"Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace" (Hebrews 10:29).
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of grace. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to apply saving grace to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. However, those who refuse to believe and receive Christ insult the Spirit of grace. On the other hand, those who believe in Christ receive the grace of God. Immediately upon believing, the Holy Spirit does three distinct works of grace in the lives of those receiving Christ.
Regenerated. The Spirit of grace is the agent of our new birth. Regeneration means to be born again or born from above. The new birth is from above, because the Holy Spirit comes from above to change our hearts. Faith in Christ and new birth occur simultaneously. It could be described two ways. When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are born again. Likewise, when you are born again, you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13).
Sealed. When a person trusts in Christ, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). This is the believer's guarantee of his future in Christ. What God began in the believer will continue until the Day of Christ when He returns (Philippians 1:6). This is the day of redemption, when the believer receives his glorified body fashioned like unto the resurrection of Christ (Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 3:2). Our future hope in Christ is not merely wishful thinking. It is guaranteed according to the promise of God in Holy Scripture and the work of the Spirit of grace in our hearts. He gives us hope in Christ that is steadfast and sure (1 Corinthians 13:13). It is the believer's blessed hope (Titus 2:13).
Baptized. All real believers in Christ are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Water baptism is the outward symbol of the Holy Spirit baptizing us into Christ. Likewise, water baptism is our testimony to faith in the death, burial and resurrection in Christ (Romans 6:3-4). Ministers may baptize us in water, but only the Spirit of grace can baptize into the body of Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit unites all believers as one in Christ.
In summary, the Spirit of grace regenerates, seals, and baptizes believers into the body of Christ. "He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. . . . He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption" (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, C. God the Holy Spirit).
