What is sanctification?
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.
Proofs
- Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
- whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, (Ephesians 4:23–24)
- and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. (Romans 6:4,6; 8:1)
Additional Exposition
Section 1
Are all that are justified sanctified?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For Christ is made both righteousness and Sanctification, (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Is it necessary that they should be so?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For nothing that defileth shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, (Revelation 21:27)
And is it the will of God that they shall be so?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: This is the will of God, even your sanctification, (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
Is Christ’s death the meritorious cause of their sanctification?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He gave himself for us, that he might purify us a peculiar people to himself, (Titus 2:14)
And is the Spirit the efficient cause of it?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: ’Tis called sanctification of the Spirit, (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
And is the word the instrumental cause of it?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth, (John 17:17)
But is the grace of God the original source from which this blessing flows?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thy time was a time of love, then washed I thee with water, yea and I thoroughly washed away thy blood, (Ezekiel 16:8–9)
Section 2
Is sanctification more than an external reformation?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within are full of extortion and excess, (Matthew 23:25)
Is it more than civility and good nature?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For he who had this yet lacked one thing, (Mark 10:21)
Is it more than conviction?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For Ahab humbled himself, (1 Kings 21:29)
Is it more than an outward profession?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For some have the form of godliness who deny the power, (2 Timothy 3:5)
Section 3
Does sanctification imply an universal change?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Old things are past away, and all things are become new, (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Doth it extend to the inward man?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: We are renewed in the spirit of our mind, (Ephesians 4:23)
Is the understanding enlightened?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Ye were darkness, but now are ye light, (Ephesians 5:8)
And the will subdued?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, (Exodus 3)
And the affections spiritualized?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They are set on things above, (Colossians 3:2)
Doth it also extend to the outward man?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Having our bodies washed with pure water, (Hebrews 10:22)
Section 4
Is the saint renewed after the image of God?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Put on the new man, which is renewed after the image of him that created him, (Colossians 3:10)
And after the pattern of Christ?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: My little children of whom I travail in birth till Christ be formed in you, (Galatians 4:19)
Doth he live in the exercise of every grace?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The life that I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, (Galatians 2:20)
And would he be found in the practice of every duty?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, (Romans 12:11)
Section 5
Is sin mortified in those that are sanctified?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh, (Galatians 5:24)
Is this a difficult work?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: We read of resisting unto blood striving against sin, (Hebrews 12:4)
But is it a needful work?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut it off, for it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, than to be cast into everlasting fire, (Matthew 18:8)
And can it only be performed under a divine influence?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: If ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live, (Romans 8:13)
Section 6
Do those that are dead unto sin live unto righteousness?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Being dead to sin we live unto righteousness, (1 Peter 2:24)
Is the work of sanctification imperfect in the present life?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Not as though I had already attained, (Philippians 3:13)
But is it progressive?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: The path of the just is like a shining light, shining more and more, (Proverbs 4:18)
And will it be complete above?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away, (1 Corinthians 13:10)