The new birth is a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. It’s wonderful, but sometimes it’s hard to describe in concrete and practical terms. We know that it’s necessary to be born again in order to see the kingdom of God (John 3). We know that if any person is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5), but how does that play out practically?

One way in which the new birth impacts our everyday life is the way in which the Holy Spirit changes our affections. We don’t use that word very often, and when we do, we’re typically referring to a fondness for someone or a gentle and tender disposition toward that individual.  

But what I mean is something different. I mean that the Holy Spirit—in those who are born again—begins to shape our desires and inclinations, what we love and what we hate. These are our affections.

Of course, this doesn’t happen automatically and it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual process of transformation from one degree of glory to the next (2 Corinthians 3:18). But it’s real, and it’s a great benefit to us as believers.

Think about the way the Holy Spirit changes our affection toward sin. Without Christ, we have a love/hate relationship with sin. We hate its consequences, we hate the condemnation of our conscience. We hate the sins of others against us. We hate getting caught in our sin and we hate to face the fact that we are sinners in need of forgiveness. Yet, we love the temporary pleasure of sin and we rely on certain sins to give us the illusion of meaning, safety, and lasting happiness.

This was the mentality of King Saul. He had a strong sense of right and wrong (toward other people) and a great fear of the consequences of his own disobedience. But he never actually repented; he just tried to wriggle his way out of the judgment of God.

But the Holy Spirit ignites a different affection in the hearts of believers. Those who have been born again see the justice of God in punishing sin. They’re sorry, not just because of the way sin hurts them, but because of the way their sin offended God. The new birth creates a willingness to receive correction and conviction, because a born again believer’s identity is not in his own righteousness but in the righteousness of another.

A believer truly has the capacity to hate sin itself. “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil” (Proverbs 8:13a), not just its consequences.

The new birth frees us from our affection for the things of earth and launches us toward an affection for the things above (Colossians 3), because that’s where Christ is.

No believer is perfect, but as we grow in dependence on the Holy Spirit, in knowledge of the Word of God, and in endurance in the Christian life, we learn to discern which affections arise out of our sin nature or originate with Satan, and which affections are fueled by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Take sorrow, for example. Satan doesn’t mind if we feel sorry. In fact, that’s often what he’s after as the “Accuser.” But not all sorrow is godly sorrow. Esau was sorry but he never repented. So was Judas. These men experienced hopelessness and despair mixed with selfishness and pride.

But godly sorrow is different (cf. 2 Corinthians 7). It springs from conviction and the fear of the Lord. Godly sorrow is characterized by hope and confidence in God’s love. Instead of terror and a desire to hide, it involves brokenness and transparency. Instead of making excuses, godly sorrow searches for ways to clear oneself through confession and repentance.

Godly sorrow is redemptive and cleansing. It restores the soul rather than rotting it from the inside out. It rests in God’s mercy rather than wallowing in self-hatred.

Do you recognize the Holy Spirit’s ministry to shape your affections? Can you distinguish His voice from the whisperings of the enemy? If you’re born again, then you don’t have to spiral downward into the affections of this world. You can listen to the Spirit! You can leave aside the empty loves of sin and embrace the ways the Spirit sets you free to walk in a new pattern of affection. 

Grace and peace,
Pastor Jake