Salvation, the removal of our sin and its guilt though faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, allows God to declare us to be just, Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:24).
The word justified means to declare righteous. The sinner who turns in faith to Christ, trusting in His shed blood as the sacrifice for sin, trusting that He bore our sins and God’s judgment against our sin, is forgiven of sin, delivered from judgment and is declared by God to be righteous. The Apostle Paul said, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord … not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith (Phlpns. 3:8,9).
The righteousness of Christ is imputed to the forgiven sinner. Impute means to credit something to a person — the righteousness of Christ is credited to the redeemed sinner: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).
However, the Lord has not only purposed that we would be declared righteous. He has also purposed that we will become righteous. He doesn’t just call us righteous. He progressively transforms us into righteous men and women who share His divine nature, as the Apostle Peter declares, Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust (2 Ptr. 1:3,4). This is a continuing expression of grace — we were saved by grace, are kept by grace and are being sanctified by grace, changed into holy men and women — partakers of the divine nature.
Paul said that Christ is made unto us righteousness and sanctification and redemption (I Cor 1:30). Believers not only receive forgiveness of sins but also cleansing from sin’s corruption. Jesus commissioned Paul to go and preach so that people may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me (Acts 26:18).
The New Testament word for sanctification is hagiosmos. It is derived from the verb hagiazo which means to sanctify, set apart, consecrate, make holy. One of the New Testament words for a believer is saint, hagios, from the same root.
Sanctification refers to the work of God in us whereby we are set apart from sin and set apart unto God. It also refers to the process whereby we are progressively purified, transformed, into the image of Jesus. Whereas we once were separated from God by our sin, now, saved by grace, we are separated from sin and separated unto God by grace. We were separated unto the Lord when we were born again — our position before God is that we are holy, set apart for God and for His purposes.
Set apart unto God implies that we have been set apart from our former way of life. Paul listed many of the sin patterns which had formerly characterized the Corinthian believers and then said, 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 (I Cor 6:10,11). Notice the verb tense — you were sanctified. This occurred at their new birth when they confessed Christ as Lord and Savior. They were washed of their sin, declared to be justified, set apart from sin and set apart, sanctified unto God.
Believers are sanctified or set apart unto God at conversion. The Apostle Paul addressed his first letter to the Corinthians in this manner, To those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling (I Cor 1:2). Believers may be mature or immature but we have been sanctified and are called saints. Again, notice the verb tense — have been sanctified — it is done. We have been set apart unto God. It is our position before God.
The writer to the Hebrews says, We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all … For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified (Hebr. 10:10,14). We have been sanctified … are sanctified. It is done, this is our present position in Christ, we have been separated unto God and this is also our future position — we will continue to be set apart, sanctified unto God.
So sanctification is an event — we were sanctified, set apart to the Lord when we were born again. This is our position before God — sanctified, set apart, holy unto the Lord. However, sanctification is also the process whereby the Lord progressively refashions us into His holy likeness. As with our justification, this is an act of grace.
Having declared the forgiven sinner to be righteous, the Lord then begins the process of conforming us to the righteousness of His Son. We have been declared righteous. Now we are being made righteous. Righteousness was imputed to us when we were justified. Now righteousness is being imparted in us.
On the night of His betrayal, Jesus prayed for His disciples — this includes all of us who love and follow Him, Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth (Jn. 17:17). It is the word of truth applied to us by the Holy Spirit, that brings about our sanctification.
However, in the church at Corinth there was a problem with ongoing sin. Some of the folks in the church were sinning because they were unredeemed, unsaved members of the church. But there were also many who were truly redeemed, who had been declared holy, separated unto God through the blood of Christ, yet were falling short in their daily living.
Paul address his first letter, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling (I Cor. 1:2). But he also refers to them as babes in Christ and fleshly, immature (I Cor. 3:1,3). Their position in Christ was that they were sanctified, saints set apart from sin and unto the Lord. But they were not living their position. They were not yet entirely free from some of the patterns and practices of sin which had characterized their former life. God declared them to be holy in Christ, set apart from sin and unto Christ at their conversion. But even though they had been separated unto God, sanctified, there was also a process underway which was not yet fulfilled.
This is true for all of us. Our position before Christ is holy, righteous, set apart to the Lord. But we are also being progressively conformed to the image of Jesus, For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). Notice again the verb tense — we were destined to become conformed to the image of His Son. But it is not yet complete.
Our position before God is that we are righteous and holy, justified and sanctified. We have been forgiven of sin, washed, cleansed by the blood of Jesus, set apart / sanctified unto God and are also being progressively purified of sin: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18). Notice the verb tense — we are being transformed — the process is not yet complete.
So sanctification is not only our position before God — set apart from sin, set apart unto God. It is also the process of being separated from evil. God not only calls us holy. He also makes us holy as we cooperate with Him. Having cleansed us by the washing of water with the word (Eph. 5:26), having regenerated us as new creations by power from above (Jn. 3:3), the Lord empowers us to separate ourselves from those things which would continue to pollute us.
Our will is involved in this. Beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7:1). Let us cleanse ourselves — again, only God can cleanse us but He does so as we choose to cooperate with Him, to separate ourselves from that which would nullify God’s cleansing work in us.
But how can we cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God while living in a world so filled with corrupting influences? How do we separate ourselves from sin patterns, habits and memories? By the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you (John 14:16,17).
When we confessed Christ as Lord and Savior, the Helper, the Holy Spirit came to indwell us. At our new birth, the veils of spiritual blindness were removed from our eyes and we were able to see into the word of God, able to understand it. To quote again, But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).
The same Holy Spirit who inspired the word of God, the Bible, now interprets that word to us and as we look into that word we behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory. The agent of sanctification is the Holy Spirit. The instrument is the Word of God which also performs its work in you who believe (I Thes. 2:13). As we commit to study and live that word in obedience, God will sanctify us. The end result is certain: By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified (Hebr 10:10,14).
We have been sanctified … He has perfected — this refers to our eternal position before God. But as we said, we do not always live out, in time, our standing before God. We must mature in holiness. There is this continuing process of separating ourselves from corrupting temptations and habit patters through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We are exhorted to separate ourselves from ungodly people (2 Cor. 6:14-17), from false teachers and doctrines (2 Tim 2:21, 2 John 1:9) and from our old nature with its ungodly practices (Col. 3:5-8).
We are all familiar with this ongoing struggle. There is in each of us a tendency to sin and derive pleasure from our sin. As stated in the ancient prayer of confession, “We sin in what we have done and in what we have left undone. We have not loved Thee O Lord with our whole heart nor have we loved our neighbor as ourself.”
So we see this conflict, this tension, between our position before God — sanctified — and our present state of imperfection. Paul declares, Sin shall not be master over you … But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness(Rom. 6:14,17,18).
But if we are no longer slaves of sin, why do we not live a pure, sinless life? We have been saved from the penalty of sin — Jesus bore our sin, divine judgment, our curse and our death. We have been saved from the power of sin to dominate us but we are not free from the presence of sin. Though we are new creations in Christ, there are still memories of sin and sinful habit patterns which have not yet been fully extinguished. We are still surrounded by a world which incites sin, tempts to sin, seduces with corruption which attaches to areas of vulnerability in our soul.
Paul reminds us, I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (Gal. 2:20). But then he also describes the conflict within him, For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate (Rom. 7:15). He humbly confesses his incompleteness an his determination, Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus (Phlpns. 3:12).
John expresses this tension in his first epistle. He says, The one who practices sin is of the devil (I Jn. 3:8). The words practices sin refer to habitual, unrepented sin. That person is not born again. But he also knows that redeemed saints do stumble and sin and he assures us, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1:9).
Paul addresses his letter to the Colossian Church with these words, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ (Col. 1:2). He reminds them, For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). But in 3:5, Paul exhorts the church, So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world (3:5, NLT). He tells them to put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, to put off the old nature (Col. 3:8) while also reminding them that they have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him (Col. 3:10).
We have been sanctified but still must put away, resist those things that are evil. Our old nature is dead but we must continually put off our old nature with its sinful habit patterns and memories. Paul addresses his letter to the saints who are at Ephesus (1:1) but then exhorts them to avoid immorality as is proper among the saints (5:3) and reminding them to not get drunk with wine (5:18).
Paul encourages believers to possess the sanctification which we have been given. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor (I Thes. 4:3,4). The word possess — ktamoai — means to acquire, to gain control over something. We are called to possess who we truly are in Christ.
He reminds the church that by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:13). Notice the verb tense — are putting to death. This is an ongoing battle, continually putting to death the deeds of the flesh, continually possessing who we truly are in Christ.
Paul reminds Timothy, Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work (2 Tim. 2:21). How do I do that? How do I cleanse myself? As we have said, there is a Godward side to this — only God can produce His holiness in us and He does through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. But there is also a human side and Paul reveals this to Timothy in the following verses: Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations (2 Tim. 2:22,23). Flee, pursue, refuse — this requires a commitment of our will and the supernatural enablement of the indwelling Holy Spirit. If we are willing, God does enable us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to progressively overcome the ways of the flesh.
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The writer to the Hebrews exhorts us, Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord (Hebr 12:14). Sanctification is a work of God in us but we must pursue it, cooperate with it. Paul exhorts us, Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7:1). We cleanse ourselves as we flee from sin, pursue holiness and refuse foolish ideas and philosophies.
Again, only God can make us holy: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely (I Thes 5:23). But God does this as we commit ouselves to the process. The result is gradual transformation into the image of Christ.
This is God’s purpose for us from eternity: 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 the Spirit and faith in the truth (2 Thes. 2:13)
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29). This is our God-ordained destiny, to be conformed to the image of God’s Son. As we look to the Lord in prayer, in worship, in the study of His Word and as we live that word, we are changed by grace into men and women of grace.
Sanctification as a finished work rests on the atonement of Christ. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb 10:10). Jesus died on the cross that He might sanctify the people through His own blood (Heb. 13:12).
When anyone comes to Christ in faith, that person is brought into union with Christ, hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). We are brought into union not only with the righteousness of Christ but also the holiness of Christ. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption (I Cor 1:30 ). In Him you have been made complete (Col. 2:10). Our eternal salvation is complete in Christ.
Therefore Paul says, And these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified (Rom. 8:30). Glorified refers to our final state of perfection in Christ. It is so certain that Paul uses a past tense verb — glorified.
But there is also this process whereby we put off the old man and put on this new, holy nature in Christ. In our own strength we cannot put to death our old ways — but God can. It is the Holy Spirit who puts to death the flesh (Rom 8:13). The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of Christ's character (Gal 5:22,23). The Holy Spirit works in us the transformation whereby we grow into the likeness of Christ (2 Cor 3:18).
It is God’s plan that we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Ptr. 3:18). Only God can produce such growth in us. He does so as we continually surrender our will to Him.
Paul exhorts us, But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts (Rom 13:14). We put on the Lord Jesus as we refuse to accommodate sin, as we pursue living like Jesus. We put on the Lord Jesus as we read the word, as we pray, as we worship. We become like whatever we fix our heart on and so we are exhorted, Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebr 12:2)
We cannot expect sinless perfection in this life. When the Bible speaks of people being perfect, it is referring to the completeness of our position in Christ. The Old Testament prophet Jonah is referred to as perfect, yet we know he committed sins. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul admits that he is not yet perfect, not yet fully consecrated (3:12). In 3:15 he says, as many as are perfect but this refers to the completeness of our position in Christ. The holiness of Christ has been imputed to us by grace through faith. In Christ we are truly separated unto God. But in the reality of our living, we are still moving toward full consecration.
In Colossians 1:12 Paul speaks of the goal of presenting every man complete in Christ. In 4:12, he prays for the Colossians that you may stand perfect and fully assured in the will of God. Perfection is a goal to be pursued, one which will be realized when the believer stands before Christ in eternity.
Until then, We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). We are His workmanship (craftsmanship, poema), a poem in the hands of the Master artisan, clay in the hands of the Divine sculptor. The brokenness which resulted from our inherited fallen human nature and those years when we were separated from Christ, the distortions of character and talent, the bending and twisting of our true self through our sin and the sins of others and the destructive powers of a fallen world — all of this must be dealt with if we would fulfill God’s wise design for our lives.
So God labors in us as a Master craftsman, graciously, patiently, lovingly transforming us, recreating us, sanctifying us for the living of those works which He prepared before we were born, that we should walk in them. Only God can transform and recreate us and He does as we exercise the discipline of discipleship: as we pray and worship, as we read and study the Word of God and as we live the truth day by day, putting off the habit patterns of our former way of life.
We call this process sanctification — God separating us from sin and unto Himself so He can establish His holy likeness in us. We are not talking about being sinless in this life. But the power of sin to dominate us has been broken and through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we now can resist and overcome sin.
We were saved by grace. We are kept by grace. We have been sanctified by grace and are being sanctified by grace. We will by grace someday stand before the Lord, holy and blameless. Surely on that day we will sing praise to this God of all grace.
Complete, final sanctification awaits the return of Jesus but John assures us, Beloved, now we are children of God and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him (I Jn. 3:2).
Jude adds, Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 1:24,25).
Study Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he says that we have been sanctified in Christ Jesus (I Cor. 1:2)?
2. What does Paul mean when he says that we are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18)?