Nathan,

I don't know if Joe has answered your question to your satisfaction, but regeneration and definitive sanctification are not synonyms. As Joe has pointed out there is an order of salvation that takes place by the grace of God in the life of a believer. Regeneration is the quickening work of the Holy Spirit which awakens us from death to life while sanctification along with justification are complete by our union with Christ. Yet in another sense we participate in this progressive work of sanctification in our lives.

This doctrine of definitive sanctification states that a radical break with the power and dominion of sin occurs because of the believers spiritual union with Christ in his death and resurrection. Dr. Robert Reymond writes of this doctrine: "The doctrine of definitive sanctification does not mean that the Christian actually achieves, personally and existentially, sinless perfection the moment he trusts Christ; this would leave no room for progressive sanctification. Besides, entire sanctification awaits the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 5:23). And the Christian who says he has no sin is deceiving himself and the truth is not in him (1 John 1:8). But what it does mean is that every Christian, the moment he becomes a Christian, by virtue of his union with Christ, is instantly constituted a 'saint' and enters into a new relationship with respect to the former reign of sin in his life and with God himself, in which new relationship he ceases to be a slave to sin and becomes a servant of Christ and of God. And the Christian is to take this breach with sin, constituted by his union with Christ, as seriously as God does and stop 'presenting the members of his body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness' and start 'presenting himself to God as one alive from the dead, and his members as instruments [or servants] of righteousness to God' (Rom. 6:13,19). He has Paul's own assurance that 'sin will not lord it over him' (Rom. 6:14)" (A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith by Dr. Robert Reymond, p. 758-759).


Wes


When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride. - Isaac Watts