Sanctification as a Monergistic Work of God
Sanctification as a Monergistic Work of God
The concept of sanctification is rooted in biblical teachings, emphasizing God's work in believers. According to 1 Thessalonians 4:3, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification" [3]. This verse underscores God's desire for the sanctification of believers, indicating it is a divine work.
Sanctification involves the separation of believers to God's service and is effected by God Himself [2]. It is a continuation of the work begun in regeneration, extending to the whole person, and is carried out by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19) [1]. The Holy Spirit's role is crucial in sanctification, as He implants gracious principles in the soul and brings the whole nature under their influence.
The Bible attributes sanctification to the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17) [4], highlighting the role of God's word in sanctification. The Father's will for believers' sanctification is evident in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, while the Son's role is seen in His prayer for believers' sanctification and His own sanctification of Himself for their sake (John 17:17, 19) [7].
Different Christian traditions interpret the process of sanctification. The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, emphasizes that sanctification is a work of God, begun in eternal election and carried out in the lives of believers through the Spirit [3, 6]. The Methodist/Wesleyan tradition, represented by Adam Clarke, focuses on the believer's response to God's grace, emphasizing the need for personal holiness and cleansing from sin [5].
The biblical basis for sanctification as a monergistic work of God is clear. Scripture teaches that God is the author of sanctification, and it is not a human achievement. The work of sanctification is attributed to God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. As Torrey's Topical Textbook notes, sanctification is "effected by God" and is a work that is "of God, in Christ, through the atonement of Christ, and by the Holy Spirit" [2].
The understanding of sanctification as a divine work has implications for the Christian life. It emphasizes the believer's dependence on God for growth in holiness and the importance of prayer and the word of God in the sanctification process. As Jesus' prayer in John 17:17 indicates, sanctification is closely tied to the truth of God's word [4].
The sanctification of believers is a key aspect of God's redemptive plan, and it is a work that is both begun and completed by God. According to John Gill, the ministry of the word is designed for the "perfecting of the saints" and the "completing the number of these in the effectual calling" [6]. This underscores the importance of God's word in the ongoing process of sanctification.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sanctification — Is separation to the service of God -- Ps 4:3; 2Co 6:17. Effected by God. -- Eze 37:28; 1Th 5:23; Jude 1:1. Christ. -- Heb 2:11; 13:12. The Holy Spirit. -- Ro 15:16; 1Co 6:11. In Christ -- 1Co 1:2. Through the atonement of Christ -- Heb 10:10; 13:12. Through the word of God -- Joh 17:17,19; Eph 5:26. Christ made, of God, to us -- 1Co 1:30. Saints elected to salvation through -- 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 1:2. All saints are in a state of -- Ac 20:32; 26:18; 1Co 6:11. The Church made glorious by -- Eph 5:26,27. Should lead to Mortification of sin. -- 1Th 4:3,4. Ho”
- 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 4:3: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,.... Which is another reason to enforce the above exhortation. "Sanctification" is internal or external. Internal sanctification is the work of the Spirit of God, and is a principle of spiritual life in the soul, a divine and spiritual light in the understanding, a flexion of the will to the will of God, and a settlement of the affections on divine things, and is an implantation of every grace in the heart. External sanctification arises from this, and lies in holiness of life and conversation; and is what ”
- John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 17:17: The next thing he prayed for for them was that they might be sanctified; not only kept from evil, but made good. I. Here is the petition (Joh 17:17): Sanctify them through thy truth, through thy word, for thy word is truth; it is true - it is truth itself. He desires they may be sanctified, 1. As Christians. Father, make them holy, and this will be their preservation, Th1 5:23. Observe here, (1.) The grace desired - sanctification. The disciples were sanctified, for they were not of the world; yet he prays, Father sanctify them, that is, [1.] "Confirm the work of s”
- James (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on James 4:8: Draw nigh to God - Approach Him, in the name of Jesus, by faith and prayer, and he will draw nigh to you - he will meet you at your coming. When a soul sets out to seek God, God sets out to meet that soul; so that while we are drawing near to him, he is drawing near to us. The delicacy and beauty of these expressions are, I think, but seldom noted. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners - This I think to be the beginning of a new address, and to different persons; and should have formed the commencement of a new verse. Let your whole conduct be changed; cease to do evil learn”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:12: For the perfecting of the saints, The chosen ones, whom God has sanctified or set apart for himself in eternal election: the ministry of the word is designed for the completing the number of these in the effectual calling; and for the perfecting of the whole body of the church, by gathering in all that belong to it, and of every particular saint, who is regenerated and sanctified by the Spirit of God: for the best of saints are imperfect; for though there is a perfection in them, as that designs sincerity, in opposition to hypocrisy, and as it may be taken comparat”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 17:18: And for their sakes I sanctify myself,.... Which is to be understood, not of his making himself holy; for he never was a sinner, and so stood in no need of sanctification: he was made like unto us, yet without sin; he looked like a sinner, but was not one; he was traduced, charged, and treated as such, but was perfectly holy, and free from all sin; he was essentially and infinitely holy as God; and as man, he was holy in his conception and birth; he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and was holy in his life and in his death: rather this may be meant of his being separate”