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Sanctification

(Growth in likeness to Christ)

Summary: (top)

Sanctification is the process of a believer becoming more like God. It begins at the point of conversion with immediate 'renewal', increases throughout life, and is made perfect at death. God plays the primary role in sanctification, by disciplining, changing and empowering us. It is also by God the Son that we may be sanctified and it is through the Spirit working in us that it occurs. We depend on God to sanctify us by using the ability He has given us in the Spirit to change. We do this through Bible reading and meditation, perpetual prayer, regular worship, constant witnessing, good and regular Christian fellowship, self discipline and control.

It is important to find the correct balance between trusting in God's strength and actively working towards your own desired, yet unattainable (in this world), perfection. Finally, sanctification effects our knowledge, our emotions, our will, our spirit and our bodies, and we may work towards sanctification for many reasons (with the 'top ten' listed below).

Introduction: (top)

Sanctification is both an event that has happened to all believers and a process which all believers are going through and will go through until Christ returns, when it will be perfectly completed. It is the change of the person to be more like God and is a constant struggle, often with frustration (at the realisation of our own sin) but always with hope at the perfection that will come with Christ and the Kingdom.

The Biblical Teaching:

Sanctification in our Lives: (top)

Sanctification begins at the point of conversion with immediate 'renewal': (top)

Once an individual commits their live to Christ and is converted, the initial aspect of sanctification is enacted. That is, God immediately works in the (now) believer.

"He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).
"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God" (1 John 3:9).

The initial sanctification involves a break with sin, so that the believer is no longer dominated by it:

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." (Rom. 6:11-12)
"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Rom. 6:11)

Sanctification increases throughout life - the believer grows in likeness to Christ: (top)

In general, when sanctification is mentioned, it refers to the continual growth in the Christian life from sin towards Christ-likeness. This is indeed the principal thrust of sanctification:

"Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness." (Rom. 6:19b)
"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (1 Cor. 3:18)

Sanctification does not lead to perfection in this earthly life: (top)

Within the Bible it appears that there are verses which expect the believer to be perfect, or at least that teach that it is possible to do so in this lifetime:

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matt. 5:48)
"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." (2 Cor. 7:1)
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. 5:23)
"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." (1 John 3:6)

But there are also verses that speak of continuing sinfulness in the Christian life:

Jesus commanded us to pray daily: "...Forgive us our debts..." (Matt. 6:11-12)
Continuing sin is assumed by Paul: "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." (Rom. 6:12-14)
Continuing sin is acknowledged by James: "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check" (James 3:2)
Continuing sin is a fact of life to John: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

In reconciling these, it must be understood that the standard of God as stated in the Bible is not necessarily achievable simply because it is expected of us. For example, the basic gospel message includes that God expects all to live according to His perfect law because He created us that way. But we know this is unattainable because everyone has sinned (Rom. 3:9-18). If these verses where implying that perfection was attainable, perfection would be expected of all believers, and then salvation would not be by faith, but by works. So those verses above must be seen to be reinforcing the truth that we were created perfect and perfection is expected from the perfect God, but He also knows that perfection is unattainable, and therefore is merely an aim for the Christian life.

Indeed, it is a part of sanctification to continue trying to get rid of sin, knowing that perfection is only found in Christ's return. This is certainly more fitting with the theme of much of the New Testament, where the epistles are basically devoted to guiding and helping Christians to live more godly lives - help they wouldn't need if they were perfect!

Sanctification is made perfect at death: (top)

Though even as believers we still sin, when Christ comes we will be made perfect.

"You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect..." (Hebrews 12:23)
(John speaking of the city of God in Heaven): "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Rev. 21:27)

God's Role in Sanctification: (top)

God plays the primary role: "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. 5:23)
God disciplines us: "And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" (Heb. 12:5-7)
God changes and empowers us: "...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Phil 2:13)
God the Son earned sanctification for us: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever" (1 Cor. 1:3-5).
God the Holy Spirit works in our lives: "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth." (2 Thess. 2:13)

Our Role in Sanctification: (top)

What we do: (top)

We depend on God to sanctify us: "offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness." (Rom. 6:13)
We use the ability God has given us in the Spirit to change: "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." (2 Pet. 1:5-7)

How we do this: (top)

There are no easy answers here, or cheats to a faster sanctification (!) but, there are several traditional and Biblical encouragements to this process:

Bible reading and meditation: "Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "" (Matt. 4:4)
Perpetual prayer: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:16-18)
Regular worship: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph. 5:18-20)
Constant witnessing: "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (1 Pet. 2:11-12)
Good and regular Christian fellowship: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thess. 5:11)
Self discipline and control: "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." (2 Pet. 1:5-7)

Finding a balance (top)

It is important, and I've certainly found a constant struggle, to find the right balance between dependence on God for the strength to fight sin and aim for perfection, and to put in the effort and use the strength God has given. To rely too much on God, thus neglecting your own responsibility, will introduce laziness and will impede the working of sanctification. To rely too much on yourself, not asking God for the strength to continue or not attributing it to Him, will result in pride, and again will impede the working of sanctification.

The Effects of Sanctification: (top)

Sanctification effects: -

Our knowledge: "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." (Col. 3:9-10)
Our emotions: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22-23)
Our will: "...or it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Phil. 2:13)
Our spirit and bodies: "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." (2 Cor. 7:1)

Top 10 Reasons For Our Continued Working Towards Sanctification (top)

God-Centered Reasons

Desire to do what God commands, simply because it is right: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Phil. 4:8)
Desire to please God: "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 14:21)
Desire for a closer relationship with God: "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." (1 John 1:6)

Kingdom-Centered Reasons

Desire to be used by God and have increased effectiveness for the Kingdom: "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." (2 Tim. 2:20-21)
Desire to see unbelievers come to Christ through observing our witness: "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (1 Pet. 2:11-12)

Fear of God

Desire to keep a clear conscience before God: "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (1 Tim. 1:5)
Desire to avoid God's displeasure and discipline: "Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear." (1 Pet. 1:17)

Desire for Blessing

Desire for peace and joy: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22-23)
Desire to receive blessing from God on our lives and ministries: "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." (1 Pet. 3:9)
Desire to receive greater heavenly reward: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt. 6:19-21)

Conclusion (top)

Sanctification is the Christian struggle towards perfection in this life; it is the desire, frustration and hope encountered when seeking to be like God; it uses the strength He gives as if your own; it is knowing that it is unattainable yet trusting that it will come as a blessing with Christ.

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).