To be sanctified means to be made holy or set apart for God’s purposes. The Bible teaches that all believers in Jesus Christ are sanctified through their faith in Him. Sanctification is an ongoing process in the life of a Christian, as we cooperate with God’s work in making us more like Christ. Here is an overview of what the Bible teaches about sanctification:
We are sanctified through our union with Christ
When we put our faith in Jesus, we are united with Him in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-14). Through this union, we partake of Christ’s holiness. As Hebrews 10:10 says, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Sanctification begins at conversion.
We are sanctified progressively through the work of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit works in us to make us more like Jesus. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “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.” This progressive sanctification involves the Spirit convicting us of sin, teaching us God’s ways, empowering us to obey, and producing His fruit in our lives (John 16:8; Galatians 5:22-23).
We have a responsibility to pursue sanctification
While sanctification is God’s work, we have a role to play by pursuing holiness in response to the Spirit’s prompting. We do this by reading Scripture, prayer, fellowship, practicing spiritual disciplines, and putting off sinful habits while putting on godly habits (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:13-16). Philippians 2:12-13 summarizes it well: “…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.”
We will be fully sanctified when we are glorified
Our sanctification will only be completed when we see Christ and are glorified with Him. 1 John 3:2-3 says, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” While we pursue holiness now, sin will be eradicated and perfection attained when we are resurrected.
Sanctification affects every area of life
Sanctification is not just about personal piety but extends to all areas of life. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 prays, “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. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” Work, time with family, recreation, and ministry are all spheres of life that sanctification aims to transform for God’s glory.
Sanctification is empowered by gazing on Christ
A vital means of our sanctification is beholding Christ and His glory in the Scripture. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says we are transformed into His image as we gaze on the Lord’s glory. As we read God’s Word, we encounter Christ and the Spirit uses that to change our inner being.
Sanctification must affect our relationships
An area that sanctification aims for is our relationships with others. It leads us to be loving, merciful, forgiving, and selfless like Christ (Romans 12:9-21). This happens as the Spirit produces His fruit of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Sanctification leads to godly obedience
A sanctified life obeys God’s commands. Jesus said “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Hebrews 5:14 says mature believers have “their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Obedience is motivated by love and enabled by the Spirit.
Sanctification means resisting worldliness
Since sanctification is being set apart for God’s purposes, it means fleeing from the sinful ways of the world. Romans 12:2 instructs us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” Peter also exhorts believers to abstain from fleshly lusts that wage war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). Pursuing sanctification requires vigilance against worldly influence.
Sanctification leads to spiritual growth
A sanctified life will demonstrate spiritual maturity and growth. 2 Peter 1:5-8 instructs us to supplement our faith with spiritual virtues that will keep us from being ineffective and unfruitful. As we are sanctified, we should be attaining “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Healthy spiritual growth is a mark of sanctification.
Sanctification means we love righteousness
As we become more Christlike through sanctification, we will love what is holy and pleasing to God. We will desire righteousness, which Proverbs 21:21 defines as “lovingkindness” and “justice.” Our affections change to value what God values. We’ll want to be lights that shine forth righteousness (Philippians 2:15).
Sanctification leads to purity and self-control
A sanctified life aims at moral purity in thoughts and actions. Titus 2:11-12 says “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” This happens as we slay sinful desires and present our bodies as living sacrifices to God (Romans 6:11-14; 12:1).
Sanctification means we serve God wholeheartedly
Those who are sanctified use their gifts to serve Christ with passion. Romans 12:11 says “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” Whatever we do is to be done for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). We steward our time, gifts and resources for Kingdom purposes with all our might.
Sanctification leads to holy living
While positional sanctification happens at conversion, practical sanctification is lived out daily as we put off sinful habits and put on holy conduct. Just as we once offered our bodies in immoral service to impurity, we now offer them in holy service to righteousness (Romans 6:19). We are to live as children of light, filled with goodness, righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:8-9).
Sanctification means we seek to be morally blameless
While we will never be sinless on earth, sanctification does aim for blamelessness in conduct. Paul told the Thessalonians to live holy lives and be “blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). This requires vigilance, sobriety, and consciously abstaining from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Our testimony depends on moral integrity.
Sanctification leads to Christlike humility
Though Jesus was sinless, He exemplified deep humility. Philippians 2:5-8 says that although Christ was God, He “made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant” and “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.” To be sanctified is to clothe ourselves with humility, considering others as more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4).
Sanctification increases our usefulness to God
The more sanctified we become, the more useful we are in God’s service. 2 Timothy 2:21 states, “If anyone purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” Yielding to the Spirit’s work results in readiness and fitness for Kingdom tasks.
Sanctification leads to spiritual boldness
As we grow in holiness, we gain confidence to serve God boldly. Acts 4:13 notes that when the Jewish leaders “saw the boldness of Peter and John…they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Association with Christ imparts courage. Hebrews 10:19 tells us we can “have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.”
Sanctification produces the fruit of righteousness
A sanctified life will increasingly display the fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:11 says divine discipline yields “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” in believers’ lives. As Christ’s kingdom advances within us, the fruits of “righteousness and peace and joy” increase (Romans 14:17). This fruit brings glory to God (Philippians 1:9-11).
Sanctification means we reject ungodliness and lusts
An integral part of sanctification is purging our lives of all that is unholy. Titus 2:12 says the grace of God trains us “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.” Peter likewise urges abstinence from fleshly lusts since they war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). Scripture calls us to moral decisiveness in putting off ungodly practices.
Sanctification leads to spiritual discernment
Maturing believers develop keen discernment from regular practice in distinguishing good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). Such discernment enables us to reject corrupt teachings and sinful practices while embracing biblical truth and righteousness. Scripture becomes our standard of holiness.
Sanctification produces a life consecrated to God
To be sanctified is to be set apart or consecrated for God’s exclusive use. Paul challenged believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as their spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1). Every facet of life is now devoted to God’s purposes out of reverence for Him.
Sanctification enables us to show Christ’s love to others
Being like Jesus naturally results in loving others as He would. Romans 13:8 says, “The one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” And 1 John 4:12 states, “If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” As Christ’s love flows through us, we give ourselves to serve others sacrificially.
Sanctification leads to confident hope
Our ongoing sanctification can give us greater assurance of salvation. 1 John 3:3 says, “Everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” Our growth in holiness can testify that regeneration has truly occurred. While looking to Christ, we can have confidence He will complete His sanctifying work (Philippians 1:6).
In summary, to be sanctified means every dimension of life – our motivations, thoughts, words, actions and relationships – is progressively transformed by God’s grace to reflect the character of Jesus Christ. It is both an event at conversion and an ongoing process of spiritual growth. The ultimate aim of sanctification is that believers would glorify God through their lives and join Christ in full holiness at His return.