Colossians
1:9-12 We have not ceased to pray for you,
asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual
wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully
pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the
knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his
glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the
Father.
Those who are effectually
called and regenerated have a new heart and a new spirit created in them. They
are additionally sanctified, actually and personally, by the power of Christ’s
death and resurrection and by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them. The power
of sin ruling over the whole body is destroyed, and the desires of the old self
are more and more weakened and killed. At the same time the ability to practice
true holiness, without which no one will see the Lord, is brought to life and
strengthened by all the saving graces.
Sanctification works in the
whole person, but not completely or perfectly in this life. The old sinful
nature retains some of its control in body, mind, and spirit. And so a
continual and irreconcilable war goes on in every believer. The old nature
tries to get its way in opposition to the Spirit, and the Spirit fights to
assert its authority over the flesh.
Although the old nature
temporarily wins battles in this warfare,8 the continual strengthening of the
sanctifying Spirit of Christ enables the regenerate nature in each believer to
overcome. And so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God.
The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith