By Nick Bibile
What is sanctification?
The Hebrew word qadash means to cut, separate, or consecrate. The Greek word hagios means to be set apart, holy, separated unto God. Sanctification, therefore, means being separated from sin and consecrated unto God. We are in the world, but we are not to be of the world (John 17:14–16).
Sanctification is the gracious work of God whereby He renews the believer after the image of Christ, purifies him from the pollution of sin, and enables him to live unto righteousness.
It is the Word of God that sanctifies us.
God uses His Word as the chief instrument of sanctification.
Hebrews 4:12 says:
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
The Word of God exposes sin. It brings hidden corruption to the surface. It convicts, rebukes, corrects, and instructs in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). It teaches us to say yes to godliness and no to ungodliness.
Titus 2:11–12:
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
The believer is not merely forgiven—he is transformed.
John Owen wrote:
“Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.”
This is sanctification.
Sanctification is the immediate work of the Holy Spirit upon the soul of the believer. The Spirit cleanses us from the pollution of sin and renews us into the image of God through Jesus Christ.
Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q.35:
“Sanctification is 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.”
There are two sides of sanctification:
This means putting off sin, mortifying the flesh, cleansing the pollution of sin.
This means putting on holiness, living for God, walking in obedience, and growing in Christlikeness.
Today we first consider the negative side.
Sin is not only guilt—it is also pollution.
Many understand that sin brings guilt before God, but they forget that sin also defiles the soul. It pollutes the temple of God.
John 3:19 says:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
Sin keeps men away from the holy God because they love darkness rather than light.
The moral law of God speaks against these sins. God is holy, and therefore His people must be holy.
1 Peter 1:15–16:
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
2 Corinthians 6:16 says:
“Ye are the temple of the living God.”
If we are God’s temple, we must not allow idols, corruption, and uncleanness to remain within.
Read:
2 Kings 23:1–6 — King Josiah cleansing the temple
Matthew 21:12–13 — Christ cleansing the temple
Just as the temple had to be cleansed, so must our hearts be cleansed.
Thomas Watson said:
“Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.”
The Holy Spirit cleanses the temple of the soul.
There was once a poor man in the church who desired to be a missionary. A pastor examined him and asked him to define justification. He answered correctly.
Then the pastor asked:
“What is sanctification?”
The man replied:
“Sanctification, sir, is a God-possessed soul.”
That is deeply true.
Sanctification is when God takes possession of the soul.
When a person is truly born again, there is a hatred for sin.
The negative side of sanctification means saying no to the passions of the flesh, no to the world, no to darling sins, no to secret sins.
It means tearing down those sins we secretly protect.
Romans 8:13:
“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.”
The more we live in the Word, the more we desire to cleanse ourselves.
Jonathan Edwards wrote of revival:
“These awakenings… have brought them immediately to quit their sinful practices.”
And also:
“The other effect was, that it put them on earnest application to the means of salvation—reading, prayer, meditation…”
True grace produces holiness.
It is impossible for someone to be truly born again and remain without spiritual growth.
John 15:5–6 teaches that branches abiding in Christ bear fruit.
Philippians 3:12–15 shows Paul himself pressing forward in holiness.
There is no life without growth.
An artificial plant may look real, but no matter how much you water it, it never grows.
So there are some in the church who look like Christians—they profess faith—but there is no life, no fruit, no growth.
They are religious, but not regenerated.
J.C. Ryle said:
“Sanctification is the invariable result of that vital union with Christ which true faith gives to a Christian.”
No holiness, no evidence of saving faith.
Sanctification is like the growth of a living tree.
It does not happen instantly.
It takes time.
First, the seed is planted.
Luke 8:8 speaks of good soil.
The good soil is the new heart.
Ezekiel 36:26:
“A new heart also will I give you…”
The believer hears and obeys.
The seed must die to take root.
Likewise, the old man must be put to death daily.
Ephesians 4:22:
“Put off concerning the former conversation the old man…”
We cannot completely destroy the flesh in this life, but we must crucify it daily.
John Owen again says:
“Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work.”
The tree grows downward in roots and upward in branches.
The Christian grows downward in humility and upward in knowledge and holiness.
John 15:4:
“Abide in me…”
Colossians 2:7:
“Rooted and built up in him…”
A tree without water dies.
The believer receives life from Christ.
Jesus is the living water.
The Holy Spirit daily refreshes the soul.
1 Peter 2:2:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
Growth is gradual, not instant.
Storms strengthen trees.
Trials strengthen Christians.
There are ups and downs in sanctification. Sometimes growth is steady, sometimes painful. Sometimes the believer falls seriously—but by grace he is restored.
The Christian may be wounded, but he will not be destroyed.
He walks through green pastures, rugged mountains, and valleys of death.
But God preserves His own.
John 6:37:
“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
Philippians 1:6:
“He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Sanctification includes mortification, vivification, and preservation.
He will be kept to the end.
There is no second blessing that divides Christians into “carnal Christians” and “super spiritual Christians.”
All true believers struggle with remaining sin.
There are not two classes of Christians—only growing Christians.
Yes, believers differ in maturity, but all true believers are being sanctified.
There is no biblical doctrine of permanent carnal Christianity.
Hebrews 12:14:
“Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.”
Some say:
“Let go and let God.”
This is dangerous if it means spiritual laziness.
Philippians 2:12 says:
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Verse 13 continues:
“For it is God which worketh in you…”
God works—and therefore we work.
Not instead of us, but in us.
John Calvin said:
“We are not carried to heaven in a sleeping condition.”
There is labor in sanctification.
Prayer.
Scripture.
Mortification.
Watchfulness.
Repentance.
Self-examination.
Obedience.
This is lifelong warfare.
2 Timothy 1:9:
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling.”
Romans 8:29:
“To be conformed to the image of his Son.”
Our goal is Christlikeness.
To imitate Christ.
To follow Christ.
To love holiness.
To hate sin.
That is sanctification.
C.H. Spurgeon said:
“Holiness is the visible side of salvation.”
He also said:
“Let us aspire to saintliness of spirit and character. I am persuaded that the greatest power we can get over our fellowmen is the power which comes of consecration and holiness.”
And again:
“I see the spirit of compromise concerning holiness and sin… far too prevalent.”
Holiness must not be sacrificed for popularity.
An unholy church is useless to God and useless to the world.
Ephesians 1:4:
“He chose us in him… that we should be holy…”
Election does not weaken holiness—it produces holiness.
Good works are not the cause of salvation.
They are the result of salvation.
Ryle said:
“Surely that man must be in an unhealthy state of soul who can think of going to heaven with no holiness.”
Spurgeon answered:
“If you desire holiness, if you long to be the Lord’s, if you hunger for the living bread and thirst for the living water, then you are chosen already.”
Do you desire holiness?
Do you long for Christ?
Do you hate your sin?
Do you hunger after righteousness?
These are evidences of grace.
Jonathan Edwards said:
“There is an inward burning desire that a believer has after holiness.”
And:
“There is a holy breathing and panting after the Spirit of God…”
Holiness is not mere duty.
It is holy affection.
Do not read these truths and then forget them.
Do not say:
“I have finished my spiritual food for the day.”
That is not communion with Christ.
Meditate on the Word.
Hide it in your heart.
Pray over it.
Examine yourself by it.
Practice it.
Psalm 119:11:
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
True sanctification is daily, practical, diligent Christianity.
It is not a formula.
It is not emotional excitement.
It is not empty profession.
It is a lifelong pursuit of holiness by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.
Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.
Therefore:
Fight sin.
Love Christ.
Pursue holiness.
Be holy—for God is holy.