Sanctification

The concept to which we refer in English as “sanctification” is certainly important in biblcal literature.  Nevertheless, its meaning is somewhat difficult to pin down. Lots of things can be sanctified in scripture:  Places, time, and people to name a few.  The word sanctification also has different shades of meaning in different places. For instance, it can refer to:

  • A completed act.  (Jer. 1:5; Gen. 2:2,3).
  • A process.  (Heb. 12:14;2Cor. 7:1).
  • A status.  (1 Cor. 1:2).
  • An experience and way of life.  (1 Thess. 4:3-7)

The words sanctification and sanctify may mean:

  • to be holy (1 Pet. 3:15; Matt. 6:9).
  • to be separated for holy use, such as in Matthew 23:17, 19.
  • to be free from defilement, as used in the book of Hebrews.

Most of my reading indicates that the words sanctify, sanctification, holiness, holy, etc., come from Hebrew and Greek words which basically mean to set apart or to separate. This action of separation or setting apart has two aspects:

1. It means separation from. Abraham was separated from Chaldea and from his father’s home. Israel was separated from Egypt. The Christian church is called to separate from the world. (2 Cor. 6:17.)  Worshipers are called to separate from apostate religion. (Rev. 18:4.)
2. Sanctification not only means separation from sin, but a separation to a new life. Abraham was separated from Chaldea to become the friend of God. Israel was separated from Egypt and consecrated to the service of Yahweh. Believers are purged from dead works to serve the living God (Heb. 9:14). Those who are justified by faith are “delivered from the law” to “serve in newness of Spirit.” Rom. 7:6.

Many places in the New Testament refer to this process without calling it sanctification.  For example:

  • Following after righteousness (1 Tim. 6:11).
  • Walking in newness of life (Rom. 6:4).
  • Being transformed (Rom. 12:2).
  • Perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7:1).
  • Growing up into Christ (Eph. 4:15).
  • Pressing toward the mark (Phil. 3:14).
  • Being built up in the faith (Col. 2:7).
  • Partaking of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4).
  • Growing in grace (2 Pet. 3:18).

Finally, here are some quotes from some well-known biblical authorities setting out their own definitions of sanctification:

Louis Berkhoff

    Sanctification may be defined as that gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Spirit, by which He delivers the justified sinner from the pollution of sin, renews his whole nature in the image of God, and enables him to perform good works. Systematic Theology (London: Banner of Truth, 1971, p.527.

A.H. Strong

    Sanctification is that continuous operation of the Holy Spirit by which the holy disposition imparted in regeneration is maintained and strengthened. — A.H. Strong, Systematic Theology (London: Pickering & Inglis Ltd., 1970), p.569.

W.E. Vine

    The process of being made or becoming holy. — W.E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Fleming H. Revel Co.).

F. Pieper

    . . . the internal spiritual transformation of the believer or the holiness of life which follows upon justification. — F. Pieper, Christian Dogmatics (St. Louis: Concordia, 1950-1953), Vol.3, p.4.

The Westminster Catechism

    The work of God’s free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness.

So sanctification means separation from that which is evil to that which is good.  In the context of this journal, sanctification will refer to the process by which the Christian separates from the life of sin that s/he led before redemption to the life of holiness to which God calls us after redemption.  This is process is accomplished through the renewing of the mind:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2, )