II. THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF TRANSFORMATION
IN THE COMPLETE SALVATION OF GOD
Now we need to see the vital importance of transformation in the complete salvation of God.
A. Regeneration, Transformation, and Glorification Being the Three Vital Aspects
in God’s Complete Salvation
Of the twenty-one aspects listed above, regeneration, transformation, and glorification are the three vital aspects in God’s complete salvation. Regeneration is the start of our spiritual Christian life and glorification is the consummation, the ending, of our Christian life. In between there is a long period of time, and this period of time is filled up with transformation. Both regeneration and glorification transpire in an instant, but transformation is a process that lasts through our entire Christian life.
1. Regeneration Bringing
the Divine Life into the Believers
to Germinate and Generate Their Spirit
Regeneration brings the divine life into the believers to germinate and generate their spirit (John 3:5-6). Through regeneration we were reborn to be God’s children with God’s life (1 John 5:12) and nature (2 Pet. 1:4).
2. Transformation Carrying the Divine Essence into All the Components of the Believers’ Soul
Transformation carries the divine essence into all the components of the believers’ soul—mind, emotion, and will—to transform them metabolically (2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 12:2a). The essence is the very intrinsic reality of a certain substance. Transformation brings the divine essence into our being. This process of transformation will continue until our bodies are transfigured (Phil. 3:21). In His salvation God first regenerated our spirit, now is transforming our soul, and consummately will transfigure our body, making us the same as Christ in all three parts of our being.
3. Glorification Saturating the Believers’ Body with the Glory of God
Glorification saturates the believers’ body with the glory of God to glorify them by bringing them into God’s glory (Rom. 8:30c; Heb. 2:10a). We need to remember these three vital items in God’s full salvation: regeneration, transformation, and glorification.
4. Regeneration Transpiring in the Believers’ Spirit, Transformation Taking Place in
the Believers’ Soul, and Glorification Being Consummated at the Lord’s Rapture
Regeneration transpires in the believers’ spirit at the moment they receive Christ as their Redeemer, Savior, and life once for all; transformation is taking place in the believers’ soul for their entire Christian life until they will be transfigured and glorified in their body; and glorification will be consummated at the Lord’s rapture once for all when He comes to meet them.
B. By These Three Steps the Believers’
Entire Being Will Be Organically Mingled
with the Processed and Consummated Triune God
All three aspects are organic and by these three steps the believers’ entire being—spirit, soul, and body—will be organically mingled with the processed and consummated Triune God.
(The Constitution and the Building Up of the Body of Christ, Chapter 5, by Witness Lee)
