Sanctification - Biblical Meaning

Sanctification is a biblical doctrine that is emphasized a great deal in Christian

teaching. Yet despite its importance, it is often perceived as a religious notion too
complex to comprehend. Though sanctification may at first seem to be a foreign
concept, it is one of the greatest things that has and is happening to every believer
in Jesus Christ. Here we will explore the basic biblical doctrine of sanctification and
discuss the key role it plays in a Christian's spiritual growth.

Sanctification comes from the verb sanctify. Sanctify originates from the Greek word
hagiazo, which means to be "separate" or to be "set apart." In the Bible,
sanctification generally relates to a sovereign act of God whereby He "sets apart" a
person, place, or thing in order that His purposes may be accomplished. In the book
of Exodus, God sanctifies a place of worship. "And there I will meet with the children
of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory," says Exodus 29:43.
Even a day can be sanctified as seen in Genesis 2:3 where the seventh day is "set
apart" as a holy day of rest. "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it,
because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made."

Similarly, when a person is sanctified he or she is being set apart by God for a
specific divine purpose. The very moment we are saved in Christ we are also
immediately sanctified and begin the process of being conformed to the image of
Christ. As God's children we are "set apart" from that moment to carry out His divine
purposes unto eternity. Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering He has perfected
forever those who are being sanctified." Are you set apart for God?

Sanctification - Different Than Salvation

It is important to differentiate between justification and sanctification. Justification is
another word for salvation. Jesus gave his life on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.
His blood washes away our sins and frees us from an eternity of suffering and
condemnation. Believers are saved because of what Christ has already done. We can
do nothing to earn salvation, it is the gift given to every child of God regardless of
race, age, maturity, or merit. Sanctification occurs as a result of salvation. At
the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit enters our life. We are no longer held
hostage by death, but are free to live the life God desires for us. We are thus
sanctified simply because of our standing as lost souls saved by grace.

Sanctification - A Continuing Process

Sanctification does not stop with salvation, but rather it is a progressive process that
continues in a Christian's life. Unlike the things and places that are sanctified by God
in the Bible, people have the capacity to sin. Even though we have been "set apart"
as God's children, we continue to behave in ways that are contrary. As Christians, we
realize shortly after we have been saved that there is a new inner battle being waged
within us - a battle between our old sin-lead nature and new Spirit-lead nature. Paul
in Galatians best describes this inner struggle in Galatians 5:17: "For the flesh lusts
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one
another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."

Like Paul, our heart's desire is to please and obey God, but our flesh is weak making
sin difficult to resist. Yet, it is in our continual struggle with sin and obedience to God
that sanctification does its work.

But what is the work of sanctification? What does it practically mean to be "set
apart"? Sanctification can be described as an inward spiritual process whereby God

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brings about holiness and change in the life of a Christian by means of the Holy
Spirit. The effects of living in a fallen world have harmed everybody differently. We
all face different issues, struggle with sin, and past hurts of varying degrees,
hindering our ability to live the life God desires for us. Once we accept Jesus Christ
into our lives, the Holy Spirit enters our life to start a transformation process
(progressive sanctification). He convicts us on areas that need to be changed,
helping us to grow in holiness. We begin to view the world, people, and personal
difficulties from a more biblical perspective. Our choices begin to be motivated by
love and truth and not selfishness. For instance, we may have misplaced our
confidence and security on beauty, wealth, and materialism, but God may ordain
difficult circumstances to liberate us from these growth-hindering snares. The
transformation process may be painful, but it is always motivated by God's love for
us. Further, God promises in His Word to not give us more than we are able to
handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).

This is the working process of sanctification is the life of every believer. Though the
process is personal for each individual, the end goal is to prevent sin and produce
spiritual growth. Note that sanctification has nothing to do with living in sinless
perfection. We will never be sinless in this life. In fact, the Bible warns against such
false teachings in 1 John 1:8: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us."

Sanctification is not about trying to be sinless in order to earn the favor of God.
Rather, sanctification is for our own benefit. God commands us to pursue
sanctification so that through it we may be blessed.

Sanctification - A Christian Responsibility

Sanctification is one of the most challenging aspects of the Christian walk. Our
natural tendency is to embrace sin, yet God in His divine wisdom has chosen to give
us the responsibility of working out our own sanctification. "Therefore if anyone
cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful
for the Master, prepared for every good work," says 2 Timothy 2:21.

But how do we pursue sanctification? How are we personally responsible? Lovingly,

God has sent His Holy Spirit and His written Word, the Bible, to guide us. Though
every person's sanctification is unique and personal, there are common disciplines in
the pursuit of sanctification that are unchanging.

Sanctification - Practical Steps

Prayer is of utmost importance. When we are suffering or facing temptation, our
mind and body are weak. Satan knows this and tries to take advantage of us. When
we pray, we are in spiritual union with God. Not only will prayer comfort us in our
hardship, but it will also give us the strength to overcome sin. Through prayer, we
are also more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

God has also given us the written Word - the Bible. The Bible is not merely a history
book, but its words have the power to sanctify us. When Satan tempted Jesus in
Matthew 4, Jesus used the Word of God to overcome temptation. "But He answered
and said, 'It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4).

God's Word also has the power to transform our mind, convict, and bring to light the
darkness that is within our hearts. It is the instrument which God uses to develop in

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us knowledge, faith, and personal holiness; all of which are essential elements of
sanctification. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-
edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
Whether by studying or listening to teaching, the sanctifying work of God's Word is
enormous to a believer who recognizes its truth and power.

Believers are also sanctified in worship. True fervent worship is what God desires
from His people. When our worship is genuine, it transforms our hearts and brings us
into close union with God. John 4:23 says, "But the hour is coming, and now is,
when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is
seeking such to worship Him."

Additionally, before Jesus ascended into heaven he tells the disciples to wait in
Jerusalem for a gift God will send (Acts 1). This is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Spirit is our ultimate helper and sanctifier. When we yield to His leading, He has the
power to help us resist sin and make positive change. "I say then: Walk in the Spirit,
and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

When we sin and ignore the Holy Spirit's leading, we break fellowship with Him,
thereby cutting off the life-changing power. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 commands us: "Do
not quench the Spirit."

Sanctification - Key to Spiritual Growth

Sanctification is both a matter of position and progression. We are sanctified because
Jesus Christ has saved us and yet sanctification continues to work within to
transform us unto the likeness of Christ. Sanctification is the responsibility of every
believer in Christ. When we choose to pursue sanctification in our life, positive
growth occurs. The pursuit of it involves the surrender of the body and the will to the
leading of the Holy Spirit. It takes time and is a working progress that cannot be
hurried. Like a newborn baby that gradually matures unto adulthood, so is the work
of sanctification in the life of a new believer. The work of sanctification will ultimately
be completed in every believer's life when Jesus Christ returns. This is the hope of
every Christian.

Paul puts it best in his epistle to the Thessalonians: "Now may the God of peace
Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be
preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Spiritual Growth - What is it?

Spiritual growth is detailed in 2 Peter 1:3-8, "His divine power has given us
everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called
us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and
precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature
and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason,
make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and
to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance,
godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For
if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being
ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

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So, spiritual growth includes: (1) increasing in your knowledge and understanding of
God's Word, (2) decreasing in your frequency and severity of sin, (3) increasing in
your practice of Christ-like qualities, and (4) increasing in your faith and trust in
God. Perhaps the best summary of spiritual growth is becoming more like Jesus
Christ. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul says, "Follow my example, as I follow the example
of Christ." Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of what it truly means to be spiritual.

Spiritual Growth - How is it done?

In order for spiritual growth to occur, you first need to make sure you possess a true
spiritual life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. "And this is the testimony: God
has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he
who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:11-12). When you
believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit lives inside of you (John 14:16-17) and you
are a new creation in Christ! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Your old nature,
which is dominated by sin, is replaced with a new nature that is under the influence
of God's Spirit (Romans 6-7). Spiritual growth can only occur in a person who knows
the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her Savior.

Learning how to grow spiritually is a life-long journey which occurs as you read and
apply God's Word to your life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches us, "All Scripture is God-
breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work." In order for spiritual growth to occur, we must be taught, rebuked, corrected,
and trained by God's Word. Then we will be thoroughly equipped for every good
work. This is the essence of spiritual growth.

Another key to Christian growth is walking in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-18, 24-26
explains, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful
nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit
what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you
do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law…
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions
and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not
become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

Walking in the Spirit is allowing Him to fill you (Ephesians 5:18), control you, and
guide you. This is brought about by consciously choosing by faith to rely on the Holy
Spirit to guide you in thought, word, and deed (Romans 6:11-14). Failure to rely on
the Holy Spirit's guidance will result in a believer not living up to the calling and
standing that salvation provides. Ephesians 4:1 says, "…I urge you to live a life
worthy of the calling you have received."

Spiritual Growth - What are the results?

Spiritual growth is a life-long process of manifesting the acts of the flesh (Galatians
5:19-21) less and less and producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) more
and more. Notice that it is the Holy Spirit who produces the fruit in us. Yes, we must
submit ourselves to the Spirit's leading, but it is the Spirit who produces the fruit of
spiritual growth in our lives. What does spiritual growth look like? Galatians 5:22-23
has the answer, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no
law." If you are becoming more loving, more joyful, more kind, more self-controlled,

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etc., then you can rest assured that spiritual growth is genuinely occurring in your
life.

God works in different people in different ways. Some people grow rapidly, while
others grow slowly, but steadily. Our focus should not be on comparing ourselves
with others, but on comparing ourselves with God's Word. The Scriptures are the
mirror to show us what we are like spiritually and to shine light on the areas that
need to experience and learn spiritual growth. James 1:23-25 declares, "Anyone who
listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in
a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he
looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,
and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be
blessed in what he does."

Fruit of the Spirit - Visible Growth in Jesus Christ

"Fruit of the Spirit" is a biblical term that sums up the nine visible attributes of a true
Christian life. Using the King James Version of Galatians 5:22-23, these attributes
are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness
and temperance. We learn from scripture that these are not individual "fruits" from
which we pick and choose. Rather, the fruit of the Spirit is one ninefold "fruit" that
characterizes all who truly walk in the Holy Spirit. Collectively, these are the fruits
that all Christians should be producing in their new lives with Jesus Christ.

Fruit of the Spirit - The Nine Biblical Attributes

The fruit of the Spirit is a physical manifestation of a Christian's transformed life. In
order to mature as believers, we should study and understand the attributes of the
ninefold fruit:

Love - "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever
lives in love lives in God, and God in him" (1 John 4:16). Through Jesus Christ, our
greatest goal is to do all things in love. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not
envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but
rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres. Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Joy - "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). "Let us fix our eyes on
Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured
the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"
(Hebrews 12:2).

Peace - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). "May the God of hope fill you with
all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the
power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

Longsuffering (patience) -- We are "strengthened with all might, according to his

glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Colossians
1:11). "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another
in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

Gentleness (kindness) -- We should live "in purity, understanding, patience and

kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power

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of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left" (2
Corinthians 6:6-7).

Goodness - "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you
worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work
of faith with power" (2 Thessalonians 1:11). "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness and righteousness and truth" (Ephesians 5:9).

Faith (faithfulness) - "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy
name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and
truth" (Isaiah 25:1). "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you
with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:16-17).

Meekness - "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual,

restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be
tempted" (Galatians 6:1). "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering,
forbearing one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

Temperance (self-control) - "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add
to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control
perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to
brotherly kindness love" (2 Peter 1:5-7).

Fruit of the Spirit - A Devotional for All Christians

The fruit of the Spirit is a wonderful study for Christians at any level of spiritual
maturity. We hope this website provides a thought-provoking devotional and a
springboard for growth.