Positional sanctification refers to the believer’s standing before God as a result of being united with Christ. When a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, they are justified before God and declared righteous. Simultaneously, they are also sanctified, meaning set apart as holy and belonging to God. This sanctification is not something the believer achieves through effort, but rather it is granted as a gift through their spiritual union with Christ.
The key Bible passages that speak to positional sanctification include:
1 Corinthians 1:2 – To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.
1 Corinthians 1:30 – And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
1 Corinthians 6:11 – And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 – But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
Hebrews 10:10 – And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
These verses indicate that sanctification is not based on human effort or merit, but is a gracious act of God, granted because of our union with Christ through faith. When we are justified, we are also immediately sanctified in our position before God.
This positional sanctification contrasts with progressive sanctification, which refers to the ongoing process of becoming holy in our moral character and behavior throughout the Christian life. Positional sanctification grants us a perfect standing before God, even though we are not yet perfected in practice while living in this fallen world. It is Christ’s righteousness applied to us.
Some key aspects of positional sanctification include:
– It is instantaneous – We are sanctified positionally the moment we place faith in Christ.
– It is secure – Since it is based on Christ’s work and not our own merit, our position of sanctification before God cannot be lost.
– It is the basis for motivation in progressive sanctification – Understanding our secure position in Christ provides the motivation to obey and pursue practical holiness.
– It is part of our union with Christ – We are sanctified because we are “in Christ” by faith, spiritually united to Him.
– It is God’s work in us – We cannot achieve positional sanctification by human effort, it is granted by God when we trust in Christ.
– It enables access to God – Because we are positionally holy in standing, we can now boldly approach God’s throne.
In summary, positional sanctification describes the believer’s legal standing before God as someone who is justified and set apart as holy in Christ. This sanctified position serves as the basis and motivation for growing in practical holiness throughout the Christian life. Unlike progressive sanctification, positional sanctification cannot be lost and does not fluctuate based on our performance. It is secure because it rests on the finished work of Jesus Christ for our salvation. This doctrine brings great assurance to believers that their acceptance before God is based on Christ’s righteousness rather than their own.
Some common questions related to positional sanctification include:
1. How is positional sanctification different from progressive sanctification?
Positional sanctification refers to our legal standing before God based on Christ’s work, while progressive sanctification refers to the practical outworking of holiness in our character over time. Positional sanctification is instantaneous and unchanging, while progressive sanctification is an ongoing process with ups and downs.
2. If I sin as a believer, does positional sanctification mean I am still holy before God?
Yes, positional sanctification is not lost when believers sin because it is based on Christ’s righteousness imputed to us. However, persistent unrepentant sin can harm our practical holiness and fellowship with God even though our position remains.
3. Is positional sanctification just a license to sin since I’m already sanctified?
No, positional sanctification should actually motivate us to pursue holiness out of love for Christ and gratefulness for the grace we’ve received. Wilful ongoing sin reflects a heart that isn’t truly saved.
4. What is the difference between justification and positional sanctification?
Justification is the legal declaration of being righteous before God, while positional sanctification is the legal declaration of being set apart as holy for God. They occur simultaneously when we are united to Christ.
5. Is positional sanctification conditional on my obedience?
No, positional sanctification rests fully on Christ’s work and is unconditional. Our practical growth in holiness is conditional upon obedience by the power of the Spirit, but our position remains secure.
In closing, positional sanctification is a precious reality for believers in Jesus Christ. It provides great assurance of our acceptance before God since it depends on Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to us. This secure position motivates us to follow after increasing practical holiness. Understanding positional sanctification leads to great worship, gratitude, and effort in progressive sanctification as we rest in this gift provided by God’s amazing grace.