What is sanctification?
Sanctification is the ongoing process by which a believer in Jesus Christ is made more and more like Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of spiritual growth, where God works in us to transform our desires, thoughts, and actions to increasingly reflect His holy character. This journey involves both divine grace and human effort, as we cooperate with God’s Spirit in pursuing holiness.
Sanctification is the progressive, lifelong work of God’s Spirit transforming believers into Christ-likeness.
Defined by God's Call to Holiness
The concept of sanctification is rooted in God's own holiness and His call for His people to be holy. The word "sanctify" literally means "to set apart" or "to make holy." From the Old Testament, God repeatedly declared, "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2, also 1 Peter 1:15-16). This call to holiness is not merely a moral suggestion but a fundamental aspect of God's relationship with His people. When God redeems a person, He sets them apart for His purposes and begins a work of conforming them to His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).
The Role of the Holy Spirit
Sanctification is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit. While believers are declared righteous in Christ at conversion (justification), sanctification is the subsequent, continuous work of the Spirit in their lives. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, "God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth." The Spirit indwells believers (Romans 8:9-11) and empowers them to put to death the deeds of the flesh and to live lives pleasing to God (Romans 8:13-14). He convicts of sin, guides into all truth (John 16:8, 13), and produces the fruit of righteousness in the believer's life (Galatians 5:22-23).
Both a Divine Work and Human Responsibility
One of the beautiful tensions in biblical teaching on sanctification is that it is both entirely God's work and yet requires the active participation of the believer. Philippians 2:12-13 perfectly captures this balance: "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." God provides the desire and the ability, and we are called to actively engage in the process. This involves disciplines like prayer, studying God's Word, fellowship with other believers, and obedience to Christ's commands. We are to "put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24) and to "present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification" (Romans 6:19).
Historic Christian theology often distinguishes between definitive (or positional) sanctification, which refers to the believer's being set apart for God at conversion, and progressive sanctification, which is the ongoing growth in holiness. There are varying emphases on the human and divine roles among different Christian traditions, but most orthodox views affirm both God's sovereign work and the believer's active responsibility in this journey. Some traditions might emphasize a "second work of grace" or a crisis experience in sanctification, while others see it as a more gradual, continuous process. However, all agree that sanctification is a real and necessary aspect of Christian life, distinguishing believers from the world and preparing them for eternal fellowship with God.
Bible verses about sanctification
"Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy; for I Jehovah your God am holy."
"but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy."
"For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:"
"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"
"But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
"for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."
"So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure."
"and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth."
"I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification."
Frequently asked
How is sanctification different from justification?
Justification is God's declarative act where He pronounces a repentant sinner righteous in His sight based on Christ's perfect righteousness, received by faith alone (Romans 3:28, 5:1). It's a one-time judicial act. Sanctification, conversely, is the ongoing, progressive work of the Holy Spirit making believers actually holy in their conduct and character over time (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Justification changes our legal standing; sanctification changes our spiritual state and practice.
Can a person be sanctified without effort?
While sanctification is ultimately God's work, it is not passive on the part of the believer. The Bible consistently calls believers to actively participate by pursuing holiness, fleeing sin, and exercising spiritual disciplines (1 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews 12:14). It's a cooperative effort: God empowers us, and we respond in obedience and faith, working out what He works in us.
Does sanctification mean I will become perfect in this life?
The New Testament teaches that while we are called to strive for perfection, complete sinless perfection will not be achieved until we are glorified in Christ (1 John 1:8, Philippians 3:12). Sanctification is a process, and believers will struggle with sin throughout their earthly lives. However, true sanctification means a growing hatred for sin and an increasing desire and ability to live righteously, characterized by genuine, though imperfect, obedience.
What role do spiritual disciplines play in sanctification?
Spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible study, worship, fasting, and fellowship are vital means by which the Holy Spirit works to sanctify believers. They are not ends in themselves but channels of grace that help us grow in our relationship with God, understand His will, and equip us to obey Him more fully (2 Timothy 3:16-17). These practices cultivate greater sensitivity to the Spirit's leading and strengthen our resolve against sin.
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