Abraham Kuyper, in his classic book on the Holy Spirit's work, wrote, "There is one great act of God which re-creates the corrupt sinner into a new man, the comprehensive act of regeneration, which contains three parts: quickening, conversion, and sanctification."
One great act of God is when we are made spiritually alive in Christ. We were spiritually dead to God, until the Holy Spirit awakened us to new life in Christ. "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1). We are made spiritually alive to a personal relationship with God in Christ.
One great act of God is when God's Spirit enables our conversion to Christ. Conversion has a negative and positive aspect. Negatively, you turn away from your old life through repentance. Positively, you turn to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit's work enables you to repent and believe the gospel.
God sanctifies you through regeneration, which means to be set apart in Christ. Through conversion, you are set apart to new life in Christ (1 Peter 1:2). Your sanctification by the Holy Spirit begins in conversion and is completed in glorification (Romans 8:30; 1 John 3:2). Your sanctification is the process of spiritual growth in Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
