Sanctification: Set Apart for God's Purposes.

What is Sanctification?

According to the Bible, to be sanctified means to be made holy, which involves being separated and set apart for God and His purpose. Sanctification is the divine process by which a person is made holy and designated for God's service. The term is derived from the Latin sanctificare, meaning “to make holy.” According to Scripture, sanctification has three aspects: positional, progressive, and ultimate sanctification.

Positional Sanctification

This occurs at the moment of salvation when a believer is set apart for God. The Apostle Paul writes, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11, KJV).

Positional sanctification describes what God did for us when He saved us at the time of our conversion.

- At the point of salvation (once and for all time), God causes true believers to experience a relational change—a completely new position that they enjoy with Jesus.

- At the new birth, the true believer is permanently separated from sin and set apart for God Himself.

- According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, it is "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."

- In this sense, believers are dead to the ruling power of sin; the penalty and power of sin are removed, with a promise that the presence of sin will also one day be removed.

Acts 20:32 - "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

1 Corinthians 1:2 - "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours."

Notice a few unique terms:

- Have been sanctified = perfect (past action with present results), passive (had no role in it).

- Saints = holy/sanctified ones.

1 Corinthians 6:11 - "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

2 Corinthians 1:1 - "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia."

Ephesians 1:1 - "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:1 - "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons."

Colossians 1:2 - "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Hebrews 10:14 - "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

- "Hath perfected" = perfect tense indicates a one-time event with continuing results.

Romans 6 (especially verses 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18):

- When a person becomes a Christian, they are placed on the other side of a gulf that separates them from God, no longer on the side of sin but now on God's side, the side of holiness.

- He actually considers believers holy and perfect.

- But God went even further: not only are believers set apart from sin to God, but God also implants in believers desires that were not there before—a desire for God, for holiness, for prayer, worship, love, service, purity, and to please God in all things.

- Believers possess a new heart that wants to live separately from sin, to stay away from sin, gain control over sin, and eliminate sin.

- This is the reason God saved us!

Ephesians 1:4 - "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."

Thus, positional sanctification is a divinely wrought character change that frees believers from sinful habits and forms in them Christ-like affections and character.

It involves a change in the believer’s standing before God and an internal change in their heart and its desires. Therefore, as believers, we have the ability—with the help of the Holy Spirit and the presence of Christ—to overcome the temptation of sin.

Progressive Sanctification

This is the ongoing transformation of a believer’s life, making them more Christ-like. The Bible states, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18, KJV).

Progressive sanctification refers to the outworking of the believer’s positional sanctification.

- In this sense, sanctification is the process of becoming holy throughout the Christian life.

- It involves an ongoing transformation of becoming (holy) that which we already are (holy).

- This isn’t a change in position or heart desires; rather, it describes behavioral change.

- This is the process of growth—the action of becoming separate from sin and set apart to God; the activity of gaining victory over sin and becoming more like Jesus; the pursuit of godly behavior.

2 Corinthians 3:18 – "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Many of the New Testament instructions constitute exhortations to believers to walk in holiness, to grow in likeness to Christ, and to pursue greater sanctification in their lives:

- Romans 6

- Ephesians 4:17–6:20

- Colossians 3:1–4:6

- Romans 12–16

1 Peter 1:15-16 – "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

2 Timothy 2:20-21 – "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

Progressive sanctification involves a turning from sin and a turning to righteousness.

Turning From:

1 Thessalonians 4:3 – "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication."

Turning To:

1 John 3:3 – "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

There is always a negative and a positive element to sanctification; that’s why many of the commands in the New Testament contain both negative and positive sides:

Colossians 3:8, 12 – "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth... Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering."

1 Timothy 6:11 – "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."

2 Timothy 2:22 – "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Sanctification includes both the battle with sin and the pursuit of godliness—the turning from sin to be like Christ.

Progressive Sanctification Always Follows Positional Sanctification

- Where there is justification and positional sanctification, there will be progressive sanctification.

- Those whom God declares righteous and makes holy will be sanctified.

- When God indwells a person through His Holy Spirit, that person will become more holy. That person will change; their life will be different.

- Some believe you can be rescued by Jesus but not be transformed by Him in your lifestyle—that you can be saved but have no desire to live a life pleasing to Jesus.

- In other words, some feel positional sanctification is separate from progressive sanctification. However,

1 Corinthians 1:30: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

- Righteousness and redemption, which happen at salvation, are connected to sanctification in the mind of God.

Hebrews 12:14: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

- No sanctification means no salvation.

Titus 2:11-12, 14: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world... Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

- Notice that God’s grace not only brings salvation; it also produces sanctification and godliness. Salvation brings about a new nature, one in which the power of sin has been broken.

- Notice also that Christ redeemed us for the purpose of purifying us.

This Process is Never Complete in This Life

- Sanctification does not mean that sin is entirely eradicated in this life, although some teach otherwise (see the chart on the four views of sanctification).

- Do these verses teach that it is possible for believers to be perfect in this life?

Matthew 5:48: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

1 Thessalonians 5:23: "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 John 3:6: "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him."

- Perfectionism in this life is not taught in Scripture. Consider Paul’s own testimony from his life:

Romans 7: Paul describes the inner struggle with sin, stating, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do" (Romans 7:19).

Philippians 3:12-14: "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

- Although perfection is unattainable in this life, this should not serve as an excuse to neglect the pursuit of holiness and righteousness.

- The fact that God has made us holy in Christ is not a license to sin or an invitation to spiritual apathy.

- Rather, it should be a motivation to diligently pursue holiness, striving to grow closer to Christ each day.

This Process Involves God’s Work and Our Effort

- God is the One who brings about our sanctification, 1 Thessalonians 5:23: "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."

Philippians 2:12-13: "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

- God accomplishes this work in us through the Holy Spirit, who works to change us into the likeness of Christ:

1 Peter 1:2: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."

2 Thessalonians 2:13: "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."

- But we also must work for it:

- Paul is not talking about working for your salvation, but commanding us to work on our salvation:

2 Corinthians 7:1: "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

1 Timothy 4:7-8: "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

2 Peter 1:10: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall."

- This is where the spiritual disciplines come in (time in the Word, prayer, worship, confession, fellowship, self-discipline, etc.).

- This is why there are so many commands in Scripture for believers to strive for obedience and to pursue holiness:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

According to J. C. Ryle, progress in sanctification is closely tied to the faithful use of Scriptural practices. These "means" include reading the Bible, engaging in private prayer, regularly participating in public worship, attentively listening to God's Word, and consistently partaking in the Lord's Supper. Ryle emphasizes that neglecting these practices will hinder spiritual growth, as they are the divinely appointed ways through which the Holy Spirit imparts grace and strengthens believers in their inner life.

Throughout history, no devoted saint has been known to disregard these disciplines. Although some may dismiss this approach as overly legalistic, Ryle firmly believes that spiritual growth requires intentional effort—there are no gains without dedicated work. Just as a farmer cannot expect a harvest without labor, a believer cannot expect to grow in holiness without diligent engagement in these spiritual practices. God operates through means, and He will not bless those who claim to be beyond the need for such disciplines.

- The failure to intensely pursue sanctification explains why some believers do not mature much in holiness:

1 Corinthians 3:1-3: "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"

1 Corinthians 3:15: "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

Hebrews 5:12-14: "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Ultimate/Perfect Sanctification (Glorification)

This final aspect of sanctification occurs when believers are fully perfected in Christ at His return. The Apostle John assures, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

- Our sanctification is complete when we die and go to be with the Lord, at which point the presence of sin is removed entirely:

1 Corinthians 15:49: "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."

Philippians 3:21: "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

- Thus, we look forward with great anticipation to the glorification that awaits us, the redemption of our bodies:

Romans 8:23: "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

How Can One Be Sanctified?

Sanctification is a cooperative process between God and the believer. The Bible outlines several ways through which sanctification occurs:
1. Through the Word of God
2. By the Blood of Jesus Christ
3. By the Holy Spirit
4. By Faith in Jesus Christ
5. Through Obedience and Righteous Living
6. Through Trials and God’s Discipline

Key Takeaways:

Sanctification is an ongoing personal experience in a believer's life, beginning at conversion. The believer is progressively sanctified through Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as they obey the Word of God: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Sanctification continues until it reaches completion when the Lord Jesus Christ returns: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).

Biblical sanctification, therefore, has three stages: Initial, Progressive, and Final (Ultimate). Ultimate sanctification brings progressive sanctification to an end. This can only be achieved when the believer enters the eternal state—either at death or at the return of Christ.

It is the responsibility of every Christian to confront sin when it arises and take appropriate action. In doing so, they sanctify themselves more and more so that the likeness of Christ is increasingly evident in them. This process includes separating oneself unto God and away from the world in thought, word, and deed. Some refer to this as Positive Sanctification—the consecration of oneself to God. Such a work will continue throughout the believer's life.

Biblical sanctification depends on the degree of commitment one gives to the Lord. If a person actively walks in holiness, they will be declared holy by the Lord. Therefore, sanctification requires commitment and discipline from anyone desiring to be cleansed.

References

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (1611). Cambridge University Press.
Grudem, W. (1994). Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Zondervan.
Packer, J. I. (1993). Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. Tyndale House Publishers.
R. C. Sproul, The Holiness of God (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1985).