Sanctification is the process by which believers are made holy, set apart for God’s purposes, and conformed to the image of Christ. It is both a definitive act and an ongoing process. Below is a biblical exegesis of sanctification with scriptural support.
1. Sanctification is the Will of God
Sanctification is God’s desire for every believer.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 (ESV) – “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.”
- Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
This shows that sanctification is both a command and an expectation for believers.
2. Sanctification is Through Jesus Christ
Sanctification is made possible through the work of Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 10:10 – “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 – “And because of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provides the basis for our sanctification.
3. Sanctification is by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the agent who sanctifies believers.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”
- Romans 15:16 – “So that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit works within believers to transform them into the image of Christ.
4. Sanctification is Through the Word of God
God’s Word purifies and sanctifies believers.
- John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
- Ephesians 5:26 – “That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.”
Regular study and application of Scripture contribute to the sanctification process.
5. Sanctification is a Lifelong Process
While believers are positionally sanctified at salvation, practical sanctification is ongoing.
- Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
Sanctification is progressive, requiring daily submission to God.
6. Sanctification Requires Human Cooperation
While sanctification is the work of God, believers are called to participate in the process.
- Romans 6:19 – “For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.”
- 2 Peter 1:5-7 – “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”
Believers must actively pursue holiness through obedience, prayer, and fellowship with God.
7. Sanctification Will Be Completed in Glorification
The final stage of sanctification occurs when believers are fully transformed in eternity.
- 1 John 3:2 – “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.”
- Philippians 3:21 – “Who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.”
Glorification is the completion of the sanctification process when we will be perfectly holy in God’s presence.
Conclusion
Sanctification is God’s will for believers, accomplished through Christ’s sacrifice, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the power of God’s Word. It is both an instantaneous reality at salvation and a lifelong journey requiring human cooperation. Ultimately, it will be completed in glorification when we are fully conformed to Christ.
Sanctified in Light
Set apart, yet walking among shadows,
The old self fading, a whisper in the wind.
Truth carves its path upon the soul,
A steady refining in unseen hands.
The weight of grace is quiet yet fierce,
Molding the heart like rivers shape stone.
Not in haste, nor without fire,
A slow becoming, a yielding to light.
Footsteps press upon sacred ground,
Paths once hidden now laid bare.
Each moment a call to something higher,
A voice within, stirring the dust to rise.
The Word unfolds like morning sun,
Illuminating what once lay dim.
Pages breathe with ancient wisdom,
Their echoes shaping a heart reborn.
Through silence, through storm, through waiting,
The hands of time do not delay.
A soul reshaped in patient mercy,
Until the mirror reflects the divine.
And when the night surrenders to dawn,
The journey meets its radiant end.
No longer bound by flesh and shadow,
Only light, only Him.