What is renewing of the Holy Ghost?

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Accepted answer

The "renewing of the Holy Ghost" is believed to pertain to the work that the Holy Spirit does within us; the process known as sanctification. This is the process of God's spirit to working in us to help us to become more like Him, or in other words, cleansing us from our sin nature. it is the replacement of our own sinful nature with God's Holy nature, enabled and achieved by the work of the Holy Spirit within us.

From Thomas Watson's article on Sanctification:

First, such as are sanctified, can remember a time when they were unsanctified. "Once we too were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us. But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit." Titus 3:3-5.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on these verses speaks of the outward behavior of the christian, and how all our good deeds are fine and dandy, but without the renewing of the spirit making changes to our own nature, it's all worthless:

Most pretend they would have heaven at last, yet they care not for holiness now; they would have the end without the beginning. Here is the outward sign and seal thereof in baptism, called therefore the washing of regeneration. The work is inward and spiritual; this is outwardly signified and sealed in this ordinance. Slight not this outward sign and seal; yet rest not in the outward washing, but look to the answer of a good conscience, without which the outward washing will avail nothing. The worker therein is the Spirit of God; it is the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Through him we mortify sin, perform duty, walk in God's ways; all the working of the Divine life in us, and the fruits of righteousness without, are through this blessed and holy Spirit.

This verse is often understood by commentators of the verse to be referring to Baptism. The "washing of regeneration" is believed to refer to the physical rite of Baptism, and the "renewing of the Holy Ghost" refers to the work of the Spirit within us to regenerate and perfect us. In other worlds Baptism is the "outward sign" and the renewing of the Spirit is the internal work of purification of the soul.

The Wesley's notes commentary says this:

3:5 Not by works - In this important passage the apostle presents us with a delightful view of our redemption. Herein we have, The cause of it; not our works or righteousness, but the kindness and love of God our Saviour. The effects; which are, Justification; being justified, pardoned and accepted through the alone merits of Christ, not from any desert in us, but according to his own mercy, by his grace, his free, unmerited goodness. Sanctification, expressed by the laver of regeneration, (that is, baptism, the thing signified, as well as the outward sign,) and the renewal of the Holy Ghost; which purifies the soul, as water cleanses the body, and renews it in the whole image of God. The consummation of all; - that we might become heirs of eternal life, and live now in the joyful hope of it.

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My immediate reaction is that this is describing the re-connection Adam had with God before the fall.

Adam knew God. Had fellowship with Him. Walked with Him and was full of God's Spirit. In fact this is the part that died in him the day he sinned.

Since that time all of us must go thru the re-connection (regeneration) and the renewing (re-connection) of God's spirit that Adam once had at birth.

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