Sanctification is a central theme in the believer’s spiritual journey, describing the process by which a Christian is set apart for God’s purposes and progressively conformed to the image of Christ. While justification happens in an instant, sanctification is both an immediate reality and an ongoing work. Dispensational theologians such as Lewis Sperry Chafer, C.I. Scofield, and Charles Ryrie have provided profound insights into this doctrine, dividing sanctification into three distinct phases: Positional, Experiential, and Ultimate. These stages highlight the past, present, and future aspects of a believer’s growth in holiness and relationship with God. This essay will explore these three phases with biblical support, theological insights, and practical application.
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Positional Sanctification: Our Standing in Christ
Definition and Meaning
Positional sanctification refers to the believer’s immediate and unchanging status before God at the moment of salvation. It is a divine act in which the believer is set apart and declared holy through their union with Christ. This sanctification is not based on human effort but solely on the finished work of Christ and the believer’s identification with Him.
Scriptural Basis
The Apostle Paul affirms this truth in 1 Corinthians 1:2, addressing the church as “those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people.” The verb “sanctified” here is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action with ongoing results. Similarly, Hebrews 10:10 declares, “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” This positional reality is rooted in Christ’s atonement and the believer’s faith in Him.
Dispensational Insight
Charles Ryrie emphasizes positional sanctification in his book Basic Theology, stating,
“Positional sanctification is the act of God whereby believers are constituted holy before Him in Christ, regardless of their daily walk.”
This perspective clarifies that the believer’s standing before God is secure and independent of their current spiritual maturity.
Key Aspects of Positional Sanctification
- Instantaneous: Occurs at the moment of salvation (1 Corinthians 6:11).
- Universal: Applies to all believers regardless of their spiritual maturity (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
- Irreversible: It is an unchanging status (Romans 8:1 – “no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”).
Illustration: The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
The parable of the prodigal son provides a picture of positional sanctification. Despite his wayward lifestyle, the prodigal remained his father’s son. His status as a son was not revoked by his actions, illustrating how a believer’s positional sanctification remains secure despite struggles in daily life.
Experiential Sanctification: Our Daily Growth in Holiness
Definition and Meaning
Experiential sanctification, also called progressive sanctification, refers to the believer’s daily walk and growth in holiness as they cooperate with the Holy Spirit in transforming their character. Unlike positional sanctification, which is a one-time event, experiential sanctification is a lifelong process of becoming more Christlike.
Scriptural Basis
Paul describes this process in 2 Corinthians 3:18, stating, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.” Similarly, Philippians 2:12-13 exhorts believers to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.” This indicates both human effort and divine enablement.
Dispensational Insight
Lewis Sperry Chafer, in Systematic Theology, writes,
“Experiential sanctification is the process by which the believer is conformed in experience to the position he holds in Christ.”
This statement captures the essence of progressive sanctification—living out the holiness already secured in Christ.
Key Aspects of Experiential Sanctification
- Progressive: It happens over time as believers grow in faith (Hebrews 12:14).
- Dependent on Obedience: Requires cooperation with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25).
- Character Formation: Involves putting off the old self and putting on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Challenges in Experiential Sanctification
Though believers are positionally sanctified, they still wrestle with the flesh, the world, and the devil. Paul laments this struggle in Romans 7:15, “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” This tension is part of the refining work of sanctification.
Illustration: The Life of Abraham
Abraham’s journey of faith illustrates experiential sanctification. Though justified by faith (Genesis 15:6), he experienced ups and downs in his walk with God, including moments of great faith and failure (Genesis 16, 22). His growing trust and obedience reflect the progressive nature of sanctification.
Ultimate Sanctification: Our Final Perfection in Glory
Definition and Meaning
Ultimate sanctification, also known as glorification, is the final stage of the believer’s sanctification when they are made perfectly holy and free from sin in eternity. This occurs at Christ’s return, when believers receive their glorified bodies and are fully conformed to His image.
Scriptural Basis
Paul affirms this future reality in 1 John 3:2, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Similarly, Romans 8:30 states, “those he justified, he also glorified.”
Dispensational Insight
C.I. Scofield, in his Scofield Reference Bible, notes,
“Glorification is the ultimate realization of God’s purpose in salvation, where the believer is fully conformed to the image of Christ and stands in sinless perfection.”
This phase marks the culmination of God’s redemptive work.
Key Aspects of Ultimate Sanctification
- Future Fulfillment: It will occur at the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:50-53).
- Sinless Perfection: Believers will no longer struggle with sin (Revelation 21:4).
- Eternal Fellowship: It secures unbroken communion with God (John 17:24).
Illustration: The Transfiguration of Christ (Matthew 17:1-8)
The transfiguration of Jesus provides a glimpse of ultimate sanctification, as His divine glory was revealed to His disciples. This foreshadows the glorified state believers will experience in eternity.
Practical Application of Sanctification
Understanding the three phases of sanctification impacts the believer’s daily life in several ways:
- Confidence in Salvation: Knowing positional sanctification assures believers of their standing before God (Romans 8:38-39).
- Commitment to Growth: Experiential sanctification encourages believers to actively pursue holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16).
- Hope for the Future: The promise of ultimate sanctification offers hope in trials (Titus 2:13).
Believers should live in the reality of their positional sanctification, strive daily for experiential sanctification, and eagerly await their ultimate sanctification.
Conclusion
Sanctification is a comprehensive work of God that encompasses the believer’s past, present, and future. Positional sanctification secures our standing in Christ, experiential sanctification shapes our character, and ultimate sanctification perfects us in glory. Together, these phases reflect God’s sovereign plan to conform believers to the image of His Son. As we walk through life, we can take confidence in God’s promise to complete the good work He began in us (Philippians 1:6).
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
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