Sanctifying Grace

Justifying  SANCTIFYING  Empowering
GRACE

Sanctifying Grace: That which aims to make us godly

Is “Justification” the “end” God has in mind?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48)

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son (Romans 8:29)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)

Aim for perfection (2 Cor. 13:11)

You may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires (2 Pt. 1:4)

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Phil. 3:12)

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rm. 12:2)

Without holiness no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14)


Questions about Sanctification

1. What does the word ‘sanctify’ even mean?
To sanctify something is to put it to its intended use
We sanctify a chair when we sit on it
We sanctify a microphone when we use it to amplify sound
God sanctifies people when He makes them holy
Holiness (a life that glorifies God) is what we were designed for

2. What words do we use to describe this?
Sanctification, holiness, perfection, blameless, righteous, Christlike, surrender, death to self, transformation, change, discipleship, maturation, etc.

3. Is sanctification experienced instantly?
I think it is a lifelong process with a key moment (or key moments)
My own testimony includes a crisis moment of consecration

4. Did Jesus experience sanctification?
In a sense He did (Luke 2:52, Hebrews 5:8-9)

5. Will we sin every day no matter what?
What is your definition of sin? Is it anything that is not as perfect as God? Or is it a voluntary transgression of a known law of God? If the former, then yes. If the latter, God forbid! Christians should never sin willfully. God is capable of cleansing us in such a way to take away even the inclination of sin. What is more humble: To say we will always sin or to say that God can radically deliver us from sin? Justification delivers us from penalty of sin, but sanctification delivers us from the very plague of sin.

How do we become sanctified?
Surrender (Consecration), Scripture, Steadfastness, Suffering, etc

Can we lose our sanctification?
If we stop surrendering, reading Scripture, being steadfast, etc