a) Washing as a work of the Spirit of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The prepositions "in" and "by" modify all three verbes above; (washed, sanctified, and justified.)
Tit 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
This is not a reference to two separate experiences washing(baptism), and renewal of the Holy Spirit, as (Spirit baptism). This is but one experience which involves Rebirth and renewal put into effect by the Holy Spirit. Salvation is not received by baptism but is the Work of the Holy Spirit.
Joh 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
Thus it is not about our standing with God - redeemed, forgiven, justified, cleansed but also "washing by the Spirit of God". Rebirth and Renewal.
The Complete Reorientation of our Lives is tied to the Work of the Spirit - rebirth. Paul shows this involves "death" and "Resurrection"
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
2Co 5:15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
2Co 5:15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
have crucified the flesh — They nailed it to the cross once for all when they became Christ’s, on believing and being baptized (Rom_6:3, Rom_6:4): they keep it now in a state of crucifixion (Rom_6:6): so that the Spirit can produce in them, comparatively uninterrupted by it, “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal_5:22). “Man, by faith, is dead to the former standing point of a sinful life, and rises to a new life (Gal_5:25) of communion with Christ (Col_3:3). The act by which they have crucified the flesh with its lust, is already accomplished ideally in principle. JFB's Commentary
Se also Romans ^:1-6 Col. 2:20-3:4
Yahweh is the Living - Life-giving Spirit.
In the New testament the Holy Spirit is the Life-giving Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
2Co 3:6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
In Gal 5:24 the flesh - sin; Torah observance etc, has been crucified, and we have been raised in newness of the Spirit
Rom 7:6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
Paul's understanding of Christian Conversion as the Work of the Spirit therefore, has no place in it for the whitewashed-sinner, the person who is still sinful, though justified before God anyway. The only coming to Christ known to Paul is one in which the life of the Believer is invaded by the Life-giving Spirit - who applies Redemption and the Work of Christ by transforming us within.
Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
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