Sanctification: the grace that justifies is the grace that sanctifies

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:17).

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Basic truth

Sanctification is the act of making a thing pure and holy. It has both positional and practical aspects. Positional sanctification means that at the moment of salvation, God sets apart the believer from sin and to Himself (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2). Practical sanctification (also known as progressive sanctification) is the continual process of growing in godliness.

Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit whereby He uses the Word of God to progressively change the believer.

Definitions of sanctification

[1] “The work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness” (Westminster Shorter Catechism).

[2] “The gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Spirit, by which He delivers the justified sinner from the pollution of sin, renews his whole nature in the image of God, and enables him to perform good works” (Louis Berkhof).

[3] “The continuing work of God in the life of the believer, making him or her actually holy” (Erickson).

[4] “The progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives” (Grudem).

Discussion

[1] God’s purpose in sanctifying believers is to glorify Himself (Matthew 5:16 and Philippians 1:11).

[2] Sanctification is effected by God the Father (Exodus 31:13; 37:28, Leviticus 20:8, 21:8, 15, 32 , John 17:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 12:5-11, and Jude 1); by Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 2:11; 13:12); and by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13, 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Titus 3:5, and 1 Peter 1:2). It is the Holy Spirit who actually does the work of sanctifying the believer.

[3] The Holy Spirit changes the believer through his knowledge of the Bible, both written and preached (John 17:17).

[4] Sanctification began from regeneration and extends to the whole person (Romans 6:13; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 3:10; 1 John 4:7). Sanctification is the natural result of saving faith (2 Thessalonians 1:8; James 2:14-17). The grace that justifies the believer is the same grace that sanctifies him (Romans 6; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 3:1-3).

[5] The believer takes an active and responsible role in his sanctification through his obedience (Isaiah 1:16, 2 Corinthians 7:1 Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15, 2 Peter 1:5-7; 1 John 3:3) and exercise of spiritual disciplines like Bible study and meditation, prayer (Matthew 6:13) and church involvement Hebrews 10:24-25). He must separate himself from sin (2 Corinthians 6:14 15; Ephesians 5:6-8, 11) and embrace godliness (Colossians 3:1).

[6] A person cannot be perfectly sanctified during his earthly like (1King 8:46; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; James3:2; 1 John 1:8). This can be seen in the lives of Job (Job 42:5, 6); David (Psalm 19:12, 13; 51); Daniel (Daniel 9:3-20); and the Apostle Paul (Romans 7:14-25; Philippians 3:12-14; and 1 Timothy. 1:15).

[7] A true believer, being a sinner, will occasionally engage in carnal activities (1 Corinthians 3:1-4) but he will not live in a continuous state of sinfulness (Romans 8:4-13).

[8] Verses on sanctification

• Exodus 13:2; 19:10; 19:14; 29:37; 29:43; 30:29; 31:13; 33:16; 40:9-11; 40:34-35
• Leviticus 20:8; 21:1-23; 22:9
• Jeremiah 1:5
• Ezekiel 37:28
• John 17:17, 19
• Acts 26:17-18
• Romans 15:16
• 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30; 6:11; 13:1-13
• 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
• Galatians 2:20; 6:14
• Ephesians 1:3-4; 3:19; 4:7, 12-13; 4:15-16; 5:25-27
• Colossians 2:11
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 5:23
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
• 2 Timothy 2:11, 21
• Hebrews 2:11; 9:14; 10:10, 14; 12:10; 13:12, 21
• 1Peter 1:2
• 2 Peter 1:2-4
• 1 John 1:9
• Jude 1, 24
• Revelation 7:14

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Materials by Bob Deffinbaugh, Th.M

• The Necessity of Sanctification (Romans 6)
• Sanctification - Humanly Impossible! (Romans 7)
• The Stupidity of Sin (Romans 6:12-23)

[2] Materials from Center for Christian Leadership

• SESSION 1 - Christian Integrity and Community
• SESSION 9 - Spiritual Disciplines

[3] Materials by J. Hampton Keathley, III, Th.M

• The Believer’s Unfathomable Riches in Christ
• The Concluding Remarks (1 Thessalonians. 5:23-28)

[4] Positional Truth (Session 6), by Emery Nester Ed.D., D.Min

Sermons on sanctification (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Practical Consecration, by Pastor Jeremy Stephens, Southview Baptist Church

[2] A Life that Pleases God, by Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church, Center Point, Alabama

[3] Accountability for Oneself, by Michael Stark, New Beginnings Baptist Church

[4] Sanctifying Work of the Holy Spirit, by Jordan Irvin

[5] Jesus Sanctifies Himself, by Robert L. Smith

[6] Loved, Chosen, Sanctified, Called, and one day...Glorified! by Patrick D. Williams

[7] God's Work in Our Lives, by Mark Barnes

[8] For this is the Will of God, Your Sanctification, by David Krueger

[9] Above and Beyond III, Daniel Waller

[10] Christian Behaviour, by Malcolm Macleod

[11] Christian Ethics - Doing God’s Will from the Heart, Frank Walker

[12] For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (2) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.