Sanctified

By Apostle Jean Mulovery

APGCI

Sanctification

Theologians use the word SANCTIFICATION in two senses.

DEFINITIVE SANCTIFICATION refers to the Christian’s instant and decisive break from the dominion of sin when he comes to faith in Christ.

God has consecrated and separated him from the world.

But in this section, we are interested in PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION, which refers to the Christian’s gradual growth in knowledge and holiness, so that having received forensic righteousness in justification, he may now develop personal righteousness in his thought and conduct.

Some people make the mistake of thinking that the whole of sanctification is like justification in the sense that it is an immediate act of God whereby he causes us to achieve perfect holiness in thought and conduct, and this implies that true Christians no longer commit sins.

However, although sanctification begins at regeneration, the Bible describes it as a growth process, so that a person increasingly thinks and behaves in a way that pleases God, and that conforms to the likeness of Christ.

A number of passages in the Bible may give the impression that a person ceases to sin altogether after regeneration.

For example, John says, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9).

But this verse is only saying that one who is born of God does not continue in sin, and not that he does not sin at all. In fact, earlier John writes, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1:8).

A regenerated person should exhibit a definite transformation in his thought and conduct.

Perfection is not in view, but an unmistakable turn from evil thinking and living toward holy thinking and living.

In the same letter, the apostle says, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.

But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One”

(1 John 2:1).

The atoning work of Christ has effectively paid for not only those sins we had committed before regeneration, but also those subsequent to it.

However, John does not write this to grant us the liberty to sin, but instead he says, “I write this to you so that you will not sin.”

The verse also shows that he does not assume that the Christian has achieved sinless perfection, since he makes provision for one who does sin, saying, “But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense.”

Hebrews 12:4 presents sanctification as partly a “struggle against sin,” but the Bible also tells us it is one that we can win. Paul writes:

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (Romans 6:13-14)

Sin is not our master, so we do not need to obey it. We have been set free from sin so that we may now live righteous lives.

As with all the areas of our spiritual life, the way we grow in holiness involves the intellect and volition, or the understanding and the will. of God in the Platform of

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Peter writes, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness”

(2 Peter 1:2-3). We grow in spiritual maturity first through knowledge.

It would be impossible to shun wickedness and pursue righteousness without a clear conception of what wickedness and righteousness mean, and what kinds of thoughts and actions come under each.

As for our volition, Paul writes, “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).

As with all the items that this chapter discusses, sanctification is a work of God; however, it is

SYNERGISTIC

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in nature, meaning that it is also in a sense a work of man, and involves his conscious decision and effort in the process. As Paul writes:

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

(Philippians 2:12-13)42

The Christian is to actively take his part in sanctification, and deliberately pursue a life of obedience to God “in fear and trembling.” Nevertheless, the passage explains that even the working out of our salvation is in fact a work of God: “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

Our choices and actions remain under God’s control after regeneration.

Therefore, although a person is conscious of his efforts and struggles in sanctification, in the end God receives the honor, and the Christian still has no basis to boast of his achievements.

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