Sanctification's Impact on Daily Life and Relationships
Sanctification is the process by which believers are set apart for God's service and made holy. It involves the work of the Holy Spirit in transforming the whole person, including their thoughts, feelings, and actions [1]. The Bible teaches that sanctification is a crucial aspect of the Christian life, and it has a significant impact on daily life and relationships.
The apostle Paul writes that believers have been "sanctified in Christ Jesus" (1 Cor. 1:2) and that they should "continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety" (1 Tim. 2:15) [4, 3]. Sanctification is not just a one-time event but a continuous process that involves the mortification of sin and the cultivation of holiness (1 Thess. 4:3-4) [5]. According to John Gill, internal sanctification is the work of the Spirit of God, resulting in a principle of spiritual life in the soul, while external sanctification is the outward manifestation of this inner work, resulting in holiness of life and conversation [5].
The impact of sanctification on daily life is significant. Believers who are being sanctified are called to live a life that is pleasing to God, characterized by love, faith, and sobriety (1 Tim. 2:15) [3]. They are also called to mortify sin and to cultivate holiness in their thoughts, words, and actions (1 Thess. 4:3-4) [5]. As Matthew Henry notes, justification by faith leads to a life of obedience and holiness, as believers seek to live in a way that is consistent with their new status as children of God [6].
In terms of relationships, sanctification has a profound impact. Believers are called to live in harmony with one another, and sanctification is seen as a key factor in maintaining unity in marriage and other relationships (1 Cor. 7:14) [7]. According to John Chrysostom, sanctification is not just a individual process, but also has implications for the community of believers, as it reminds them of their common calling and shared identity as saints [9].
The process of sanctification is not limited to the individual but extends to the whole of life, including the body, soul, and spirit (1 Thess. 5:23) [8]. As Tyndale House notes, God's sanctifying work extends to the totality of human life, enabling believers to live a holy life [8]. Ultimately, sanctification is a work of God, effected through the Holy Spirit, and is a key aspect of the believer's growth in holiness and conformity to the image of Christ [1, 4].
The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as represented by John Chrysostom, emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification, highlighting the importance of the sacraments and the community of believers in this process [9]. In contrast, the Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, emphasizes the role of faith and the work of Christ in sanctification, highlighting the importance of individual obedience and holiness [5, 7].
The outcome of sanctification is a life of fruitfulness and obedience, characterized by love, faith, and holiness, as seen in Romans 6:22, where Paul writes that believers "have their fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life" [2].
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”
- Romans “But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life. -- Romans 6:22”
- 1 Timothy “but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety. -- 1 Timothy 2:15”
- 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”
- 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 ”
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 5:1: The precious benefits and privileges which flow from justification are such as should quicken us all to give diligence to make it sure to ourselves that we are justified, and then to take the comfort it renders to us, and to do the duty it calls for from us. The fruits of this tree of life are exceedingly precious. I. We have peace with God, Rom 5:1. It is sin that breeds the quarrel between us and God, creates not only a strangeness, but an enmity; the holy righteous God cannot in honour be at peace with a sinner while he continues under the guilt of sin. Justific”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:14: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife,.... That is, "by the believing wife"; as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, and so it is read in some copies; and likewise in the next clause the same is read, by the believing husband; this is a reason given by the apostle why they should live together. This cannot be understood of internal sanctification, which is never the case; an unbeliever cannot be sanctified by a believer in this sense, for such a sanctification is only by the Spirit of God; nor external sanctification, or an outward refo”
- 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 5:23: 5:23-28 Greek and Roman letters ended with a wish for the good health of the recipient. Jewish letters concluded with a peace blessing. Paul closes with a Christian variation on these practices. 5:23 God enables Christians to live a holy life (3:11-13). His sanctifying work extends to the spirit and soul and body, the totality of human life (cp. Matt 10:28; Mark 12:30; 1 Cor 7:34).”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: names of men he findeth no place for. But what is Sanctification? The Laver, the Purification. For he reminds them of their own uncleanness, from which he had freed them; and so persuades them to lowliness of mind; for not by their own good deeds, but by the loving-kindness of God, had they been sanctified. “Called to be Saints.” For even this, to be saved by faith, is not saith he, of yourselves; for ye did not first draw near, but were called; so that not even this small matter is yours altogether. However, though you had drawn near, accountabl”