Sanctification

Those who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, have a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection. They are also further sanctified, really and personally,¹ through the same virtue, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them.² The dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,³ and its various lusts are more and more weakened and put to death.⁴ Those who are united to Christ are more and more enlivened and strengthened in all saving graces⁵ so that they practice true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.⁶

This sanctification is throughout the whole person,⁷ yet imperfect in this life. Some remnants of corruption still abide in every part,⁸ from which arises a continual and irreconcilable war—the desires of the flesh against the desires of the Spirit and those of the Spirit against those of the flesh.⁹

In this war, the remaining corruption may significantly prevail for a time,¹⁰ yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part will overcome.¹¹ Thus the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after a heavenly life, in gospel obedience to all the commands which Christ, as Head and King, has prescribed for them in His Word.¹²

1. Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.  Romans 6:5–6 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ↩︎
2. John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. Ephesians 3:14, 16–19 I bow my knees…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:21–23  Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ↩︎
3. Romans 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. ↩︎
4. Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ↩︎
5. Colossians 1:9, 11  And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,…being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. ↩︎
6. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.  Hebrews 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. ↩︎
7. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ↩︎
8. Romans 7:18, 23 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out….I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ↩︎
9. Galatians 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. ↩︎
10. Romans 7:23 I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ↩︎
11. Romans 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. ↩︎
12. Ephesians 4:15–16 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.  2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.  Colossians 3:1–8 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ↩︎