Salvation includes three phases: regeneration, sanctification, and
glorification.Regeneration means to be spiritually born again (see John
1:12,13; 3:3). When a person places their faith in Christ, that person becomes
a newborn spiritual baby. Immediately that person receives the Holy Spirit and
has the guarantee of eternal life ( see Luke 23:42,43; Romans 10:9,10;
Ephesians 4:30). A physical baby spends 9 months in the womb, and then is born.
It may also take some preparation for most people to be spiritually born. A
person may hear the Gospel and ponder this Good News in his heart. At some
point, he places his trust in Christ, and immediately he is born anew. He is
not merely reformed; he is a new creation (see 2 Cor. 5:17).15
When a person is regenerated or born again, that person also is
sanctified. Sanctify means “to make holy.”16 This doctrine is closely related
to the doctrine of justification. God justifies or declares a person to be
holy. Justification is something that God has already done for the believer.
Sanctification is what God continues to do throughout a believer’s life. God
sanctifies or makes a person holy—he sets them apart for righteous service. So
a sanctified person is set apart to serve God. As one learns God’s word and
serves God, he matures in the faith. Therefore, sanctification is a life-long
process. A Christian is to become more faithful and more loving throughout life
(see 1 Thess. 3:12, 13). Although believers won’t achieve perfection in this
life, perfection is the goal (see Matt. 5:48). God is the one who sanctifies,
but the believer must obey God in order to grow in faith (see John 17:17-19;
Phil. 2:12,13). After we are saved, we are called to become Christ-like. We are
to grow in our knowledge of Scripture (Hebrews 5:12-14). And we should obey the
moral law given throughout the Old and New Testaments. The Christian life
always involves a struggle to turn away from sin (see Romans 7:15-25). But we
Christians can rejoice in knowing that we are free from condemnation (see
Romans 8:1-3).
The process of sanctification is completed when a believer is
glorified—going to be with the Lord and later receiving a new body. So
glorification occurs after one’s earthly life (see 1 Cor. 15:52). In this life,
we are never completely sinless. So God sanctifies us—
making us holy and forgiving our sin. In the life to come, we will
be without sin. (For
details and for free course visit <www.missionstraining.org>)
