Sanctification is simply the process of spiritual growth by which God progressively makes us more like His Beloved Son, our Savior. The natural outgrowth of this process is that believers will live godly lives for the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul reminds us “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification” (1 Thess. 4:3).
In the process of sanctification, God transforms us from the inside out. This transformation begins inwardly, first with our inner man, then with our soul, and continues outwardly with our body. This order is important because we will never be all that God wants us to be simply through our own performance and self-effort. Once God regenerates our inward selves, then the transformation will affect our outward physical actions.
Consider this illustration: The problem with a thief is not in his hands. The problem is in his mind or spirit, which tells him that he needs to steal. After he steals, his mind tells him to rationalize his behavior. The police can arrest him and put him in handcuffs, but on the inside, he is still a thief. A problem of the heart is the heart of the problem. Therefore, if his mind and spirit are transformed, then his hands will follow. Allow us to explore five important aspects concerning sanctification that every Christian should know:
1. Sanctification is a Work of God
Notice the emphasis throughout Scripture that sanctification is a work of the entire Godhead. All our efforts toward holiness are useless apart from each person of the Trinity. Sanctification is through the work of Christ on the cross (Heb. 10:10), secondly by that of the Holy Spirit in us, and lastly, as we read in the book of Jude, “sanctified by God, the Father” (Jude 1:1). Concerning the Holy Spirit, Paul highlighted the Holy Spirit’s role with the repetition of the phrase “by the Spirit” in Galatians 5:16, 18, 25 (ESV). He used the phrase “sanctified by the Holy Spirit” in Romans 15:16, and in Romans 8:13, he said it is “by the Spirit” that we are able to “put to death the deeds of the body.” Thus, we must always remember that personal sanctification is a work of God.
2. Sanctification Involves Cooperation
Secondly, there is a personal involvement of the believer in the process of sanctification. Take note of the imperatives in Galatians 5: “Walk in the Spirit” (v.16), “Live in the Spirit” (v.25), and “keep in step with the Spirit” (v.25, ESV). Whereas, justification is entirely God’s work, sanctification involves our cooperation with God. Christ has delivered us from sin’s reign, but the responsibility for resisting sin is ours in and through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God has given us His Spirit, but the responsibility for walking in the Spirit is ours. We are charged by the writer of the book of Hebrews, “Pursue…sanctification” (Heb. 12:14, NASB; see also 2 Cor. 7:1). Keep in mind that sanctification involves our cooperation and commitment.
3. Sanctification is an Ongoing Process
Whereas justification is once and for all, sanctification is a continuous process whereby we grow in holiness. The Greek verb “peripateo,” translated in English “Walk by the Spirit” in Galatians 5:16 literally means “to go about” or “to walk around.” It is the same word used by Jesus of the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed and walk” (Mark 2:9). The word “walk” can also be used to mean a certain walk of life or conduct. Paul used a tense of the verb that reflects continuous, ongoing activity. The word “walk” reminds us that sanctification does not roll effortlessly down a superhighway; it treks resolutely up a more arduous path, steadily progressing toward the goal but never arriving until the day we “see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
4. The Goal of Sanctification is Christlikeness
God’s purpose is our sanctification, to transform us more and more into the likeness of Christ. Paul exhorts us, “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). May we all refuse to be seduced into defining spiritual maturity in terms of religious activities (sanctification by checklist). This communicates the wrong idea that if you check off the items on the list you are good for another week! We must take care that we are not overly focused on our failings instead of being occupied with the person of Christ. Discovering how deceitful and wicked our heart is never made a believer spiritually strong. Heart occupation with Christ is the key to true growth in sanctification. Respected writer H. A. Ironside (1876-1951) exhorts us on this devotion to Christ:
“The secret of Christian holiness is heart-occupation with Christ Himself. As we gaze upon Him, we become like Him. Do you want to be holy? Spend much time in his presence. Let the loveliness of the risen Lord so fill the vision of your soul that all else is shut out. Then the things of the flesh will shrivel up and disappear and the things of the spirit will become supreme in your life. We do not become holy by looking into our own hearts. There we only find corruption. Instead, we must look away from ourselves and “unto Jesus,” contemplating His holiness, purity, love, compassion, and devotion to the Father’s will. Then we shall be transformed, imperceptibly to ourselves, perhaps, but nonetheless surely into His blessed image. There is no other way whereby we may become practically holy and be delivered from the power of the flesh and the principles of the world.” 1
Thus, Christ-like character through devotion to Christ is the proper measuring stick of growth in sanctification.
5. The Two Primary Instruments of Sanctification are the Word of God and the Holy Spirit
In Jesus’ prayer for his disciples, He calls on the Father to “sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth” (John 17:17). In His prayer, He instructs us that God sanctifies us through His Word. Paul understood that God’s Word trains us in righteousness so that we may “be complete” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Therefore, let us drink deeply, then, from the Scriptures, for by them God will transform us more and more into the likeness of Christ (Ps. 119:11; Acts 20:32; 1 Pet. 2:2).
Conclusion
Sanctification is not just an arm of Christian theology; it is the heart of it. That is because sanctification is developing Christlikeness in our lives. Living a life that has the stamp of Christ upon it may be the most important aspect of the Christian life. It influences every aspect of the Christian life: evangelism, worship, preaching, and a host of other Christian disciplines. May we strive to live a life that pleases God.
Endnotes
1H. A. Ironside, Continual Burnt Offering, (Loizeaux Brothers: New York, NY, 1943), Oct. 6