I've Been Justified...Now What?

Sanctification: The Process of Setting Apart

 

One of the most under utilized and least taught precepts of the Christian faith in the churches of America is the doctrine of sanctification. How can this statement be true? It is easily recognized when comparing a majority of professing Christians and churches in the United States of America. They are not standing in overwhelming contrast with the culture and world around them. For this to change, it must be taken back to fundamental basics.

To begin with, what is sanctification? In Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary, the definition is simple: "hagiasmos- separation to God." This word in its root form is hagios which means holy. With this being established, it can naturally be followed in the Bible and theology to determine how it applies to the individual Christian and the church. This is not some man made word that theologians created. It is a word from the precepts in the Word of God. What does the Word of God say about sanctification?

There is a passage in the epistle to the church at Rome which shows sanctification and justification tied to one another. The Holy Spirit working through the Apostle Paul penned:

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemend sin

in the flesh. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4 KJV)

What is God saying in these verses? With the introduction of verse one it is clear to see that once a soul comes to Christ in repentance and faith, they are no longer condemned. This is a result of justification. In the very same verse there is another connected truth. These who have repented and have been justified are now able to not walk after the flesh. Verse two contrasts once again the new life in Christ and the old man. The justification and sanctification are shown forth again in verse two. The Spirit of life which happens post justification sets the Christian apart from the law of sin and death. Again in the third verse, the law and flesh prior to new life in Christ were unable to save or sanctify the Christian. For the righteousness of the law to be fulfilled in the Christian, then the Christian cannot walk in the flesh. This is impossible to do apart from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. It is this process of not walking in the flesh post justification that is sanctification.

The above passage is only one passage in regards to sanctification that

comes after being justified. Emery Bancroft in his book Elemental Theology puts forth the precept that sanctification is a process that occurs in stages. He has an intial stage which coincides with salvation just as Paul penned in Romans chapter eight. Paul also mentions this in 1^st Corinthians. Consider the greeting to the church at Corinth:

"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them which are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's."

(1^st Corinthians 1:2 KJV)

Who is this epistle addressed to? To the church at Corinth. What else is said of the church at Corinth? They are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints. Why are they sanctified and called "to be" Saints? Because they called on the name of Christ Jesus the Lord for salvation. Here in this verse it is clear that because of salvation, there is to be sanctification. This is positional sanctification as a result of justification. There is another stage in this process and it is called or termed progressive sanctification.

The precept of progressive sanctification is set forth in another letter to the church at Corinth. Take note of what God says in this epistle:

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the image from glory to glory , even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have recieved mercy, we faint not; (Because the truth taught is commended by the life.) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (2^nd Corinthians 3:18-4:2 KJV)

In the above passage, there is a clear message about progressive sanctification. First there is a changing from glory to glory. This denotes action from one state to another or one place to another. Notice that this is done in the Spirit of the Lord. Notice there is an action and result from taking action in verse two of chapter four. Renouncing the hidden things of the former life before salvation. Things inherent of the fallen flesh nature. Things such as deceit and manipulation. This putting away of sinful things is done in the witness of God and man. Take a look at a another passage in the book of 2^nd Corinthians:

  "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit

perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2^nd Corinthians 7:1 KJV)

Again, establish what God is saying through Paul. Beloved denotes having been saved and justified. Just as having these promises does. After that, there is an imperative that should result in action. There is cleansing and perfecting which are removal and growing. These are two aspects or actions that happen in setting apart or sanctification unto God. There is another well known New Testament passage that shows the Christian life and the need for practical sanctification. It is in the Pauline epistle to the church at Galatia.

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due seasonwe shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:8- 10 KJV)

God is saying in the above passage that which ever nature is fed, is the very nature that will grow. It is the sowing seed precept that is throughout the entire narrative of the Bible. There is the warning of the consequences that are harvested according to the nature and manner it is sown. Sow to the Spirit and reap life. Sow to the flesh and reap corruption. There is the earthly application and results of carrying out sanctification as well. Every opportunity is to be taken to walk in sanctification and there will blessings reaped eventually for doing good to all men, especially fellow Christians.

After the the first two stages, there is the last stage of sanctification. In this stage is the culmination of the the first two having been carried out in the Christian life. This is glorification into Christ likeness. There will be nothing lacking in the Christian's life at this point. In the "Pastoral Epistles" of Paul written to Timothy, Paul addresses saying goodbye to this temporal world and his anticipation of entering into glory:

"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make fool proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." (2^nd Timothy 5-8 KJV)

   Amen. What a declarative statement on that which awaits the soul that

loves and anticipates Jesus' certain return. To begin with, in verse one, Paul is instructing Timothy in acts of sanctification. He is telling Timothy and Christans to be observant in all things and evangelize by carrying out the Great Commission that Jesus instructed all saints to do. Then the door swings into the result of the well sanctified life by his own testimony. Look at verses and seven. "For I am now ready to be offered..." "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" Paul's own words need no emphasing or changing. He has done what was commanded of him. He by being faithful to Christ, has been sanctified. His final stage of sanctification is spoken of in verse eight. Paul was justified by Christ. And in the act of progressive sanctification, Paul worked in concertive effort with the Holy Spirit and the reward of final sanctification awaited him. Not just him but all that loved the appearing of the Lord. Scripture and common sense tell the Christian that the faithful servant is the one who works and anticipates with eagerness the return of Christ.

The Christian apologist and author C.S. Lewis brilliantly illustrates the process and end result of progressive sanctification in his book Mere Christanity:

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and s topping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself." (Lewis 174)

   A sanctified life is evidence of a justified life. A sanctified life is a powerful witness for the Gospel of Christ. It is the sanctified life that stands out so brightly in this ever darkening world. A sanctified life is a holy life. It is set apart from the world and self, and unto God. He is Holy, Holy, Holy, and He commands the Christian to be holy as He is Holy. The sanctified life is a birth mark of the maturing Christian, of the Christian who loves and anticipates the certain return of Jesus.