A Brief Bible Study |
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Your Bible Lesson For The Day
What Is Sanctification?
The Holy Spirit who works justifying faith in the Christian believer also works sanctification in that believer. Sanctification is the inner spiritual transformation and renewal of the believer by the Holy Spirit. Having been justified through faith in Jesus Christ and set free from his sin, by faith the believer embarks upon a new life of turning away from sin to serve God with good works and holy living. This brief explanation of sanctification in its narrow sense is based on such Bible passages as follows.
Romans 6:22 says, “But now, having been set free from sin and having been made slaves to God, you have your benefit resulting in holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.” Having been justified by faith and set free from sin, we no longer want to commit sin. Rather, we turn from sin to serve God with good works that result in holiness. As Paul urges us to do in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to its goal in the fear of God.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3, 6 also reveal that sanctification is a turning away from sin to do what God desires. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification – that you continue to abstain from illicit sexual intercourse, . . . that each one of you do not transgress and cheat his brother in the matter of business. . .”
Romans 12:1,2 reveal that sanctification stems from the mercy of God when we are justified by faith so that we no longer follow the sinful ways of this world but are transformed to do what is God’s will and to serve him. “Therefore I urge you, brothers, by reminding you of the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship; and keep from being conformed to this present age, but continue to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.”
And we read in 2 Corinthians 5:14,15, “For the love of Christ drives us, because we have come to conclude this, that one died for all; so, then they all died; and he died for all in order that those who are living no longer keep living for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
So, what is sanctification? In its narrow sense it is an inner renewal and new spiritual life of good works that we live by faith in response to God’s graciously justifying us in Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:22 says, “But now, having been set free from sin and having been made slaves to God, you have your benefit resulting in holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.” Having been justified by faith and set free from sin, we no longer want to commit sin. Rather, we turn from sin to serve God with good works that result in holiness. As Paul urges us to do in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to its goal in the fear of God.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3, 6 also reveal that sanctification is a turning away from sin to do what God desires. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification – that you continue to abstain from illicit sexual intercourse, . . . that each one of you do not transgress and cheat his brother in the matter of business. . .”
Romans 12:1,2 reveal that sanctification stems from the mercy of God when we are justified by faith so that we no longer follow the sinful ways of this world but are transformed to do what is God’s will and to serve him. “Therefore I urge you, brothers, by reminding you of the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship; and keep from being conformed to this present age, but continue to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.”
And we read in 2 Corinthians 5:14,15, “For the love of Christ drives us, because we have come to conclude this, that one died for all; so, then they all died; and he died for all in order that those who are living no longer keep living for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
So, what is sanctification? In its narrow sense it is an inner renewal and new spiritual life of good works that we live by faith in response to God’s graciously justifying us in Jesus Christ.
