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- Q. 75. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby
they
- whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy,
- are
- in time, through the powerful operation of His
Spirit[b] applying the death and
resurrection of Christ unto them,[c]
- renewed
- in their whole man after the image of God;[d]
having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put
into their hearts,[e] and those graces so
stirred up, increased, and strengthened,[f]
as that
- they more and more die unto sin,
and rise unto newness of life.[g]
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Let's examine the Scripture proof texts for the exciting promises of God for us in
time, not just in eternity.
A. Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby they whom God hath,
before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful
operation of his Spirit (Eph. 1:4; 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thess.
2:13)
| Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before Him in love, |
We were not chosen simply to strum a harp on some celestial cloud
for eternity. We shall be holy. |
| 1 Corinthians 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 and by the Spirit of our God. |
Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. But our
future is here on earth, not just in heaven, and our future is one
of ethical transformation, from rebel to ambassador, from outlaw
to priest and king under Christ. |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to
give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God
from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit
and belief in the truth, |
Salvation through sanctification.
Faith without works is dead. |
applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, (Rom.
6:4-6)
| Romans 6:4-6 Therefore we were buried with
Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
{5} For if we have been united together in
the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His
resurrection, {6} knowing this, that
our old man
was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we
should no longer be slaves of sin. |
Christ had a passionate dedication to following His Father's will.
If we are "in Christ" we partake of this passion. We must cultivate
that desire, and put to death all desires that stand in the way of Christ's
perfect obedience. |
renewed in their whole man after the image of God; (Eph.
4:23-24)
| Ephesians 4:23-24 and be renewed in the
spirit of your mind, {24} and that
you put on the new man which
was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. |
The old man must be put to
death. We must put on Christ.
Our whole life must be renewed in time and in history.
A society of Christians will likewise be renewed, as each individual puts on
Christ. |
having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put
into their hearts, (Acts 11:18; 1 John 3:9)
| Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they
became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted
to the Gentiles repentance to life." |
"Repentance" means total repudiation of an autonomous
(self-determined) lifestyle and whole-hearted dedication to Theonomic
(God-directed) living. |
| 1 John 3:9 Whoever has been born of God does
not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been
born of God. |
When some theologians hear this verse, they do not "become
silent" (see verse above). "But, but, but,"
they say. It may be true that no Christian can be sinless in this life, but
anyone who is not passionately dedicated to following God's Law and becoming
perfect should question his salvation. |
and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, (Jude
20; Heb. 6:11-12; Eph. 3:16-19; Col. 1:10-11)
| Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, building
yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, |
The Catechism correctly states that it is the Holy Spirit that
"stirs up, increases, and strengthens" the grace of God in us. But
Jude calls on us to worship God with all our heart, mind, soul, and might, and
"build yourselves up." |
| Hebrews 6:11-12 And we desire that each one
of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
{12} that you do not become sluggish, but
imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. |
Too many Christians today are "sluggish" and do not
"show the same diligence" to conform their lives to the perfect
Standard of God's Law. Are they "saved?" |
| Ephesians 3:16-19 that He would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His
Spirit in the inner man, {17} that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and
grounded in love, {18} may be able
to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and
height; {19} to know the love of
Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of
God. |
The Westminster divines emphasize personal holiness and Theonomic
obedience in a way that is not evident in most churches today. |
| Colossians 1:10-11 that you may walk worthy
of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God; {11} strengthened
with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and
longsuffering with joy; |
Do you walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him? Are you
fruitful in every good work? If you are not, don't be distressed; be renewed!
Put your old man to death and put on
Christ! The glorious power of Christ can make you patient and fill you with joy! |
as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life. (Rom.
6:4, 6, 14; Gal. 5:24)
| Romans 6:4,6,14 Therefore we were buried
with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
{6} knowing this, that our old
man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might
be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.{14}
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not
under law but under grace. |
Here is how to kill your
old man and put on Christ. |
| Galatians 5:24 And those who are Christ's
have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. |
And those who are not, have not.
Make a firm resolution right now to crucify the old
man. A friend of the world is an enemy of God. (James 4:4) |
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