It is a continuing change worked by God in us, freeing us from sinful habits and forming in us Christlike affections, dispositions, and virtues. It does not mean that sin is instantly eradicated, but it is also more than a counteraction, in which sin is merely restrained or repressed without being progressively destroyed. Sanctification is a real transformation, not just the appearance of one.
Regeneration is a momentary act, bringing a person from spiritual death to life.
It is exclusively God s work. Sanctification is an ongoing process, dependent on God s continuing action in the believer, and consisting of the believer s continuous struggle against sin. The standard to which God s work of sanctifying His saints is directed is His own revealed moral law, expounded and modeled by Christ Himself. Believers find within themselves contrary urgings. The conflict of these two is sharp.