Why our tendency to focus on just part of the gospel message has warped our understanding of salvation and how the New Testament, especially 1 Peter, gives us language to help us keep it together.

Regeneration.

Sanctification.

Glorification.

These are some of the most precious words in the English language. Yes, they are large. Yes, they are technical. But they are beautiful.

They are beautiful because these three words highlight different aspects of what the New Testament calls “salvation.”

Regeneration is the gateway. It is the first gasping breaths of the resurrected spirit lately moldering in the grave of death. It is the thumping heart, beating its tattoo of praise, while its stone predecessor lies silent and still. It is the triumphant cry from newborn lungs. It is new life in Christ.

Sanctification is the path. It is the bloody battle: the Spirit, the saints, and the sinner standing bold against the evil alliance of the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is the machete-wielding adventurer, hacking and stumbling through the tearing jungle in search of the city of gold. It is the ultra-marathon, demanding more from the runner than she ever thought possible but creating more in the runner than she ever imagined. It is running after Christ.

Glorification is the destination. It is the street of gold and the stream of pure water. It is rest for the weary and peace for the warrior. It is healing, and hope, and Him. It is reunion and introduction, coming home and all things new, wonderfully wild and gloriously safe. It is dancing and singing and feasting and praising. It is being with Christ.

These three are all in view when we talk about salvation. But they are not equally celebrated or even remembered. At various points in Christian history, the emphasis has been placed on one or another of them, often to the detriment of the others.

To paint with an overly large brush, at times in the story God is writing called “The Church,” we have focused more on glorification, excluding regeneration and sanctification. It didn’t matter whether someone was made new or living for Jesus; the spotlight shone on the pearly gates—the gospel as waiting around.

Other times, sanctification got all the attention. Minimal effort was made to speak of new birth or eternal glory, just “do better” and “try harder”—the gospel as self-flagellation.

Now the predominant focus is on regeneration. “Have you been born again?” “Raise your hand, pray this prayer, and live your best life now.” Don’t worry about transformation; focus on life here—the gospel as snake oil, a miraculous sales pitch that doesn’t change anything.

The Church in our day needs what the Church in every day has needed: to see salvation in holistic, not reductionistic terms. We think we’re helping people when we leave out bits and pieces of the Good News, but we’re not. A partial Gospel makes partial Christians, stunted and malformed, dragging themselves through life, making no case for the beauty of Christianity, causing disgust in those who are meant to be attracted to the transformation Christ offers.

In 1 Peter chapter one, we see all three elements of salvation at work in Peter’s encouragement to his audience.

Regeneration?

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Sanctification?

“But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct.”

Glorification?

“An inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”

They’re all there, all part of our salvation.

And we need to make sure we keep them all in view.

That we are rejoicing in and preaching the truth that “unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.”

That we are celebrating and declaring the truth that “if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

That we are longing for and living in the truth that “God will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and He will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”