Introduction: The Call to Holiness

The Christian life is not merely an event of conversion, but a dynamic, lifelong journey of transformation. At the heart of this journey lies the profound Biblical doctrine of sanctification. While justification deals with our legal standing before God, declaring us righteous in Christ, sanctification concerns our actual state, the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ in character and conduct. It is the divine work by which God, through His Holy Spirit, progressively conforms us to the image of His Son, setting us apart from sin and unto Himself. This call to holiness is not optional but foundational to our faith, as the Apostle Peter reminds us: "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16). Growing in holiness is therefore the natural, Spirit-led outworking of a genuine relationship with God, a continuous striving to reflect His purity and righteousness in every facet of our lives.

What is Sanctification? A Dual Reality

To fully grasp sanctification, it is crucial to understand its two primary aspects as presented in Scripture:

  • Positional Sanctification (Instantaneous): This aspect refers to our immediate setting apart unto God at the moment of salvation. When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, they are declared holy and righteous in God's sight, not based on their own merit, but on the perfect sacrifice of Christ. We are "sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" (1 Corinthians 1:2). This is a completed work, a one-time act of God's grace by which we are spiritually separated from the world and brought into a covenant relationship with Him. The writer of Hebrews affirms this: "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (Hebrews 10:10). This positional holiness is the foundation upon which all progressive growth is built.
  • Progressive Sanctification (Ongoing Process): While positionally holy, believers are still indwelt by a sinful nature. Progressive sanctification is the ongoing, daily process of becoming practically holy in our thoughts, words, and deeds. It is the Spirit's work within us, enabling us to put off the old man and put on the new man, which "after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24). This is a cooperative effort, where God works in us, and we actively participate in obedience and surrender. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18). This growth is a lifelong pursuit, culminating only when we are fully glorified in Christ's presence.

    • The Agent of Sanctification: The Holy Spirit

    The primary agent in our progressive sanctification is God the Holy Spirit. He is the divine power who empowers us to live a life pleasing to God and to overcome the flesh. Without His indwelling presence and transformative work, true holiness would be impossible for fallen humanity. The Spirit convicts us of sin, illuminates God's Word, and gives us the desire and ability to obey Him. Paul exhorts believers to "walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). It is through the Spirit that we are enabled to mortify the deeds of the body: "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (Romans 8:13). Furthermore, the Spirit produces the very character of Christ within us, which is described as the "fruit of the Spirit": "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23). Our growth in holiness is fundamentally a work of the Spirit, guiding us into all truth and empowering us for righteous living.

    The Means of Sanctification: How We Grow

    While sanctification is ultimately God's work, He uses various means through which we actively participate in our growth in holiness. These are not passive experiences but require diligent engagement:

    • The Word of God: The Bible is indispensable for sanctification. It reveals God's character, exposes our sin, guides our paths, and teaches us righteousness. Jesus Himself prayed, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17). Regular reading, study, meditation, and obedience to God's Word cleanse us and transform our minds.
    • Prayer: Consistent communion with God is vital. Through prayer, we confess our sins, express our dependence on Him, seek His guidance, and receive strength to obey. It is in prayer that our hearts are aligned with God's will, fostering a deeper desire for holiness.
    • Obedience: True faith is demonstrated by obedience. As we hear God's Word and are prompted by the Spirit, acting upon these promptings strengthens our spiritual muscles and builds habits of righteousness. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15).
    • Fellowship and Church Membership: God has designed us for community. Being part of a local church provides accountability, encouragement, spiritual teaching, and opportunities to serve and grow together in holiness. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the rather, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25).
    • Discipline and Trials: God, as our loving Father, chastens us for our good. Trials and difficulties, though painful, are often used by God to refine our faith, purge impurities, and conform us more to Christ's image. "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." (Hebrews 12:10).
    • Self-Denial and Mortification of the Flesh: Sanctification involves a conscious putting off of sinful desires and practices. This requires discipline and a willingness to deny oneself, taking up the cross daily. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20).

    The Goal of Sanctification: Christlikeness

    The ultimate purpose of sanctification is to make us more like Jesus Christ. God's predestined plan for His children is "that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29). We are called to reflect His character, His purity, His love, and His righteousness in an increasingly sinful world. While perfect Christlikeness will not be fully achieved until our glorification, when we see Him face to face and "shall be like him" (1 John 3:2), the journey of sanctification is about making tangible progress towards this goal in the here and now. It is a continuous transformation, a daily shedding of the old self and putting on of the new, until Christ is fully formed in us. This progressive conformity to Christ's image is the evidence of genuine salvation and the heart's true desire for those who love God.

    Living a Sanctified Life: Practical Implications

    Growing in holiness is not an abstract theological concept but a practical reality that impacts every decision and attitude. It means:

    • Continual Surrender: Regularly yielding our will, desires, and plans to God's perfect will.
    • Vigilance Against Sin: Actively resisting temptation, fleeing from evil, and confessing sin immediately when it occurs.
    • Pursuit of Righteousness: Intentionally seeking to do what is right, just, and honoring to God in all circumstances. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
    • Bearing Fruit: Allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in our lives, demonstrating love, joy, peace, and other Christlike virtues to those around us.
    • Honoring God in Body and Spirit: Recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and using them for God's glory, not for sin. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

    Conclusion: A Lifelong Journey

    Sanctification is a divine work that begins at salvation and continues until we are called home to glory. It is a testament to God's faithfulness and His desire for His children to reflect His character. While the path may have struggles and setbacks, we are not left to our own strength. God, who began a good work in us, is faithful to complete it: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Our role is to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13). Let us therefore embrace this glorious journey of growing in holiness, continually submitting to the Spirit's leading, diligently employing the means of grace, and pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). For in becoming more like Him, we bring glory to our Father in heaven and experience the fullness of the life He has called us to live.