Sanctification
The three-fold plan of salvation are justification (past), sanctification (present) and glorification (future). After justification, there begins a second stage in the plan of salvation is sanctification (present). This conforming to Christ involves the work of the person. But it is still God working in the believer to produce more of a godly character and life in the person who has already been justified (Phil. 2:13). Sanctification is not instantaneous because it is not the work of God alone. The justified person is actively involved in submitting to God’s will, resisting sin, seeking holiness, and working to be more godly (Gal. 5:22-23). Significantly, sanctification has no bearing on justification. That is, even if we don’t live a perfect life, we are still justified.
We call our daily process of spiritual growth progressive sanctification. It is a gradual process of being conformed to the image and likeness of Christ. This is the process by which the Holy Spirit begins to work out in our daily conduct and thinking what He imparted to us when we were born again. We are changed from the inside out. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (1 Cor. 15:49). In reality glorification has already started. It will be finished when we stand before Jesus Christ complete.
Sanctification is our progressive conformity to the image of Christ in this life. The difference between our sanctification and our glorification is only one of measure. Our glorification is our perfect conformity to the image of Christ. It is only a matter of time before it is complete. Therefore our sanctification is glory begun. In the process of sanctification we actually begin to change and begin to be like Christ in our attitude, thoughts and behaviors. It doesn’t mean we are perfect yet. It doesn’t mean we are sinless. Sanctification is the process of glorification.
The sanctification process began when we repented and turned our attitude toward God. Sanctification is a life-long process of change, of overcoming our human weaknesses, and of transformation according to God’s will. Sanctification continues only as long as repentance remains. Keep in mind that repentance is more than a one-time event it is a lifestyle. Repentance is an attitude of humility, teachability and willingness to change that must be maintained in order for the sanctification process to continue. During the sanctification process we will sin from time to time: we are not yet perfect, not yet able to follow God’s spirit perfectly as Jesus did. If we repent again, and return to a repentant attitude, redemption is still available to us. If we always return to repentance, and follow God’s spirit for the rest of our lives, we are promised the gift of eternal life. (2 Cor. 6:16-18, Rom. 8:1,4,5-16, Gal 5:16,25, 6:8)
Now, there is one more point of clarification. To sanctify also means to set apart for holy use. Therefore we can have verses that talk about us being sanctified already because God has set us apart for holy use.
| John 10:36 | “do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” |
| Rom. 15:16 | “to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, that my offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” |
| 1 Cor. 1:2 | “to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.” |
| 1 Cor. 6:11 | “And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” |
| 1 Tim. 4:4-5 | “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” |
| Heb. 2:11 | “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” |