How does salvation work in us?

Salvation is not just a historical event but an ongoing work of God within us, primarily through regeneration. In Matthew 9:17, Jesus explains that new wine must be put into new bottles, illustrating that when God saves a sinner, He does not merely mend the old nature but transforms it entirely. The old sinful nature is replaced with a new heart, one that loves God's laws and desires righteousness (Ezekiel 36:26).

This transformation is evidence of the genuine work of the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers and facilitates spiritual growth (Philippians 1:6). The new nature changes our motivations, enabling us to worship God authentically and yielding the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. As described in 2 Corinthians 5:17, a believer becomes a new creation, which is necessary for both faith in Christ and practical holiness—demonstrating that salvation is a holistic work within us.