Sanctification is a process that sets apart a believer from the unbeliever—the Holy from the unholy. The sanctification of a believer has three main aspects which set the believer apart from sin. A believer is set apart from: (1) the penalty of sin, (2) the power of sin, and (3) the presence of sin.
1. Positional sanctification occurs at the moment of justification. At that time, a believer’s spiritual condition changes instantaneously. He moves from a state of spiritual death to spiritual life. This regeneration is the first step of believer’s journey as part of the new creation. It is, in essence, the counterpart to birth in the natural creation. From that moment on, the believer is set apart, or positionally sanctified (Hebrews 10:10; cf. Ephesians 4:22-24).
2. Experiential sanctification relates to the believer’s new life in holiness. This aspect of sanctification is not something that is achieved, but is experienced during the believer’s natural lifetime. It is an ongoing learning process in which he learns to resist sinful behavior and live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches believers about their new standing in righteousness and leads them into a life of holiness. This is done while believers are bound to their sinful bodies in a fallen world. It is no small undertaking (2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Romans 12:1-2).
3. Ultimate sanctification occurs when we arrive in heaven. Once a believer passes from this life into the next, they will be purified to such an extent that they will be unable to sin. The old creation will be destroyed, and by that means, they are removed from the presence of sin. The believer will, in fact, lose the desire or ability to sin (1 John 3:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
Therefore, sanctification progressively sets the believer apart from all aspects of sin. The penalty of sin is death. Because of our regeneration and our union with Christ in the new creation, we are no longer dead, but spiritually alive. We are set apart from the power of sin, which is our sinful nature. The believer shares Christ’s divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) The Holy Spirit enables our new nature to overcome the sinful desires that our flesh craves. Victory over the power of the sinful nature is available through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. He helps us identify and resist the temptation to sin while enabling us to serve others by using our new spiritual gifts. Sin is a clear and present danger while we remain in our fleshly bodies, but that is a temporary situation. After our death and resurrection, we will receive new, purified bodies. We will, in a true sense, be forever sanctified. The experiential sanctification phase is the most challenging for the believer as failures and blunders are inevitable. We must acclimate to our new holy standing. Like children that need to learn acceptable behavior, so also the new believer needs to learn to be holy. God anticipated this and of course, has made provision for the sin of believers. He requires that we confess our sins. Christ is presently serving as an advocate and mediator for believers. Our sin is washed away by the blood of Jesus who continues to serve as High Priest in the true tabernacle of God in heaven. As we acknowledge our failures, we learn to depend on the Holy Spirit who has been sent to help us. He will grant us the wisdom and power to accomplish the works that will bear witness to our faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). Believers will either give in to our fleshly desires, or obey the Holy Spirit. It takes time and effort to get it right. The Apostle John encouraged believers saying, “But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).
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Table of Contents: The Last Adam
Text for this post has been borrowed from my Kindle eBook The Last Adam (Book 1 of the Grace and Knowledge Series), by Brother Woody Brohm. Copyright 2012.
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