"Sanctification": What is it? The Biblical View!

[Ron Gurley]

"Sanctification": What is it? The Biblical View!

"sanctification"...Greek 38...hagiasmos...
I.consecration, purification...II.the effect of consecration A.sanctification (setting aside) of heart and life

Romans 6:19, 22 (all NASB)
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness,resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.... But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, (of salvation) resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

1 Col. 1:30
But by His doing you are IN Christ Jesus,
who became to us wisdom from God, and
righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

1 Thess. 4:3...For this is the will of God, your sanctification;

2 Thess. 2:13
But we should always give thanks to God for you,
brethren beloved by the Lord,
because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification
by (God) the Holy Spirit and faith in the truth.

PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION: A PROCESS!

POSITION versus PRACTICE...>
"How God views Man's spirit
VERSUS
"Christian Living"

I WAS SAVED from the PRISON of SIN in the PAST....simple "saving faith"...Ephesians 2:8

1. Substitution: "in the place of"
2. Redemption: " pay ransom, remove, and release "
3. Reconciliation: "alienation ends"
4. Propititation: "satisfaction with action"
5. Sin Nature Judged: "good overcomes bad"...nature changed
6. Justification: "view: Just-if-I..never" SINNED by the Advocate
7. Sanctification: 'process of being set aside for God, being more holy, following

I AM BEING saved from the POWER of SIN in the PRESENT
....influence of the PERMANENTLY indwelling God the Holy Spirit, guiding "battles" against the foes. Sanctification (setting apart) is a Progressive Process!
"Good works" are guided by God the Holy Spirit to eventual "Judgement of Believer's Works."Faith put to WORK! ...Becoming more Christ-like by following His precepts and Spiritual guidance.
Philippians 2:12 ...work out
Hebrews 12:1 ...run race

NOTE: (Saving) FAITH without (spiritully guided following ) WORKS is DEAD (judged spiritually useless). James 2 paraphrased!

I WILL BE saved from the PRESENCE of SIN in the FUTURE
...Eternity in the NEW: Heavens and Earth and Jerusalem, with the Tri-Une God! Revelation!

The Spiritual Gift of Grace of God + The Spirit-Led Belief of Man = Spiritual SALVATION EVENT of Man!

Sanctification: Past / Present / Future = PROCESS!

The doctrinal truth of Progressive Sanctification...God is not finished with me...YET!

When a person becomes a spiritually born again from above Christ-follower,
the believer is spiritually freed from the bondage of sin, among many other benefits of their salvation.The battle begins. The imperfect "old man" with his sin nature still struggle with sin. But they do not struggle alone.
They have a controlling "new nature", a new Creature in Christ, and
the permanently indwelling of God the Holy Spirit that comforts and guides their spirits
towards the will and holiness of God....and away from sin.
The infant in Christ matures through:
prayer, wisdom from the Bible, fellowship from the "church", service, etc.
A believer in Jesus the God-Man goes through the PROCESS of FOLLOWING His example and precepts.

Some links that explain: the doctrinal truth of Progressive Sanctification.

Sanctification Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary

Welcome bibletruth.org - BlueHost.com

Progressive Sanctification

What is progressive sanctification?

Biblical Principles for Christian Maturity - CHAPTER 20

We have been saved, we are being saved and we will be saved...from SIN / SIN(s) / Sin Nature~

1. We have been saved (past) PRISON of SON >>>Eph 2:1-8 ; 1 Cor 5:4-5...simple saving spirit-led FAITH / BELIEF

2. We are being saved (present) POWER of SIN: >>> 1 Cor 1:18; 1 Cor 15: 1-2; 2Cor 2:15; 1 Peter 1:8-9...walk in the Spirit

3. We will be saved (future): PRESENCE of Sin >>>Romans 8:22-23; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Cor 15:38-49...New: Heavens + Earth +Jerusalem

1. Does this doctrine help solve the issue of: SAVING FAITH...versus...FOLLOWING "GOOD WORKS?

2. Can this doctrine be viewed as "Progressive SALVATION"


Conclusion
Sanctification takes a lifetime. We will never be completely perfected until that day of His return. We must resist temptation, flee from sin, press on, take hold, have a goal, strain toward, and read the Word of God. These allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, with us, and through us by cooperating and being proactive to avoid sinning against God. We are told to be a living sacrifice. The only problem with being a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar. Paul gives us a fitting conclusion: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom 12:1-2).

REF: What is Sanctification? A Bible Study

Whatcha think??...or do ya'?

 

[All4Christ]

Very interesting post. You'll find that there are some similarities that can be drawn with the teaching of the Orthodox Church as well. I've been meaning to respond, but I have been tight on time this week. I may need to wait to respond in detail until the weekend, but hopefully we can have a good discussion of this, including Scripure and some of the thoughts of the early church.

 

[ladodgers6]

Definitive and Experiential Sanctification

Definitive sanctification, refers to the the accomplished fact that believers "have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:10) .. an irreversable event wherein Christ's single offering has perfected for all time those he came to save. This means that our just standing before God can neither be lost nor improved upon. As defined by John Frame, it is "a once-for-all event, simultaneous with effectual calling and regeneration, that transfers us from the sphere of sin to the sphere of God’s holiness, from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God." Definitive sanctification marks us out (or separates us) as God’s chosen people – His treasured and covenantal possession (Acts 20:32; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11). So too, definitive sanctification redeems (or frees) us from the dominion (or slavery) of sin by uniting us to Christ, particularly in His death, resurrection and ascension. Sanctification, in this sense, refers to a decisive and radical break from the power of sin.

Experiential sanctification refers to the work of God in and through man which makes us more and more like Christ in our day to day lives/. The Bible declares that as we behold God's glory we are being transformed into the image of Christ from one degree of glory to another. (2 Cor 3:18)." According to John Frame, "We can think of sanctification as the outworking of the new life given in regeneration." It involves the gradual, incremental and (S)piritual work of both putting to death the remains of "indwelling sin" as well as putting on the likeness of Christ. While we work out the salvation given to us, it is God who works in us, both to will and to work for His sovereign good pleasure. (Phil 2:13). We are sanctified in Christ and so our obedience flows from the cross.

"Union with Christ in his death and resurrection is the element of union which Paul most extensively expounds...if we are united to Christ, then we are united to him at all points of his activity on our behalf. We share in his death (we were baptized into his death), in his resurrection (we are resurrected with Christ), in his ascension (we have been raised with him), in his heavenly session (we sit with him in heavenly places, so that our life is hidden with Christ in God), and we will share in his promised return (when Christ, who is our life, appears, we also will appear with him in glory) (Rom. 6:14; Col. 2:11-12; 3:1-3). This, then, is the foundation of sanctification in Reformed theology. It is rooted, not in humanity and their achievement of holiness or sanctification, but in what God has done in Christ, and for us in union with him. Rather than view Christians first and foremost in the microcosmic context of their own progress, the Reformed doctrine first of all sets them in the macrocosm of God's activity in redemptive history. It is seeing oneself in this context that enables the individual Christian to grow in true holiness."
Sinclair Ferguson from Christian Spirituality: Five Views of Sanctification

 

[Ron Gurley]

Is "salvation" a PROCESS?

Or

Is "sanctification" a PROCESS?

Change of Spiritual POSITION in the "eyes" of God...a SALVATION EVENT! (JOHN 3 AS EXPLAINED IN EPHESIANS 2)

Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven,(NOW!)
from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;(Second Coming)

Ephesians 2:6
and raised us up with Him,
and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (NOW!)

PROGRESSIVE "sanctification" :

1. We have been saved (past) from the PRISON of SON >>>Eph 2:1-8 ; 1 Cor 5:4-5
...simple saving spirit-led FAITH / BELIEF

2. We are being saved (present) from the POWER of SIN: >>> 1 Cor 1:18; 1 Cor 15: 1-2; 2 Cor 2:15; 1 Peter 1:8-9...walk in the Spirit

3. We will be saved (future): from the PRESENCE of Sin >>>Romans 8:22-23; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Cor 15:38-49; Revelation:
...New Heavens + New Earth + New Jerusalem

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your SPIRIT (pneuma) and SOUL (psyche) and BODY (sarx/soma) be preserved complete,
without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

 

[ladodgers6]

Justification and Sanctification: What is the Difference?
by Matt Slick
11/23/08

Understanding the difference between justification and sanctification can be as important as understanding the difference between salvation and damnation. Rightly dividing between the two is of crucial importance. When you understand what they are, you can then draw a line in the sand and say, "This is what saves. This is not what saves."

Justification is the work of God where the righteousness of Jesus is reckoned to the sinner, so the sinner is declared by God as being righteous under the Law (Rom. 4:3; 5:1,9; Gal. 2:16; 3:11). This righteousness is not earned or retained by any effort of the saved. Justification is an instantaneous occurrence with the result being eternal life. It is based completely and solely upon Jesus' sacrifice on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24) and is received by faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9). No works are necessary whatsoever to obtain justification. Otherwise, it is not a gift (Rom. 6:23). Therefore, we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1).

Sanctification is the process of being set apart for God's work and being conformed to the image of Christ. 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.

Where justification is a legal declaration that is instantaneous, sanctification is a process. Where justification comes from outside of us, from God, sanctification comes from God within us by the work of the Holy Spirit in accordance with the Bible. In other words, we contribute to sanctification through our efforts. In contrast, we do not contribute to our justification through our efforts.

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."

All that we need is given to us in Christ. So there is one sense in which we are not yet completely formed into the image of Christ (sanctification of being made like Jesus), yet in another sense, we are because we are seen as "in Christ" and set apart for holy use where all our spiritual needs and purposes are met through Jesus.

Does this mean those justified by grace can sin as much as they want?
Romans 6:1-2 says, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?"

1 Thess. 4:7 says, "God has called us not for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification."

The Scriptures teach us that we are to live holy lives and avoid sin (Col. 1:5-11). Just because we are saved and eternally justified before God (John 10:28), that is no excuse to continue in the sin from which we were saved. Of course, we all sin (Rom. 3:23); but the war between the saved and sin is continuous (Rom. 7:14-20), and it won't be until the return of Jesus that we will be delivered from this body of death (Rom. 7:24). To seek sin continually and use God's grace to excuse it later is to trample the blood of Christ underfoot (Heb. 10:29) and to reveal the person's true sinful, unsaved nature (1 John 2:4; 2:19). Other verses worth checking out are: Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; and 1 Pet. 2:21-22.

What the cults do with justification and sanctification
The cults consistently blur the meanings of the two terms and misapply the truths taught in God's word. The result is a theology of works' righteousness--of earning their salvation, which only leads to damnation. This is because by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified (Gal. 2:16). Man cannot contribute to his salvation (Gal. 5:1-8). Man is sinful, and even his best deeds are stained and filthy before God (Isaiah 64:6). Therefore, making a person right before God can only be God's work (Gal. 2:20).

Typically, in cult theologies, a person is not justified (declared righteous in God's eyes) until the final day of judgment when his works are weighed, and a reward is given; or he is found worthy of his place with God. Thus, a person with this errant theology can not claim 1 John 5:13 as his own which says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God."

Contextually, "These things" refer to loving God, being obedient to Him, belief in Christ, and eternal life in Jesus. Therefore, 1 John 5:13 can be considered a test. If you are believing and doing the right things, then you will know if you have eternal life. Can a cultist know he has eternal life? No, he cannot; but a Christian can.

People in cults don't understand the difference between justification and sanctification. Therefore, they must depend upon a cooperative effort with God to have their sins forgiven, which is, essentially, combining the filthy works of man (Isaiah 64:6) with the holy work of God. They don't mix. They can't. Hence, salvation is by grace through faith alone. To believe anything else is to miss salvation.

 

[All4Christ]

Justification and Sanctification: What is the Difference?
by Matt Slick
11/23/08

Understanding the difference between justification and sanctification can be as important as understanding the difference between salvation and damnation. Rightly dividing between the two is of crucial importance. When you understand what they are, you can then draw a line in the sand and say, "This is what saves. This is not what saves."

Justification is the work of God where the righteousness of Jesus is reckoned to the sinner, so the sinner is declared by God as being righteous under the Law (Rom. 4:3; 5:1,9; Gal. 2:16; 3:11). This righteousness is not earned or retained by any effort of the saved. Justification is an instantaneous occurrence with the result being eternal life. It is based completely and solely upon Jesus' sacrifice on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24) and is received by faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9). No works are necessary whatsoever to obtain justification. Otherwise, it is not a gift (Rom. 6:23). Therefore, we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1).

Sanctification is the process of being set apart for God's work and being conformed to the image of Christ. 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.

Where justification is a legal declaration that is instantaneous, sanctification is a process. Where justification comes from outside of us, from God, sanctification comes from God within us by the work of the Holy Spirit in accordance with the Bible. In other words, we contribute to sanctification through our efforts. In contrast, we do not contribute to our justification through our efforts.

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."

All that we need is given to us in Christ. So there is one sense in which we are not yet completely formed into the image of Christ (sanctification of being made like Jesus), yet in another sense, we are because we are seen as "in Christ" and set apart for holy use where all our spiritual needs and purposes are met through Jesus.

Does this mean those justified by grace can sin as much as they want?
Romans 6:1-2 says, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?"

1 Thess. 4:7 says, "God has called us not for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification."

The Scriptures teach us that we are to live holy lives and avoid sin (Col. 1:5-11). Just because we are saved and eternally justified before God (John 10:28), that is no excuse to continue in the sin from which we were saved. Of course, we all sin (Rom. 3:23); but the war between the saved and sin is continuous (Rom. 7:14-20), and it won't be until the return of Jesus that we will be delivered from this body of death (Rom. 7:24). To seek sin continually and use God's grace to excuse it later is to trample the blood of Christ underfoot (Heb. 10:29) and to reveal the person's true sinful, unsaved nature (1 John 2:4; 2:19). Other verses worth checking out are: Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; and 1 Pet. 2:21-22.

What the cults do with justification and sanctification
The cults consistently blur the meanings of the two terms and misapply the truths taught in God's word. The result is a theology of works' righteousness--of earning their salvation, which only leads to damnation. This is because by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified (Gal. 2:16). Man cannot contribute to his salvation (Gal. 5:1-8). Man is sinful, and even his best deeds are stained and filthy before God (Isaiah 64:6). Therefore, making a person right before God can only be God's work (Gal. 2:20).

Typically, in cult theologies, a person is not justified (declared righteous in God's eyes) until the final day of judgment when his works are weighed, and a reward is given; or he is found worthy of his place with God. Thus, a person with this errant theology can not claim 1 John 5:13 as his own which says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God."

Contextually, "These things" refer to loving God, being obedient to Him, belief in Christ, and eternal life in Jesus. Therefore, 1 John 5:13 can be considered a test. If you are believing and doing the right things, then you will know if you have eternal life. Can a cultist know he has eternal life? No, he cannot; but a Christian can.

People in cults don't understand the difference between justification and sanctification. Therefore, they must depend upon a cooperative effort with God to have their sins forgiven, which is, essentially, combining the filthy works of man (Isaiah 64:6) with the holy work of God. They don't mix. They can't. Hence, salvation is by grace through faith alone. To believe anything else is to miss salvation.

Ah yes, an article from CARM, which groups Orthodox and Roman Catholics with World Religions (and calls them cults) instead of Christianity. Just be careful to not propose that Orthodox and RCC are cults or world religions when you are in Traditional Theology.

 

[ladodgers6]

Ah yes, an article from CARM, which groups Orthodox and Roman Catholics with World Religions (and calls them cults) instead of Christianity. Just be careful to not propose that Orthodox and RCC are cults or world religions when you are in Traditional Theology.

I was posting an excellent article of the distinction between Justification & Sanctification. Nothing more.

 

[All4Christ]

I was posting an excellent article of the distinction between Justification & Sanctification. Nothing more.

Ok, thank you for your explanation. I do see that he gives a good explanation of the distinction between justification and sanctification as taught in some churches, though as we can discuss later, not all hold to the same definition.

I also think the last section references some beliefs held by Traditional Christians and states that those who hold those beliefs "miss salvation". I do see that it is not the main point of the article though.

 

[Ron Gurley]

Good 'ole Matt Slick with "CARM"..he is "right on"!!

carm |

Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry

 

[All4Christ]

Good 'ole Matt Slick with "CARM"..he is "right on"!!

carm |

Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry

On what point? Honestly, the definition of the acronym isn't proof that he is right.

That said, there are some very good articles on CARM, especially in regards to the Trinity and some other theological topics (though I certainly disagree on some topics he discusses).

Anyways, CARM isn't the point of this discussion, so I digress.

 

[All4Christ]

I was posting an excellent article of the distinction between Justification & Sanctification. Nothing more.

Apologies if I overreacted. We have had multiple posters lately actively teaching that some beliefs that some Traditional Christians hold are against Scripture and are unbiblical, rather than discussing what we believe and comparing it to eachother respectfully. I realize that you did not do that.

 

[ladodgers6]

Ok, thank you for your explanation. I do see that he gives a good explanation of the distinction between justification and sanctification as taught in some churches, though as we can discuss later, not all hold to the same definition.

I also think the last section references some beliefs held by Traditional Christians and states that those who hold those beliefs "miss salvation". I do see that it is not the main point of the article though.

No problem, I believe we can discuss God's word, without being mean, cruel, or rude to each other. My intend is to share the Gospel of Grace.

 

[ladodgers6]

Apologies if I overreacted. We have had multiple posters lately actively teaching that some beliefs that some Traditional Christians hold are against Scripture and are unbiblical, rather than discussing what we believe and comparing it to eachother respectfully. I realize that you did not do that.

No need to apologize. I was not offended, and I totally agree with you that we can share our views and compare them. I find it odd, on how people can be nasty to each other when especially when discussing God's word.

 

[All4Christ]

I totally agree with you that we can share our views and compare them. I find it odd, on how people can be nasty to each other when especially when discussing God's word.

Agreed

 

[Hammster]

ADMIN HAT ON


Thread moved from Traditional Theology.


ADMIN HAT OFF

 

[Ron Gurley]

Moved to WHERE?

 

[Ron Gurley]

If I RE-PEAT...RE-POST elsewhere, is that OK?

 

[All4Christ]

Look at the top of the page. The thread is moved to General Theology.

 

[~Anastasia~]

If I RE-PEAT...RE-POST elsewhere, is that OK?

Your thread has been moved to General Theology, where you are free to discuss your opinions regarding various theologies you have brought up.

If you wish to begin a similar thread in future, this would be the proper forum.

Anytime you need to know which forum a thread is located in, you can look at the top of the page and the forum area will be shown.

Duplicate threads in different forum areas are usually not allowed, so you wouldn't want to repost in yet another area. General Theology should suit the kind of discussion you seem to be interested in.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.