drive us to seek Christ. The "law-work" of the Old Testament was designed precisely to awaken this hunger.

The depth of sin. Sin is far more than isolated acts of conscious disobedience; it's a compulsive, organic network rooted in our alienation from God, a "God complex" of independence and unbelief. Without the Holy Spirit, our hearts are reservoirs of unconscious disordered motivation, deceitful and desperately corrupt.

• Sin is a "complex," not just actions.
• Its root is compulsive unbelief.
• The heart is deceitful above all things.

God's character. A dim view of God's holiness and righteousness leads to a shallow understanding of sin and a sentimentalized, unbelievable deity. Only when God's awesome holiness is clearly presented, alongside His love and mercy revealed in the cross, can the depth of our need and the grandeur of His grace be truly apprehended.

3. The Core of Renewal: Justification, Sanctification, Spirit, and Spiritual Authority

Believers are therefore covered by the perfect righteousness of Christ reckoned to them in justification; strengthened by the power of Christ’s life in sanctification; given immediate access to the mind and heart of Christ by the indwelling of the Spirit; and equipped with the authority of Christ in resisting, exposing and expelling the forces of darkness.

Primary benefits. These four elements are the heart of the gospel and the dynamics of spiritual life, flowing from our union with Christ's death and resurrection. They are the answer to the hunger awakened by a clear view of God's holiness and our sin.

• Justification: Accepted as righteous through Christ's imputed righteousness.
• Sanctification: Progress in actual holiness through Christ's life and Spirit.
• Indwelling Spirit: Intimate relationship and guidance by the Holy Spirit.
• Spiritual Authority: Authority over powers of darkness through Christ's victory.

Inseparable yet distinct. While distinct theologically, these benefits are inseparable in genuine Christian experience. You cannot truly appropriate justification without a commitment to sanctification, nor can you grow in holiness without resting in God's acceptance through Christ. Attempts to separate them lead to cheap grace or legalism.

Beyond initial conversion. These dynamics are not just for the outset of Christian life but are meant to be daily realities. Solidly appropriating them requires a continuous, conscious awareness of God's holiness, the depth of our sin, and the sufficiency of Christ's work.

4. The Holy Spirit is the Engine of Renewal, Not Just a Doctrine

The principal work of the Spirit in applying redemption lies in making us holy, and being filled with the Spirit simply means having all our faculties under his control rather than under the control of sin.

Central to vitality. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is strategically important for the church's life and mission, making Christ's spiritual presence real among believers. To de-emphasize the Spirit is to ignore Christ's present work and cripple the church.

• Spirit is Counselor, Teacher, Guide, Sanctifier, Empowerer.
• His indwelling makes the Trinity's presence real.
• He equips for witness and moves the world.

Filling and holiness. Being filled with the Spirit is intimately linked to growth in holiness, not separate from it. It means having all our faculties under His control, not sin's. While empowering for service is a result, it flows from this state of being under His control.

Beyond debate. Debates about "baptism of the Spirit" or specific gifts (like tongues) should not obscure the central reality: the Holy Spirit is a personal Counselor to be known and relied upon daily. A deliberate effort to recognize His person and walk in conscious fellowship with Him is crucial for spiritual vitality.

5. Renewal Involves Active Warfare Against Spiritual Darkness

The earth is blinded by an occupying army of fallen angelic powers, and the kingdom of God is a liberation army advancing the frontiers of light until all the earth is full of the knowledge of God.

Beyond flesh and blood. Spiritual decline and renewal are not just due to human weakness (flesh) or societal pressures (world); they involve conflict with an occupying army of fallen angelic powers led by Satan. This spiritual warfare is a constant feature of Christian existence.

Satan's strategies. The enemy actively opposes the kingdom's advance through various means:

• Temptation: Enticing believers into sin or sub-Christian lifestyles.
• Deception: Blinding minds to truth, inspiring false religion, counterfeiting gifts.
• Accusation: Discrediting believers, dividing the church, attacking consciences.
• Possession: Direct control over individuals (though less common than other forms).
• Physical Attack: Causing illness or destruction, often through human agents.

Authority in Christ. Christ's atoning work decisively defeated these powers, and believers, united with Him, have authority to resist and displace them. This requires putting on the "whole armor of God," which is essentially walking in the light of Christ's redemptive provisions.

6. Authentic Renewal Flourishes in Vibrant Christian Community

Individual spiritual dynamics and corporate spiritual dynamics are interdependent, just as the health of the body and the health of its cells are correlative.

Interdependence. Spiritual vitality is not just an individual matter; it's deeply connected to the community of believers. Grace is conveyed through the body of Christ along horizontal channels as well as vertically from God. No individual or congregation is spiritually independent.

Beyond passive attendance. The early church modeled a vibrant, integrated community centered on worship, mission, and mutual care. This contrasts with later patterns where the laity became passive observers. True community involves mutual edification, sharing of gifts, and interdependence.

Micro and macro. Renewal benefits from intentional subcommunities (like small groups or house churches) within the larger congregation. These provide closer fellowship, prayer support, and mutual accountability, acting as vital cells in the body. These local bodies must also connect with the broader church and the world.

7. True Orthodoxy is Living, Spirit-Illuminated Truth, Not Dead Doctrine

Live orthodoxy, however, is only found where the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the heart and imparts a vision of the true God and the actual human condition.

Doctrine's function. Biblical doctrine is the normal instrument through which the Holy Spirit transforms the human personality. It's essential for evangelism, nurture, and prophetic witness. However, intellectual assent alone is insufficient; it must be accompanied by a work of grace in the heart.

Beyond "notional" faith. True orthodoxy is not mere "notional" or historical faith, but a "sense of the heart" where doctrines become transparent, revealing the glory of God and the reality of our condition. This vision energizes the whole personality and changes the direction of life.

Balance of Word and Spirit. Live orthodoxy requires a proper balance: dependence on the written Word for objective truth and dependence on the risen Christ through the Spirit for illuminated understanding and power to apply that truth. Neglecting either leads to subjectivism or dead formalism.

8. The Gospel Must Be Freed from Cultural Captivity to Spread

The message must therefore be disenculturated, freed from its protective shell, so that it may take root in a thousand different cultural and political soils and bring them to full self-expression.

Enculturation's danger. Spiritual decline often leads to destructive enculturation, where the church absorbs godless cultural values and patterns. This happens when hearts aren't full of God and minds aren't transformed by the Spirit and the Word.

Beyond protective shells. The Old Covenant had a protective enculturation (Jewish law, customs) suited for Israel's spiritual infancy. The New Testament gospel, however, is transcultural. It must be disenculturated to penetrate all nations, not bound to one cultural form (like first-century Judaism or later Western forms).

Two forms of re-enculturation. When the church fails to fully appropriate Christ's life, it risks:

• Destructive: Absorbing unholy elements from host cultures.
• Protective: Fusing with Christianized culture, creating rigid, often legalistic, forms that hinder mission.

Freedom in Christ. Disenculturation is possible only through full reliance on Christ for justification and sanctification. This frees Christians from needing cultural supports for their identity and allows the gospel to be expressed creatively in diverse forms, reaching different audiences effectively.

9. Revival, Though Often Messy, Ultimately Drives Towards Unity

Division within the church is not positively correlated with spiritual renewal either as cause or effect. And in fact the converse is certainly true: the hope of renewal in the church is intimately bound up with its unity.

Historical tension. Revival movements have often been accompanied by division and sectarianism, leading some to view them with suspicion. However, this is often due to the mixture of flesh and Spirit, immaturity, or external opposition, not the essence of renewal itself.

Unitive thrust. Classical evangelicalism, from Luther's "ecclesiolae in ecclesia" to Zinzendorf's ecumenism and the 19th-century alliances, has had a strong unitive and transformationist impulse. It sought to renew the whole church, not just create pure, separated sects.

Beyond separation. While separation may sometimes be necessary (e.g., due to forced conscience violation or terminal apostasy), it is not the ideal biblical pattern. The New Testament emphasizes unity, mutual forbearance, and using truth to correct error within the body, not withdrawal.

• Paul counsels shunning, not structural separation.
• Discipline aims at health, not amputation.
• The goal is unity in faith and knowledge (Ephesians 4).

Hope for convergence. Despite historical splits and current polarization (e.g., Fundamentalist vs. Liberal), there are signs of convergence today. Dialog, mutual respect, and a focus on shared mission can bridge divides and allow different "tropoi paideia" (training grounds) to contribute to the whole.

10. Genuine Spiritual Renewal Inevitably Leads to Social Transformation

Authentic spiritual renewal inevitably results in social and cultural transformation; that no deep and lasting social change can be effected by Christians without a general spiritual awakening of the church.

Beyond individualism. While some modern evangelicalism has been criticized for social passivity, history shows that authentic spiritual renewal produces social and cultural transformation. Deep, lasting social change requires a generally awakened church, not just individual efforts.

Holistic witness. Classical evangelicalism practiced a holistic witness: evangelistic preaching combined with works of love and prophetic social action. This included:

• Caring for the poor, sick, orphans, prisoners.
• Fighting against slavery and child labor.
• Promoting temperance and public welfare.
• Challenging unjust structures and mores.

Sin's social dimension. Repentance must be comprehensive, addressing not just personal sins but also corporate patterns of sin like racism, oppression, and indifference to injustice. A doctrine of sin that ignores this dimension cannot lead to full social engagement.

Beyond surface remedies. Effective social action requires understanding the deep roots of injustice (corporate flesh, demonic forces) and engaging in spiritual warfare, including prayer for structural change. It's not just about changing hearts, but also changing structures, using both law and love.

11. Renewal Unleashes a Creative Outpouring in Arts and Culture

If the rest of the church stands behind them with prayer and financial support, there is no reason why they should not erect new cultural monuments in this age to proclaim Christ with the same power resident in the great works of the cathedral builders, the religious painters, Bach and Handel, and Haydn and Mendelssohn.

Art and the Spirit. Historically, evangelical awakenings have generated new artistic expression, both popular and serious. The Holy Spirit fills artists with ability and intelligence to devise designs that proclaim Christ's creative power.

Beyond moralism. A major hindrance to Christian art today is sterilization by ascetic moralism and oversimplified theology. Art should depict life realistically, not be bound by moralistic straitjackets that prevent it from connecting with the actual world and diverse audiences.

• Art's power is in its moral outlook, not just its content.
• Overly strict censorship can suppress genuine art.
• A two-dimensional theology limits artistic depth.

Engaging culture. Christians should engage with contemporary cultural forms (music, film, media) to redeem and use them for the gospel, rather than dismissing them as "worldly." This requires appreciating diverse idioms and supporting Christian artists financially and prayerfully.

12. Prospects for Renewal Depend on Applying These Dynamics

But if a whole generation of young Evangelicals can mature in their spirituality, and if older Evangelical leaders can expand their vision, we have the potential for a new level of evangelical impact within the church and on society.

Signs of hope. Despite historical setbacks and current challenges (pessimism, division, cultural inertia), there are signs of renewed spiritual vitality today, particularly among younger Evangelicals and in areas like global missions.

Beyond passive waiting. The future of renewal is not predetermined by eschatological timelines (pre-, post-, amillennialism). While each view offers a perspective, none should lead to passive waiting or despair. The vigor of the church's mission depends more on spiritual vitality than precise eschatological certainty.

Applying the dynamics. The potential for a new level of evangelical impact depends on:

• Young Evangelicals maturing in balanced spirituality.
• Older leaders expanding their vision beyond past limitations.
• Applying all the dynamics of renewal (justification, sanctification, Spirit, conflict, mission, prayer, community, orthodoxy, disenculturation, social concern).

A call to action. The church must move beyond its current state of division and partial vitality. By embracing holistic renewal, engaging in spiritual warfare, fostering unity, and applying biblical truth to all areas of life and society, it can become a powerful force for transformation, reflecting the increasing rule of Christ in history.

Last updated: May 14, 2025