Intentional Surrender to the Spirit's Work of Sanctification
Intentional Surrender to the Spirit's Work of Sanctification
The concept of intentional surrender to the Spirit's work of sanctification is rooted in biblical teachings on the Holy Spirit's role in the believer's life. Sanctification is the process by which believers are set apart for God's service and made holy [1]. According to Romans 15:16, believers are sanctified by the Holy Spirit, indicating the Spirit's crucial role in this process [3].
The biblical basis for sanctification is found in various passages, including Hebrews 10:10, which states that believers are sanctified through the offering of Jesus Christ's body once for all [2]. This foundational aspect of sanctification underscores its connection to Christ's sacrifice. Torrey's Topical Textbook further explains that sanctification is effected by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and is a result of the atonement of Christ [4].
The process of sanctification involves a transformation of the believer's entire being. Easton's Bible Dictionary describes it as the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul during regeneration [1]. This transformation is not limited to a moral reformation but encompasses the whole person.
Different Christian traditions interpret the process and significance of sanctification in various ways. For instance, John Gill, representing a Baptist/Reformed perspective, views internal sanctification as the work of the Spirit of God, resulting in a principle of spiritual life in the soul [6]. In contrast, Adam Clarke, from a Methodist/Wesleyan viewpoint, emphasizes the need for personal preparation and purification, such as changing one's conduct and cleansing one's hands, to draw near to God [8].
The intentional aspect of surrendering to the Spirit's work involves a conscious decision to yield to God's will. Calvin's commentary on Philippians highlights the role of the gospel in consecrating believers, illustrating the active role of faith in the sanctification process [7]. This surrender is not passive; rather, it involves an active engagement with God's Word and a willingness to be transformed by the Spirit.
The outcome of this intentional surrender is a life characterized by holiness and conformity to God's will. As Easton's Bible Dictionary notes, personal holiness is a work of gradual development, requiring watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance [5]. The believer's role in this process is to cooperate with the Spirit's work, allowing for a deeper level of sanctification.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
- King James Version “[KJV] Hebrews 10:10 — By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
- Romans “that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. -- Romans 15:16”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sanctification — Is separation to the service of God -- Ps 4:3; 2Co 6:17. Effected by God. -- Eze 37:28; 1Th 5:23; Jude 1:1. Christ. -- Heb 2:11; 13:12. The Holy Spirit. -- Ro 15:16; 1Co 6:11. In Christ -- 1Co 1:2. Through the atonement of Christ -- Heb 10:10; 13:12. Through the word of God -- Joh 17:17,19; Eph 5:26. Christ made, of God, to us -- 1Co 1:30. Saints elected to salvation through -- 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:2. All saints are in a state of -- Ac 20:32; 26:18; 1Co 6:11. The Church made glorious by -- Eph 5:26,27. Should lead to Mortification of sin. -- 1Th 4:3,4. Ho”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
- 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 4:3: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,.... Which is another reason to enforce the above exhortation. "Sanctification" is internal or external. Internal sanctification is the work of the Spirit of God, and is a principle of spiritual life in the soul, a divine and spiritual light in the understanding, a flexion of the will to the will of God, and a settlement of the affections on divine things, and is an implantation of every grace in the heart. External sanctification arises from this, and lies in holiness of life and conversation; and is what ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 13.2: of their faith, which it certainly would be. That, however, the whole passage may be more clearly understood, he says that he offered sacrifice to God, when he consecrated them by the gospel. There is a similar expression in Romans 15:16 ; for in that passage he represents himself as a priest, who offers up the Gentiles to God by the gospel. Now, as the gospel is a spiritual sword for slaying victims, 139 139 “ Pour tuer les bestes qu’on doit sacrifier ;” — “For killing the animals that ought to be sacrificed.” so ”
- James (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on James 4:8: Draw nigh to God - Approach Him, in the name of Jesus, by faith and prayer, and he will draw nigh to you - he will meet you at your coming. When a soul sets out to seek God, God sets out to meet that soul; so that while we are drawing near to him, he is drawing near to us. The delicacy and beauty of these expressions are, I think, but seldom noted. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners - This I think to be the beginning of a new address, and to different persons; and should have formed the commencement of a new verse. Let your whole conduct be changed; cease to do evil learn”