Roles of Sanctification

Roles of Sanctification

   Are there differing roles in sanctification? What is God's role? Does man play a role in his own sanctification? If so, what is it? What must a believer do to grow in holiness and become more like Christ?

God's role

   Sanctification is primarily the work of God. The work of sanctification is ascribed to each member of the Trinity. As with everything done by the triune God, they work in concert. Everything accomplished had been planned since before the foundations of the world. This includes God's plan of redemption and the sanctification of God's elect.

   The Father is ascribed a part in the sanctification of his children. Several New Testament verses demonstrate this truth. The God of peace is said to sanctify. “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” (1Thess. 5:23). Part of sanctification is godly discipline, which is attributed to the Father. The Father chastises his children in order to teach them their wrong and motivate them to repent, change, learn, and grow. “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:7-11).

   In short, the Father is at work in the heart and life of believers. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13). Other verses are: John 17:17; Ephesians 2:5; 1Peter 1:1-2, 2:5; Jude 1.

   Sanctification is also assigned to the Son. It was Christ that earned the sanctification of his own. “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption...” (1Cor. 1:30). The Lord Jesus plays another role, he is the example of holiness and suffering that every Christian is to emulate. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2). “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1Pet. 2:21). “By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1Jn. 2:5-6).

   There are many other passages that tell of Christ and his role in our being conformed into his image. They include but are not limited to: Ephesians 1:1, 2:10, 5:25-27; Hebrews 2:11-14, 13:12; 2Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Colossians 1:2, and 2:6-13.

   Finally, the Holy Spirit plays an enormous role in our sanctification. It is the Spirit that produces life in the life of believers. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23). The Spirit also leads and guides the believer's walk. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Gal. 5:16-18). “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14).

   As would be expected, there remain numerous other passages of Scripture that could be quoted to show the Spirit's role. They will simply be listed: 1Peter 1:2; 2Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 15:16; 1Corinthians 6:21; Titus 3:5; 2Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:18-19; John 6:63, and 16:13-14.

Man's role

   The role of the individual Christian is his or her sanctification can be termed both passive and active. It is passive in the sense that the believer depends on God to do his sanctifying work (as discussed in the previous section). On the other hand, it is active in that the believer strives to obey God, grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, and to become more like Christ.

   Sanctification, in part, is passive. This means that the believer is at the mercy of the Lord pertaining to sanctification. Believers must trust and pray to the Lord that he develop holy affections. “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness” (Rom. 6:13).        Also, it is the Spirit that kills sin. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom. 8:13). Finally, the scriptures reveal that God is at work to accomplish his good pleasure- to finish what he began at regeneration. “...For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

   However, believers are to be active in their own sanctification. We are not to simply remain inactive or sit idly by. We play a vital role in our own growth and maturity. This is one of many tensions throughout Scripture- God and man are at work in sanctification. In fact, we cooperate with God in this work. With the constant aid of the Spirit, believers kill sin. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom. 8:13). God moves, acts, and transforms, yet believers are commanded to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13).

   The word of God is replete with texts that motivate believers to actively pursue their sanctification. Believers are challenged to: strive after holiness (Heb. 12:14), abstain from immorality (1Cor. 6:18; 1Thess. 4:3), purify themselves (2Cor. 7:1; 1Jn. 3:3), and grow in godliness (2Pet. 1:5). Other passages to contemplate are: Romans 12:1-13:14; Ephesians 4:17-6:20; Philippians 4:4-9; Colossians 3:5-4:6; and 1Peter 2:11-5:11.

In addition to these, Christians are to read and meditate on the word (Matt. 4:4; Jn. 17:17), pray (Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6), worship (Eph. 5:18-20), and fellowship (Heb. 10:24-25). All of these promote holiness and growth. All of these are avenues the Lord uses to communicate grace to his own. These practices and disciplines nourish God's growing children.

   Sanctification is a wonderful thing. It involves God and man, but there is also a corporate element. The process of being conformed more into the image of Christ is individual, but it likewise involves other believers- the church. We need other Christians to help us grow and mature. Much of the New Testament is written to churches and a good deal of the message is encouraging one another in Christlikeness. Merely read Hebrews 10:24-25; 1Peter 2:5-9; 1Thessalonians 5:11; and Ephesians 4:2-16 to see this truth. We need God and others. We cannot do this alone. We must not even try.