The Truth of the Gospel
Conviction
Conviction is a revelation to man through the Holy Spirit of the righteous judgment of God. Under conviction, unregenerate souls see themselves as sinners before God, experience guilt, and realize their separation from Him who is holy, just, and good (Is. 6:1; Jn. 6:44; Acts 2:37-38). True repentance can be made only through the work of the Spirit in conviction (Jn. 16:7-9; see also 1 Cor. 12:3; Jn. 14:6). Through the Holy Spirit, a sinner is convinced of his sinfulness and his need for a Savior. “And when [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove [convince/convict] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (Jn. 16:8). Conviction brings “godly sorrow” which leads to repentance. “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing” (2 Cor. 7:9).
Repentance
Repentance is the act of confessing one’s sins before God and being willing to forsake them. Accordingly, one turns away from a life of sin and disobedience and turns to Christ with all of one’s heart and soul. True repentance can be made only in the spirit of “godly sorrow” (2 Cor. 7:9-10). Repentance is manifested by certain fruit “meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8; Rom. 6:2), that is, by godly living. The act of repentance should be followed by water baptism (Mark 1:4-5, 15; Lk. 13:3; Acts 3:19; 5:30-31; 1 John 1:9). Repentance is a prerequisite act and condition for justification. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
Justification
Justification is the state of being void of offense toward God. It is made possible through the atoning blood of Jesus (Romans 5:9, 11). It is the result of faith and repentance on man’s part, and the act of God in forgiving and reconciling the penitent sinner (8:1-2; 3:23-26; 1 Jn. 1:7). The genuinely justified person has “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:1-2). “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (4:3), that is, God sees righteousness in faith [“the righteousness of faith” vv. 11, 13]. This grace is accessible to anyone who truly believes in the Lord with all of one’s heart. Justification signifies the pardon (forgiveness) aspect of the new birth and the removal of guilt and judgment for sin (Rom. 3:19-26).
Regeneration
Regeneration is the act of God in creating a new life in the heart of the believer through the Holy Spirit. It is a definite and instantaneous experience. Man is born spiritually dead in the sins and trespasses through Adam and can be quickened or regenerated only through faith in Christ and His atoning sacrifice (Rom. 4:17; Eph. 2:1, 4-5; Col. 2:13-14; John 5:24). Regeneration is the same as the new birth (“born again” experience). “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 (Jn. 2:24).
Born Again
Born Again is another term for the new birth. The result of this experience is a new creation, in which the believer becomes a child of God. It is through this new birth that one is translated into the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13). Jesus said: “Ye must be born again” (Jn. 3:7). The new birth is a prerequisite condition for the experience of sanctification. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Pet. 1:23).
Sanctification
Sanctification is the second definite work of grace wrought in the regenerate heart by faith. In the glorious experience of sanctification, the carnal nature is crucified and eradicated in the believer so that he/she no longer has the inclination or propensity to sin; that is, in sanctification the desire to sin is removed (Heb. 10:10; 13:12-13; Rom. 6:1-6; 1 Thes. 4:3; 2 Thes. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2). It is important to grasp that, though sanctification is not progressive or gradual, as most Christians today teach, yet there is growth and spiritual progress in sanctification (see “Christian Perfection”). Sanctification enables the believer to bring his/her soul and body under subjection to Christ and to live a life consistent with the Spirit of holiness, and in accord with the Word of God.
Holiness
Holiness is the result of sanctification. It is what sanctification looks like when it is lived out. A sincere saint of God desires and pursues perfect Christlikeness (Matt. 56:48; 2 Cor. 7:2). God calls believers unto holiness (1 Thes. 4:7); it is therefore not an option but a divine expectation under both Old and New Testaments. “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Christ is returning for a people made glorious in holiness (Eph. 5:27). “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14; see also 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 1:4: 4:13, 24; Titus 2:11).
Christian Perfection
Christian Perfection is the call and aim of the Gospel (Matt. 5:48; John 8:36; 2 Cor. 13:9-11). Salvation anticipates spiritual purification and perfection, and this state of grace is to be attained “in this present world” (Tit. 2:11-14). Christ gave His life and shed His blood to make believers perfect in Him (Col. 1:28: Heb. 10:1, 14; 13:21). It is important to grasp, however, that the call for biblical perfection is not the same as absolute perfection: for only God is absolutely perfect (Ex. 9:14; Job 11:7; Mk. 10:18). This glorious state of grace is thus called “Christian perfection”, for it is attained through the grace of God and is rooted in “perfect love” shed abroad and cultivated in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5; 8:1-9, 14-17; 1 Jn. 2:5; 4:12, 17).
Zion Publishing House
Copyright (C) 2025
Conviction is a revelation to man through the Holy Spirit of the righteous judgment of God. Under conviction, unregenerate souls see themselves as sinners before God, experience guilt, and realize their separation from Him who is holy, just, and good (Is. 6:1; Jn. 6:44; Acts 2:37-38). True repentance can be made only through the work of the Spirit in conviction (Jn. 16:7-9; see also 1 Cor. 12:3; Jn. 14:6). Through the Holy Spirit, a sinner is convinced of his sinfulness and his need for a Savior. “And when [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will reprove [convince/convict] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (Jn. 16:8). Conviction brings “godly sorrow” which leads to repentance. “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing” (2 Cor. 7:9).
Repentance
Repentance is the act of confessing one’s sins before God and being willing to forsake them. Accordingly, one turns away from a life of sin and disobedience and turns to Christ with all of one’s heart and soul. True repentance can be made only in the spirit of “godly sorrow” (2 Cor. 7:9-10). Repentance is manifested by certain fruit “meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8; Rom. 6:2), that is, by godly living. The act of repentance should be followed by water baptism (Mark 1:4-5, 15; Lk. 13:3; Acts 3:19; 5:30-31; 1 John 1:9). Repentance is a prerequisite act and condition for justification. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
Justification
Justification is the state of being void of offense toward God. It is made possible through the atoning blood of Jesus (Romans 5:9, 11). It is the result of faith and repentance on man’s part, and the act of God in forgiving and reconciling the penitent sinner (8:1-2; 3:23-26; 1 Jn. 1:7). The genuinely justified person has “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:1-2). “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (4:3), that is, God sees righteousness in faith [“the righteousness of faith” vv. 11, 13]. This grace is accessible to anyone who truly believes in the Lord with all of one’s heart. Justification signifies the pardon (forgiveness) aspect of the new birth and the removal of guilt and judgment for sin (Rom. 3:19-26).
Regeneration
Regeneration is the act of God in creating a new life in the heart of the believer through the Holy Spirit. It is a definite and instantaneous experience. Man is born spiritually dead in the sins and trespasses through Adam and can be quickened or regenerated only through faith in Christ and His atoning sacrifice (Rom. 4:17; Eph. 2:1, 4-5; Col. 2:13-14; John 5:24). Regeneration is the same as the new birth (“born again” experience). “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 (Jn. 2:24).
Born Again
Born Again is another term for the new birth. The result of this experience is a new creation, in which the believer becomes a child of God. It is through this new birth that one is translated into the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13). Jesus said: “Ye must be born again” (Jn. 3:7). The new birth is a prerequisite condition for the experience of sanctification. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Pet. 1:23).
Sanctification
Sanctification is the second definite work of grace wrought in the regenerate heart by faith. In the glorious experience of sanctification, the carnal nature is crucified and eradicated in the believer so that he/she no longer has the inclination or propensity to sin; that is, in sanctification the desire to sin is removed (Heb. 10:10; 13:12-13; Rom. 6:1-6; 1 Thes. 4:3; 2 Thes. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2). It is important to grasp that, though sanctification is not progressive or gradual, as most Christians today teach, yet there is growth and spiritual progress in sanctification (see “Christian Perfection”). Sanctification enables the believer to bring his/her soul and body under subjection to Christ and to live a life consistent with the Spirit of holiness, and in accord with the Word of God.
Holiness
Holiness is the result of sanctification. It is what sanctification looks like when it is lived out. A sincere saint of God desires and pursues perfect Christlikeness (Matt. 56:48; 2 Cor. 7:2). God calls believers unto holiness (1 Thes. 4:7); it is therefore not an option but a divine expectation under both Old and New Testaments. “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Christ is returning for a people made glorious in holiness (Eph. 5:27). “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14; see also 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 1:4: 4:13, 24; Titus 2:11).
Christian Perfection
Christian Perfection is the call and aim of the Gospel (Matt. 5:48; John 8:36; 2 Cor. 13:9-11). Salvation anticipates spiritual purification and perfection, and this state of grace is to be attained “in this present world” (Tit. 2:11-14). Christ gave His life and shed His blood to make believers perfect in Him (Col. 1:28: Heb. 10:1, 14; 13:21). It is important to grasp, however, that the call for biblical perfection is not the same as absolute perfection: for only God is absolutely perfect (Ex. 9:14; Job 11:7; Mk. 10:18). This glorious state of grace is thus called “Christian perfection”, for it is attained through the grace of God and is rooted in “perfect love” shed abroad and cultivated in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5; 8:1-9, 14-17; 1 Jn. 2:5; 4:12, 17).
Zion Publishing House
Copyright (C) 2025
