Since this topic is so confusing to many people, and is extremely important to everyone, I’d like to take some time to share my thoughts on it. I hope that you enjoy this.
Regeneration (opening of the heart) / Saving Faith / Justification John 1:13, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:3, John 3:3-8, Ephesians 2:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 6:44, 65, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Col 2:13, Ezekiel 11:19, Galatians 6:15, Matthew 7:17
Regeneration is an act of God (Eze. 11:19). It is where He renews the spiritual condition of a person who has been cut off from Him by way of an inherited imperfect nature (I call it DNA). By God’s own choosing, He selects whom to receive this change. The change is spiritual, whereby a person is given a new, eternal life that is turned toward the Creator and away from materialism (and self). One could say that it is the receiving of faith from God – Saving Faith in God – the faith that leads to receiving Justification before God, by way of the cross of Christ. We could call it an awakening of the soul toward God and His holiness, which becomes winsome and desirable at the point of regeneration. Other words or phrases that might be applicable to this event are: realization, epiphany, being born again, spiritual renewal, personal transformation, or personal reformation. It is an internal event that cannot be seen by anyone else; it is intensely personal – only God and the recipient know that it has happened. It is not something that the person can do for himself or herself. Regeneration happens to a person’s soul and spirit (heart). It is not relational to anyone else. Regeneration is the first necessary step in the process of being saved from our corrupt nature.
Saving Faith is the result of Regeneration. Once God has regenerated our soul, or spirit, we then possess Saving Faith. Having Saving Faith is the same as being “born again” (Jn 3:3). This is what Paul was talking about when he wrote:
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
Romans 10:9-10, NLT
Justification is a change in our relationship with our Creator, whereby we accept His solution to our fallen nature and receive a right standing before Him based on the sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross. When we recognize that we have been separated by Him due to our own corruption, realize that we can do nothing to change ourself, and believe that only His atonement on the cross is sufficient to repair our relationship with God, then we can become “Justified” before our Creator. It is a sort of legal standing before Him, when He declares that we are no longer separated from Him because of our evil within. Justification is not an act of man, but is an act of God. All we can do is receive what has already been done for us.
So, Regeneration is a change in our inner nature (produced by God), leading to Saving Faith in Christ, which is based on the atonement presented between God and man on the Cross that brings a right standing between man and God, called Justification.
Simply put, Regeneration changes who we are inwardly, while Justification changes who we are in relation to our Creator. Regeneration comes first, producing Saving Faith, then Justification comes second.
These three things: Regeneration, Saving Faith, and Justification, are just the beginning of our saving relationship with God. They are based on acts of God; not on acts of mankind. There is no religion that can produce these things, since religion requires human effort.
Being “right with God” is based on God’s actions; not on the efforts of men.
Conversion / Sanctification / Perseverance
AFTER we have been Justified by God, based on the cross of Christ, which can only happen through Regeneration (an act of God), then (and only then) can we begin a right relationship with God. We can never reverse the order of these things if we want them to be effective. As we turn our thoughts now to a right relationship with God brought about through the process of Conversion, Sanctification, or Perseverance, we need to keep in mind that these things are the RESULT of a right relationship, NOT THE CAUSE of the right relationship. Religion seems to get this wrong in each and every case, where people attempt to make themselves right with God through religious activity.
What I am about to cover is based partly on human effort. It does rely, largely, on how we act, think, and speak. This is the part of life where we are obviously trying to do good things in order to please God. We do good things in order to make life better on planet earth. We do goods things to improve our standing before men and God. This is what most people call “religion”. I, however, call it “relationship”; not religion. Again, I make this distinction because I don’t want to confuse it with the method of becoming “‘right with God”.
Conversion
While Regeneration is an act of God, Conversion is our response to His call to accept His Regeneration. In Conversion we willingly receive His beckoning to us by sincerely admitting that we need His help to “fix” our brokenness. If we do not admit that we are broken, we cannot be fixed from it, we cannot be regenerated. Some in Christianity call Conversion “Repentance”. It is where we turn from our own evil ways toward God’s perfect, righteous ways. Conversion is something that WE DO in response to what God has done inside of us already. Conversion is what happens when we receive and hold tightly to the Regeneration that God gives us.
One way that we know we are Converted is that we confess our acceptance of Christ’s cross because we need it. If we look again at Romans 10:9-10, we can see that conversion is what is happening when we “openly declare that Jesus is Lord”, and that “it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved”.
So we could say that Conversion is where we “seal the deal” by declaring it. Although it is a spiritual, inner process, it could be likened to shaking hands in agreement with someone. Through Conversion, we agree with God that we need His help and that we accept his terms. This is the first act of faith that we can perform.
Another way to look at this is in our trusting in Jesus for our salvation. It isn’t enough to merely believe in Jesus (even the demons do that), we must actually depend upon Him for making us right with God and we must actually give ourselves over to Him in response to His atonement.
One way that we are to demonstrate our Conversion to the world is to be baptized into Christ. Baptism signifies our dying to our evil nature and being reborn into the perfect nature of Christ (not that we are yet perfect, but that it’s what we want). Baptism is a declaration of our Conversion in Christ. Baptism does not save us; it declares that we have received salvation from God. If our first act of faith is to turn from our evil nature (accepting Regeneration), then our second act of faith should be to declare our faith through word and action (baptism). And this acceptance, expressed through word and deed is called Conversion.
Conversion is accepting God’s salvation and giving yourself over to Him in response. It is not so much a one-time thing, but a recurring thing in the life of the believer.
Sanctification
Likewise, Sanctification is a life-long process in all believers. To be sanctified means that you are set apart for a holy use (for God’s purposes).
Sanctification is unfortunately confused with the initial means of being made right with God. However, according to the Bible, it is not how we are made right with God; that is accomplished through the other things discussed so far. Probably every religion known to man, which attempts to make its adherents right with God, uses acts that are comparable to the acts of Sanctification. For this reason alone, this is an important topic for us.
I look at Sanctification as the thing that keeps me from suffering from my bad behavior. If I don’t do the crime, I won’t do the time (so to speak). Therefore, we could say that Sanctification is what keeps us from suffering from doing evil, since it leads us into doing what is right instead of what is wrong. THIS is where people do good things for God and each other. Sanctification looks very religious to the casual observer. But really it’s simply doing what is right because you want to serve your Creator.
Paul summed it up like this:
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:19-22, NLT)
So you can see that Sanctification is what is happening when we make the right choices in our life. We can all choose between doing what is right and what is wrong. Sanctification is choosing right over wrong.
19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.” 20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:19-21, NLT)
Sanctification is not just what WE DO, it’s also working with God and allowing Him to act in our lives to change our hearts, minds, behavior and attitudes. In fact, true Sanctification is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit of God.
…But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Cor. 6:11, NLT
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:5-9, NLT)
7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1 Thess. 4:7-8, NLT)
God has set us apart for the purpose of Sanctification, not impurity, and He calls us to do good works (Eph. 2:10).
6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Phil. 1:6, NLT
Justification comes first (being made right with God), then comes Sanctification (working in cooperation with God to be made better), wherein we live out our relationship with God.
In justification, our sins are completely forgiven in Christ. Sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit makes us more like Christ in all that we do, think, and desire. True sanctification is impossible apart from the atoning work of Christ on the cross because only after our sins are forgiven can we begin to lead a holy life.
Perseverance
Although Perseverance is the same thing as Sanctification, we can use this word to emphasize how we need to not give up in trying to do good.
Another way of looking at it is that God will not give up on us. Because God never does give up on us, some Christians have (wrongly) concluded that we cannot turn away from Christ once we have turned toward Him. However, it is made plain through some scriptures that we can indeed wreck our own faith. With that said, Perseverance is the act of not giving up on God and His plan of salvation for us.
In the Bible, we can see how important this concept is. When times get tough (and times will definitely become tougher and tougher), our response should be to grow closer to God; not further from Him. One of the events in the future will be a great “falling away” of people from God (2 Thess. 2:3, Mt. 24:10). And throughout the last events of the End Times we will be called upon to be faithful to Christ in the face of great adversity (James 1:12, Rev. 2:10, Heb. 6:11, Luke 21:19, Mt. 24:13).
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22, NLT
Purification / Glorification
So far, we’ve been looking at the process. Now we’re going to look at the goal.
This is what I like to call Humanity 2.0 – the next level in the human experience. If we have undertaken the steps that lead up to this point, then we will experience life from a completely different perspective: one of perfection. And while both of these words refer to this state of perfection, each shows a slightly different aspect of it. Before we begin, however, it’s important to note that perfection cannot occur in the imperfect state of Humanity 1.0 – mortal, corrupt humanity. And this is nothing that we can bring upon ourselves – it is the work of the Creator, giving us an “upgrade”. So, while it is our goal, it is not going to happen in the flesh you now are living in. You’ll have to wait until Jesus returns to earth.
43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. . . .
1 Cor. 15:43-44, NLT
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. 51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.(1 Cor. 15:50-58, NLT)
13 As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 14 He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thess. 2:13-14, NLT)
Purification
Currently, we who are in the state of Humanity 1.0 are experiencing a sinful nature (inherited corruption). This is what is keeping us from living forever, since death came through our iniquity (Rom. 5:12). Humanity 1.0 is where our corruption resides. But because God introduced death into the human experience, we may be able to participate in the great upgrade to Humanity 2.0, where death will no longer be experienced.
Purification, then, refers to our new nature of perfection, without the stain of sin, evil, and corruption that we now endure. It will be given to us when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to this physical realm on earth. We can look at death as a kind of distillation process whereby we can have all of our impurities removed from our bodies. We will literally take on new bodies that are free from this corruption.
Glorification
This is the same state of being as Purification, just a slightly different take on it. While Purification speaks to our sinless state, Glorification speaks to our sharing in the same essence as our Creator. Just as 1 Corinthians 15:20 speaks of Christ being the first one changed, Paul also talks of us sharing in that same condition. Also see 1 Cor. 15:42-44.
Glory can be defined as:
- high renown or honor won by notable achievements.
- magnificence or great beauty.
It also seems to speak to God’s great power and shining light of His presence.
Therefore, we can look to our glorified state as:
- Sharing in God’s glory (His power, majesty, light and perfection)
- Being immortal (never again tasting death; being invincible)
- Having new abilities like the ones Jesus demonstrated after His glorification or through the power of the Holy Spirit:
- Teleportation
- Telepathy
- Telekinesis
- Being sinless (see Purification above)
I don’t know about you, but this is truly something that I look forward to. The longer I have to endure this life (Humanity 1.0), the more I long for a new life (Humanity 2.0).
Conclusion
As you have seen through the course of this study, salvation comes from God to us as a free gift. Then if we respond by accepting the gift, we can begin to live a life of purpose, full of meaning, joy and hope. As we learn to live in the love of Christ, sharing it with everyone we can, we then grow closer to being more like Him and then will experience His same glory in our own selves.
I encourage you to listen for that faint, quiet voice that speaks within you, calling you to your Creator, Who loves you more than you will ever know. He desires, above all other things in your life, to have that special connection with you that is intensely personal and intimate.
In hopes that you will accept God according to His terms,
Gary
