Definition

1
Definition

• To sanctify something is to make it holy, set
  it apart for a particular purpose. Christians
  are being set apart by God in order to glorify
  Him as redeemed saints.

2
Aspects of Sanctification

• Positional sanctification
• Also known as justification, this is the
  immediate result of trusting in Jesus (Heb 1010
  1 Cor 611).

3
Aspects of Sanctification

• 2. Progressive Sanctification
• Also known as Christian growth, this takes place
  throughout the life of a believer (2 Cor 318 1
  Thess 523 Phil 212).

4
Aspects of Sanctification

• 3. Final Sanctification
• Also known as glorification (Rom 829 1 John
  32).

5
Key Passages

• Phil 212-13
• Rom 121-2
• Rom 81-17
• Eph 210
• 1 Peter 21-5

6
Why Bother?

• We are placed on earth and given salvation for
  the purpose of glorifying God as His
  representatives (Rom 923 1 Peter 29-10).

7
Why Bother?

• 2. Failure to live up to this role results in
  loss of reward, loss of fellowship with God, and
  possibly loss of life (1 Cor 3 Heb 6 Heb 10
  Acts 51-16).

8
Views on Sanctification

• A. Catholic
• B. Reformed
• C. Wesleyan/Pentecostal
• D. Free Grace Dispensational (covered under
  Sorting it Out)

9
Views on Sanctification

• A. Catholic Sanctification
• Much of the Roman Catholic model of
  sanctification is derived from a fifth century
  monk named Pelagius.

10
Views on Sanctification

• Pelagius on Salvation/Sanctification
• 1. Man does not have a sin nature, but simply
  concupiscence, i.e. a strong desire to sin.
• 2. Christ's death atoned for our previously
  committed sins, but not for future ones.

11
Views on Sanctification

• Man possesses a natural righteousness given by
  God at birth.
• 4. This natural righteousness allows us to please
  God in our flesh by the way we live.

12
Views on Sanctification

• Therefore, justification becomes the result of
  sanctification. In other words, a righteous life
  merits heaven as a reward, not as a gift.

13
Views on Sanctification

• Cooperationism
• 1. Mediates between full elagianism and
  Augustine's views on grace.
• 2. Unredeemed man possesses a sinful nature
  (unlike Pelagianism), but this nature is removed
  at baptism.

14
Views on Sanctification

• Grace is transferred by means of the sacraments.
  They serve to both justify and sanctify.
• There is no distinction between justification and
  sanctification. Salvation is viewed as entirely
  an ongoing process.

15
Views on Sanctification

• 5. Grace given by the sacraments enables one to
  live righteously.

16
Views on Sanctification

• Problems with the Catholic View
• The failure to distinguish justification from
  sanctification contradicts the Bible's teaching
  that salvation is a free gift, not a reward (Eph
  28-9 Rom 328 Rom 622-23)

17
Views on Sanctification

• 2. Scripture clearly indicates that
  sanctification follows justification, not the
  other way around (Eph 1-3 4-6 Rom 61-14).

18
Views on Sanctification

• Sanctification too easily becomes a mechanical
  process, achieved in the flesh rather than in the
  Spirit (see Gal 33).

19
Views on Sanctification

• B. Reformed Sanctification
• The Reformers reacted strongly against the
  mechanical nature of Catholic sanctification, as
  well as its emphasis on merit given for keeping
  the sacraments.

20
Views on Sanctification

• Key Features
• Regeneration does not remove original sin.
  Therefore man's works cannot contribute to
  justification at all.
• 2. As a result, sanctification becomes the
  product of justification.

21
Views on Sanctification

• Justification and sanctification are distinct but
  entirely inseparable.
• 4. Sanctification is achieved through vigilant
  dependence upon the Holy Spirit and active
  participation in good works.

22
Views on Sanctification

• 5. Failure to evidence Christian fruit is almost
  certain proof that one is not saved.

23
Views on Sanctification

• Evaluation
• 1. The Reformers properly stressed the
  distinction between justification and
  sanctification.
• 2. The Reformers properly emphasized God's grace
  in both processes.

24
Views on Sanctification

• 3. The Reformers failed to recognize that there
  are clear instances in the Bible in which
  justification is not followed by visible
  progressive sanctification (e.g. see 1
  Corinthians).
• 4. As a result, sanctification is often motivated
  from fear rather than from gratitude and love.

25
Views on Sanctification

• Wesleyan/Pentecostal Sanctification
• Although there are some differences, both
  Wesleyan and Pentecostal sanctification focus on
  a second work of grace.

26
Views on Sanctification

• Key Features
• Sanctification is entirely distinct from
  justification, and is in fact a separate event!

27
Views on Sanctification

• 2. Sanctification occurs in an instant and is
  referred to by Wesley as perfect love.
  (Pentecostals often relate the experience to
  speaking in tongues).

28
Views on Sanctification

• After achieving perfect love, all sin is removed
  (including the sin nature).
• 4. Those who have achieved perfect love are prone
  to mistakes, either involuntary transgressions
  or those occasioned by ignorance or passion.

29
Views on Sanctification

• 5. Perfect love can be lost through sin and later
  restored.

30
Views on Sanctification

• Evaluation
• Wesley is forced to redefine sin in order to fit
  his definition of perfect love. But even
  involuntary sins are still sins!
• Wesley ignores the work of perfection that
  remains to be done through glorification (Rom
  820-21)

31
Views on Sanctification

• 3. Wesley fails to recognize that sanctification
  is progressive, not instantaneous (1 Cor 318).

32
Views on Sanctification

• D. Sorting it Out A Biblical Analysis
• The Bible clearly distinguishes sanctification
  from justification.

.
33
Views on Sanctification

• 2. Regeneration does not remove the old nature.
  However, we are in a process of being transformed
  into the nature of Christ (1 Cor 318). This
  process will be completed at our glorification.

34
Views on Sanctification

• Although we are being transformed, we must still
  be dependent upon the Spirit to live the
  Christian life (Rom 85-11).
• 4. Failure to persevere does not necessarily
  indicate an unsaved state. However, it at least
  indicates that a person is not responding to the
  Spirit's conviction.

35
Views on Sanctification

• 5. There are consequences for failing to walk
  with Christ (see above).

36
A Practical Guide

• 1. Consider yourself dead to sin (Rom 614).
• Let God's Word dwell within you (Col. 316).

37
A Practical Guide

• Do not grieve the Spirit through sin (Eph
  430-32 1 Jn 19).
• Do not quench the Spirit by ignoring His voice (1
  Thess 519).

38
A Practical Guide

• Results of Walking in the Spirit
• 1. We will manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Gal
  522-23).
• We will not manifest the fruit of the flesh (Gal
  519-21).

39
A Practical Guide

• We will manifest the specific works that God has
  planned for us (Eph 210).

40
A Practical Guide

• We will understand and apply the Word of God
  (John 1612-15).
• We will be assisted in prayer by the Holy Spirit
  (Rom 826-27).

41
(No Transcript)