That's a great point, Pilgrim, and I didn't make the full connection between the spiritual birth we have at belief/baptism and the full spiritual birth that takes place after death when we receive our new spiritual body and existence.
Paul talks about this in Ephesians:
Ephesians 1:13-16
New King James Version
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Other translations refer to the Holy Spirit as a "down payment" or "deposit guaranteeing our inheritance" (NIV), which is such an awesome concept to think about. God's investment in us is clear--the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter is a gift that proves God has a better life in store for us as His eternal children. We will receive new bodies and a new spiritual life in His kingdom forever!
Jesus tried to explain this to Nicodemus, who was too focused on the here and now:
John 3:7-8
New King James Version
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
We cannot perceive "the Spirit" with our five natural senses. It is invisible and not physically tangible in this finite existence. Jesus relates it to the wind that "blows where it wishes." Once we are fully "born of the Spirit," we have entered a new realm beyond the confines of this physical universe.
Like you noted: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24 KJV). The Holy Spirit allows us to worship our spiritual God "in spirit and in truth." That's the type of worship our Father in heaven desires from us as "true worshipers" (v. 23).
Always a pleasure and blessing to read brother
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, …..
you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
“
if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
and
be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
and
that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Ephesians 4:21-24 KJV
“
It is the spirit that quickeneth; ( gives life loosely interpreted ) the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I ( Jesus ) speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
John 6:63 KJV
“Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:31-32 KJV
“
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called
Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”
John 4:24-26 KJV
“Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 5:24 KJV
“For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and
I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.”
Isaiah 61:8 KJV
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then?
Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king.
To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
John 18:37 KJV
“
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench:
he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”
Isaiah 42:1, 3-4 KJV
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew 28:18-20 KJV
As we hear what Jesus was saying we begin to hear what God is saying to believers this part of Paul’s doctrine is powerful and effectual
“I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:1-2 KJV
see how he’s saying be changed by the renewing of your mind ? And in another place
“and
be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”
and another place he says you are “renewed in knowledge”
“and have put on
the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
Colossians 3:10 KJV
what im saying is
the gospel is how the spirit gets into our hearts and minds and lives like the vehicle as we hear it it’s changing our minds and hearts if we believe the things God said
“For
the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 KJV
“renewing the spirit of your mind “ comes by hearing and believing the gospel it changes how a person thinks about God , themselves , life in this world , life after death , it answers questions does God love us even if we have sinned ? How much does he love us ? What has he done to save us ?
how should we believe and pray ? Does he really want us to call him Our Father in heaven when we pray ? Does he really command tbat we forgive others who sin against us as he forgave we who sinned against him ? What is God really like in person ?
Looking to Jesus in the gospels and herring what he was saying to believers and also those who rejected him answers all of those questions it’s full of Gods spirit when we’re believers