Three Aspects to Sanctification
There are three main distinctions to sanctification: the positional aspect, the practical aspect, and the ultimate aspect. Each of these stages happen at different times after a person believes in Jesus Christ. This article will discuss what sanctification is and its three differing aspects.
Sanctification has its root in the words holy and saint. Its basic meaning is “to set apart.” The believer in Christ has been set apart to God and adopted as a son or daughter into his family (Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). This is sanctification at its core; but it also has other aspects to it.
Holy children of God need to act like their Father; but having been sanctified does not always show in a believer’s daily practice. This was the case with the believers at Corinth. Even though their deeds were showing them as carnal Christians (carnal meaning desiring things of the flesh instead of spiritual things), Paul still called them saints and reinforces this by saying that they were still washed, sanctified, and justified through Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11).
Justification vs. Sanctification
Justification and sanctification are not the same thing; but they occur simultaneously at the time of salvation. For example, justification is what distinguishes Christianity as a religion of grace and faith (Romans 5:1–2; Ephesians 2:8–9). When God justifies someone, He declares them righteous. He declares them righteous because they believe in Christ for their righteousness.
Paul’s argument to the saints in Rome is that all people are sinners (Romans 1:7). He quotes from the Psalms that there is no one righteous at all on their own (Romans 1–3; Psalm 14:1–3; 53:1–3). The Law condemns the world of sin but belief in the sacrifice of Christ, which paid for those sins and saves you from condemnation, changes you to a righteous person in God’s sight.
The theologian, Charles Ryrie, says that there are three options open to God, the righteous judge, when a person stands in his courtroom to be judged as a sinner:
- Condemn them for their wrongs.
- Receive them as they are by compromising his own righteousness.
- Change them into righteous people.
Thankfully, God enacts the third option. To be justified as a righteous person is to no longer be condemned for sins and seen as an enemy of God (Romans 8:1; James 4:4). Instead, there is peace with him and the establishment of a familial relationship and fellowship as his adopted children (1 John 1:5–10).
Positional Sanctification
Positional sanctification is an actual position that is not contingent on whether there is spiritual growth and maturity in the believer. Christ’s sacrificial death was made once for all times; and has sanctified and perfected each believer forever in him (Hebrews 10:10; 14).
The first part of sanctification happens at the moment of regeneration. Regeneration is the new birth that Jesus talks about with Nicodemus in John 3:3–6. Unless you are born again, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. That birth is accomplished by the cleansing work of the Word and the Holy Spirit which give you a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23). “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:6).” That means God must be the one who regenerates a person who believes by the exercise of his will (John 1:12–13; James 1:18).
This new birth places you into a new relationship with God as a child in his family. As a believer, you have been given the right to become a child of God (John 1:12); and have established peace with him by being justified through faith (Romans 5:1). By receiving this right and adoption, you have fellowship with him because of the peace granted through the blood and resurrection of Christ (1 Peter 1:3).
Adoption and New Birth
Even though adoption and new birth happen at the same time of salvation, there is a difference between adoption (Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:5) and the new birth (John 1:12; 3:3):
Adoption grants the full privileges and rights within that family—who is usually not blood related. Even if the adopted child has parents, those parents would lose all rights to their child. God removes the relationship that you have with this world of sin and promises never to remove you from his holy family (John 6:37–40; 1 John 3:1–2). This ensures that you will be brought to glory (Hebrews 2:10).
Adoption can happen at any age of life; and so, a new believer can be in God’s family as an adult. This changes the identity of the believer from a wretched, condemned sinner to a righteous, free saint.
Being born into God’s family means that there will be growth and development within this new spiritual life. This is the babe-like idea of being born into God’s family, which changes the nature of the believer’s being, starting with infancy into a mature, Christ-like adult. The saints at Corinth are an example of babes in Christ. They had been believers for a few years but still were lacking any maturity; in fact, they were worse off (1 Corinthians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 7:8–10). Paul even spent the first couple years with them teaching them the Lord’s commands and how to walk as he did (Acts 18).
Practical Sanctification
The growth and development mentioned above is the second aspect of sanctification. It is the progression or practice of becoming more like Christ as you seek to be holy and perfect just as God is and positioned you to be (Leviticus 11:44; Matthew 5:45). This brings a moral change in your life as the Spirit—who is sent as a helper and guide—begins to show you how to produce fruit (Matthew 3:8; John 14:16–17).
As a believer, you are still dwelling in a sinful body and will have to deal with making right and wrong choices until the end of your life (Romans 6–8). Being led by the Spirit will keep you from following the deeds of the flesh which are against the Spirit (Galatians 5:16–17); and are even hostile to God (Romans 8:7). James says that friendship with the world is enmity toward God (4:4).
In order to know God better and have fellowship with him, you must obey his commandments (1 John 2:3). If you say you obey and abide in Christ, you must also walk as he walked (vs. 6). Christ lived a perfect life and did the will of his Father (John 15:10). By abiding in Christ and with the workings of the Holy Spirit, as a child of God, you will be able to bear much fruit as you feed and nourish yourself on the True Vine (vv. 1–5; 1 Timothy 4:6). If you do not bear fruit, and even becomes hostile to God, then the Father must discipline you for his own good.
Discipline of God
Just as a father on earth would discipline his son or daughter, God disciplines his children. There are four reasons for this discipline found in Hebrews 12:5–11:
- God’s discipline shows his genuine love for his children (vs. 6, 8).
- It teaches his children to be obedient just like they would respect their earthly fathers (vs. 9).
- God disciplines his children for their good; so that, they can share in his holiness (vs. 10).
- Even though discipline does not feel good in the moment, it will reap the peaceful fruit of righteousness in the life of the disciplined child (vs. 11).
Fruitful Living
God’s divine power has granted the child of God everything needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). This begins by having the true knowledge of God “who calls us by his own glory and excellence.” By becoming a child of God, you can partake of the divine nature and can live rightly as Christ walked on the earth (vs. 4). Peter then gives a list of virtuous and godly principles to practice in order to be effective and productive in this world (vv. 5-8). He states to apply, in all diligence to your faith: moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly-kindness, and love. Not only will these principles keep you fruitful in your life; but it will also keep you on the path of righteousness (vs. 10).
If you are a child of God, you need to watch how you walk in relation to morality and in producing fruit for the glory of the Father. This includes keeping the physical body in check. Therefore, sexual immorality is a sin against the flesh (1 Corinthians 6:18) and has the purpose of giving impurity to the doer (1 Thessalonians 4:7). It is the will of God for his child’s sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3), and he wants his children to possess their vessels in sanctification and honor; not in lustful passions (vs. 4–5).
Forgiving
Even though believers have been forgiven by the blood of Christ (Isaiah 1:18–19; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24), they still need to forgive others and ask for forgiveness when they do wrong (Luke 11:4; 2 Corinthians 2:10; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). This is what maintains a right relationship between you and God (1 John 1:9; 3:19–21). To forgive little shows that you love little (Luke 7:47); but if you are born of God, you ought to love your brother and practice righteousness (1 John 3:9–10). Jesus taught that if you cannot forgive others for their trespasses against you, then the Father cannot forgive you when you sin against him (Matthew 6:15). However, he is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness if you confess your sins (1 John 1:6-10).
Work for God’s Good Pleasure
You can try as hard as you can to live a life pleasing to God (Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4, 12; 4:1), but perfection will not come in this lifetime. Paul says that physical exercise is beneficial for a while, but godliness is good for this life and the next (1 Timothy 4:7–8). You should not be discouraged by not being able to obtain perfection in living righteously yet. As a believer, you are being made into the image of perfection as you follow Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Therefore, be of good courage, knowing that you will one day be present with the Lord. Make it your ambition to be pleasing to him (2 Corinthians 5:6-10). Work out your salvation with fear and trembling because it is God who works in you to will and to do for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12). Desire good works because you are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2:10); and then do them to God’s glory with thankfulness in your heart (Colossians 3:1-17)
Ultimate Sanctification
The last aspect of sanctification is the glorification of believers after they die. As a believer, you can never attain perfect sanctification in this lifetime as mentioned above. It is not until you receive your glorified, spiritual body at your resurrection that you he will obtain complete sanctification and removal of your sin nature (1 John 3:1–3; Jude 24). Paul says that absence from the body is presence with the Lord; and the latter is far better than the first (2 Corinthians 5:8). He also said that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21–24).
At this final stage of sanctification, there will no longer be fruitful labors on this current earth, nor will there be any curse of sin and suffering; but you will get to serve God in the new heaven and earth forever (Revelation 22:3).
Summary
Sanctification is not only an instant happening at conversion; but also, a process throughout a believer’s life until their full glorification when they arrive in God’s presence. Believers are put into the family of God and are being conformed into the image of Christ until the day that they get to see him face to face; and that will truly be a glorious day.
If you want to know more about being justified before God and having a sanctified life, check out the article The Ultimate Guide to Salvation in Jesus Christ.
For Further Study
(Some links below are affiliate links which I receive a small commission from any purchases from Amazon)
“What Is the Role of the Holy Spirit” [Article]
“Jesus Christ Our Lord” by John F. Walvoord [Check it out on Amazon]
“The Holy Spirit” by Charles C. Ryrie [Check it out on Amazon]