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Sanctification
Simple: to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate; to purify or free from sin
Sanctification involves more than a mere moral alteration of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man(Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13). Faith is instrumental in securing sanctification, inasmuch as it (1) secures union to Christ (Gal. 2:20), and (2) brings the believer into living contact with the truth, whereby he is prompted to yield obedience "to the leading, trembling at the warning, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come." Perfect sanctification is not attainable in this life (1 Kings 8:46; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8).
Sanctification is a symbol taken from the 'temple', showing the need for cleansing from pollution. it includes a renewal by the power of Holy Spirit, which allows acceptable living before God and points to our ultimate perfection in His presence.
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Regeneration
Regeneration is brought about by the Holy Spirit and begins when a person accepts Jesus Christ into his heart and confesses Him as Lord of his life. Regeneration happens in the persons spirit, which was "dead in sin, but made alive, in Christ". This regeneration gives man a new spirit as well as quickens his old one. "A new spirit I will put within you" [Ezek 36:26] and "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit." [John 3:6]
God aims first to renew man's darkened spirit by imparting life to it because it is this spirit which God originally designed to receive His Life and to commune with Him [as He first did in Adam]. Referring back to [Ezek 36:26,27] after the clause "a new spirit I will put within you", there follows this one of, "I will put my Spirit within you." We must understand the relationship between regeneration and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Unless a new spirit is available to Him the Holy Spirit cannot find a place to abide. IF only people would claim, by faith, this part of God's promise as they did the other, they would gloriously experience both!
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Righteousness
Righteousness, a term taken from the 'courts-of-law', is God's judicial determination to right every wron, His gift to the guilty which removes all condemnation and put them in a state of 'justification', including full acquittal from all charges against them. More on this subject coming.
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Redemption
Redemption - taken from a background of slavery and debt, speaks of 'freedom and final deliverance' from all aspects of 'sin', including the resurrection of the body. More on this subject coming.
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Conscience
Conscience: that faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been "perverted by the Fall" (John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Rom. 2:15). It is spoken of as "defiled" (Titus 1:15), and "seared" (1 Tim. 4:2). A "conscience void of offence" is to be sought and cultivated (Acts 24:16; Rom.
9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 1 Pet. 3:21).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
1. the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action: to follow the dictates of conscience.
2. the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.
3. an inhibiting sense of what is prudent: I'd eat another piece of pie but my conscience would bother me.
4. moral sense: the ability to determine the rightness or wrongness of actions.
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Communion
1. (often initial capital letter) Also called Holy Communion. Ecclesiastical.
a. the act of receiving the Eucharistic elements.
b. the elements of the Eucharist.
c. the celebration of the Eucharist.
d. the antiphon sung at a Eucharistic service.
2. a group of persons having a common religious faith; a religious denomination: Anglican communion.
3. association; fellowship.
4. interchange or sharing of thoughts or emotions; intimate communication: communion with nature.
5. the act of sharing, or holding in common; participation.
6. the state of things so held.
Communion: fellowship with God (Gen. 18:17-33; Ex. 33:9-11; Num. 12:7, 8), between Christ and his people (John 14:23), by the Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14; Phil. 2:1), of believers with one another (Eph. 4:1-6). The Lord's Supper is so called (1 Cor. 10:16, 17), because in it there is fellowship between Christ and his disciples, and of the disciples with one another.
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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