Sanctification

Sanctification is the doctrine of how human beings can be made holy. (The Greek noun hagios meaning holy, is the same root word as found in the verb meaning ‘to sanctify’-hagiazo).  Our sanctification is necessary if we are to live in relationship with a Holy God, who cannot be in the presence of sin. Sanctification comes after our Justification, as it is a different aspect of our salvation and reconciliation to God. Sanctification is concerned with the internal workings of the Spirit to make us holy. It is different from justification because it involves our effort and co-operation. Sanctification is something the Spirit works internally in our hearts, but at the same time it is also something at which we have to strive - and it is not an optional extra for the Christian (Hebrews 12:14, 2 Peter 1:3-11). We should see progress in our lives, and those of other believers, as we become more like Christ (Colossians 1:9-10, Ephesians 4:24). Theologians talk about two different aspects of sanctification, ‘Definitive Sanctification’ and ‘Progressive Sanctification’. Definitive sanctification means that the moment you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit comes to live in your heart. From that moment, you are a saint - a holy one - set apart by God for His purposes; there has been a break from the power of sin and the world’s hold over you so that you might now live to please Him (1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Peter 2:9). Progressive Sanctification says that the evidence that you are holy in your position before God is that you grow in holiness (1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 Thessalonians 5:23). You become more like Jesus as you go on in the Christian life, cooperating with the Holy Spirit at work in you, until one day you will be fully perfect when you see Him face to face (1 John 3:2-3). This tension between Definitive and Progressive Sanctification is displayed in Hebrews 10:14 ‘For by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.’