Role of Sanctification in Believers' Lives and Growth
Sanctification is the process by which believers are set apart for God's service and progressively conformed to His will [2]. It is a work of the Holy Spirit that extends to the entire person, carrying to perfection the spiritual transformation initiated in regeneration [1]. The apostle Paul emphasizes the necessity of sanctification as an inseparable fruit of justification, stating that wherever Christ is made righteousness to a soul, He is also made sanctification [7].
The biblical understanding of sanctification involves several key aspects:
- Separation to God: At its core, sanctification means being separated or set apart for God's holy purposes [2]. This concept is evident in passages like Psalm 4:3 and 2 Corinthians 6:17.
- Divine Agency: Sanctification is primarily a work of God. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all involved. God the Father sanctifies believers (Ezekiel 37:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:23), Christ sanctifies His people through His atoning work (Hebrews 10:10, 13:12), and the Holy Spirit is specifically tasked with carrying out this work in believers (Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:11) [1, 2].
- Through God's Word and Prayer: The Word of God plays a crucial role in sanctification (John 17:17, 19; Ephesians 5:26). Paul states that something is "sanctified through the word of God and prayer" (1 Timothy 4:5) [3].
- A Continuous Process: Sanctification is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of growth and transformation. It involves bringing the believer's entire nature "more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration" [1]. This progressive aspect is highlighted in Romans 6:22, which speaks of believers having "your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life" [4].
- Holiness in Life: While internal, sanctification also manifests externally in a holy life and conversation [6]. It leads to the "mortification of sin" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4) [2]. John Gill, one theologian, describes internal sanctification as 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" [6].
The New Testament writers frequently connect sanctification with the believer's identity in Christ. Paul writes that Christ "is made of God unto us... sanctification" (1 Corinthians 1:30) [2]. All saints are considered to be in a state of sanctification (Acts 20:32, 26:18; 1 Corinthians 6:11) [2]. The church itself is made glorious through sanctification (Ephesians 5:26-27) [2].
It is important to distinguish between different senses of "sanctification." For instance, John Gill clarifies that when an unbelieving spouse is "sanctified by the wife" (1 Corinthians 7:14), it does not refer to internal spiritual sanctification, which is solely by the Spirit of God, but rather to an external, relational sense [8]. Similarly, John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, interprets "sanctification" in 1 Corinthians as referring to "the Laver, the Purification," reminding believers of their past uncleanness from which they were freed by God's loving-kindness, not their own deeds [9].
The call to sanctify Christ as Lord in one's heart (1 Peter 3:15) implies honoring Him as holy and enshrining Him as the dwelling place of His Spirit [5]. This inward sanctification is coupled with the readiness to defend one's faith [5]. The will of God for believers is their sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3), which encompasses both internal spiritual transformation and outward holiness of life [6].
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”
- 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 Timothy “For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer. -- 1 Timothy 4:5”
- 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 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 3:15: sanctify--hallow; honor as holy, enshrining Him in your hearts. So in the Lord's Prayer, Mat 6:9. God's holiness is thus glorified in our hearts as the dwelling-place of His Spirit. the Lord God--The oldest manuscripts read "Christ." Translate, "Sanctify Christ as Lord." and--Greek, "but," or "moreover." Besides this inward sanctification of God in the heart, be also ready always to give, &c. answer--an apologetic answer defending your faith. to every man that asketh you--The last words limit the universality of the "always"; not to a roller, ”
- 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 6 (introduction): The apostle having at large asserted, opened, and proved, the great doctrine of justification by faith, for fear lest any should suck poison out of that sweet flower, and turn that grace of God into wantonness and licentiousness, he, with a like zeal, copiousness of expression, and cogency of argument, presses the absolute necessity of sanctification and a holy life, as the inseparable fruit and companion of justification; for, wherever Jesus Christ is made of God unto any soul righteousness, he is made of God unto that soul sanctification, Co1 1:30. T”
- 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”
- 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”