Regeneration, Sanctification, and Salvation

                                                          By J.I. Packer


          REGENERATION has been defined as "an inner re-creating of fallen human
     nature by the gracious sovereign action of the Holy Spirit."

                             ("Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see
                              the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

                              ... I tell you the truth no one can enter the kingdom of God
                              unless he is born of water (this refers to spiritual cleansing
                              by the Holy Spirit, not baptism or physical birth) and the Spirit.

                              You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.
                              The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you
                              cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.

                              So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
                                                                         John 3:3,5-8)


             The Bible conceives SALVATION as the redemptive renewal of man on the
     basis of a restored relationship with God in Christ, and presents it as involving a
     "radical and complete transformation wrought in the soul,

                               (" ... put on the new self, created to be like God
                                 in true righteousness and holiness."
                                                                         Ephesians 4:24)


      by God the Holy Spirit,

                               ("He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal
                                 by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously
                                 through Jesus Christ ..."
                                                                         Titus 3:5b-6)


      by virtue of which we become 'new men',

                               ( " ... put on the new self, which is being renewed in
                                  knowledge in the image of its Creator."
                                                                          Colossians 3:10)


      no longer conformed to this world,

                                ("Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your
                                   old self with its practices .."
                                                                           Colossians 3:9)

      but in knowledge and holiness of the truth created after the image of God;"

                                (" ... put on the new self ..."
                                Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10)



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           REGENERATION is the "birth" by which this work of new creation is begun,
      as SANCTIFICATION is the "growth" whereby it continues.

                                 ("But grow in the grace and knowledge of our
                                   Lord and Savior Jesus Christ").
                                                                      2 Peter 3:18a


           REGENERATION IN Christ changes the disposition from lawless, Godless
     self-seeking

                                  ("There is no one righteous, not even one;
                                    there is no one who understands,
                                    no one who seeks God")
                                                                      Romans 3:10-11

     which dominates man in Adam into one of trust and love, of repentance for past
     rebelliousness and unbelief and loving compliance with God's law henceforth.

          It enlightens the blinded mind to discern spiritual realities,

                                   ("The man without the Spirit does not accept the things
                                    that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness
                                    to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are
                                    spiritually discerned.

                                    The spiritual man makes judgments about all things,
                                     but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:

                                     'For who has known the mind of the Lord
                                      that he may instruct Him.?

                                      But we have the mind of Christ."
                                                                          1 Corinthians 2:14-15)


     and liberates and energizes the enslaved will for free obedience to God.

                                    ("You have been set free from sin and have
                                      become slaves to righteousness.
                                                                        Romans 6:18

                                     "... continue to work out your salvation
                                       with fear and trembling,

                                       for it is God who works in you to will
                                       and to act according to His good purpose."
                                                                         Philippians 2:12b-13)