Sanctification is the process by which believers are made holy — set apart for God, transformed into Christ's likeness, and growing in righteousness. It is both a definitive act at conversion (1 Corinthians 6:11) and a progressive work of the Spirit throughout the Christian life (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Sanctification is one of the foundational doctrines of the Christian life. The Greek 'hagiasmos' means making holy, setting apart. Several biblical truths. (1) Sanctification is a three-part reality. (a) Definitive (positional) sanctification — at salvation, believers are made holy by their union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:11 — 'but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified.' Already done, complete. (b) Progressive sanctification — believers grow in holiness throughout life by the Spirit's work. 2 Corinthians 3:18 — '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.' (c) Final (glorification) sanctification — at Christ's return, believers are perfectly conformed to him. 1 John 3:2 — 'we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.' (2) Sanctification is God's work in the believer. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 — 'And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly.' The work is fundamentally God's. (3) Sanctification involves the believer's effort. Philippians 2:12-13 — '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.' Both God's working and our working together. (4) Sanctification is by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 — 'walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.' Romans 8:13 — 'if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.' (5) Sanctification is through the word. John 17:17 — 'Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.' Scripture is the means by which the Spirit transforms. (6) Sanctification is through suffering. Hebrews 12:10 — 'he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.' Romans 5:3-4 — tribulation produces character. (7) Sanctification involves community. Ephesians 4:11-16 — believers grow together. (8) Sanctification is not perfectionism. 1 John 1:8 — 'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.' Believers struggle with indwelling sin throughout life. Even Paul confessed Romans 7. (9) Sanctification is not optional. Hebrews 12:14 — 'Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.' Practical: how to pursue sanctification. (a) Walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). (b) Saturate in Scripture (John 17:17). (c) Pray for spiritual growth. (d) Mortify sin (Colossians 3:5 — 'mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth'). (e) Cultivate the means of grace — worship, sacraments, fellowship. (f) Accept correction and discipline. (g) Endure suffering as God's work. (h) Aim for the goal — conformity to Christ.
“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.”
“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.”
“I beseech you therefore, brethren... that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God... be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
“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.”
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
“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.”
Pursue sanctification. Walk by the Spirit. Saturate in Scripture. Mortify sin. Cultivate the means of grace. Accept correction. Endure suffering as God's tool. Trust God's work in you. Aim at the goal: conformity to Christ. Don't make peace with sin. Don't despair over slow progress. 'Be ye therefore perfect' (Matthew 5:48) — Christ's aim for his people.
Sanctification is the process by which believers are made holy — set apart for God, transformed into Christ's likeness, and growing in righteousness. It has three aspects: (1) definitive — believers are made holy at conversion by union with Christ; (2) progressive — believers grow in holiness throughout life; (3) final — believers are perfected at Christ's return. It is God's work in cooperation with believer's effort.
By the Spirit's work through means God has appointed: (1) Scripture (John 17:17); (2) prayer; (3) worship and sacraments; (4) Christian community; (5) suffering as God's discipline (Hebrews 12); (6) the believer's active mortification of sin (Romans 8:13). Sanctification is both God's working in us and our working out his salvation (Philippians 2:12-13).
No. 1 John 1:8 — 'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.' Sinless perfection is not promised in this life. Even Paul confessed indwelling struggle (Romans 7). What is promised is real progress, genuine transformation, and final perfection at Christ's return (1 John 3:2). Don't make peace with sin; don't despair when you fall.
Justification is the declaration that the believer is righteous in Christ — an instantaneous, complete legal status (Romans 5:1). Sanctification is the actual making righteous — a progressive, lifelong transformation. Justification is by faith alone; sanctification is by faith working through love. Both are God's gift, both flow from Christ's atoning work, and they are inseparable but distinct.