Sanctification as a Sovereign Work of God
Sanctification extends beyond moral improvement to encompass the Holy Spirit's work of bringing the entire nature under the gracious principles implanted at regeneration [1]. Scripture locates this work squarely in God's initiative: the Father sanctifies (Ezekiel 37:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:23), Christ sanctifies (Hebrews 2:11; 13:12), and the Holy Spirit sanctifies (Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11) [2]. The process is "sanctified through the word of God and prayer" (1 Timothy 4:5) [3, 4], indicating divine agency operating through appointed means.
The Divine Authorship of Sanctification
The Reformed tradition emphasizes that sanctification, like regeneration, is God's workmanship. John Gill describes grace upon the soul as "a very curious work" that "is not man's work; nor is it the work of ministers," but rather God's exclusive operation [10]. This internal work, though gradual, is "carried on, till the finishing stroke is given to it by that hand which begun it" [10]. The distinction between internal and external sanctification clarifies this: internal sanctification is "the work of the Spirit of God" and constitutes "a principle of spiritual life in the soul," while external sanctification—holiness of life—arises from that prior divine implantation [6].
Chrysostom reinforces this sovereignty by reminding the Corinthians that their sanctification came "not by their own good deeds, but by the loving-kindness of God" [11]. Even the call to salvation precedes human response: "ye did not first draw near, but were called; so that not even this small matter is yours altogether" [11]. The command "Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16) underscores that God, as the fountain of holiness, both commands and supplies the power to obey [9].
Eternal Foundations and Progressive Realization
Sanctification's roots reach into eternity. Gill notes that Christ's sanctification involved "the eternal separation of him to his office, as Mediator, in the counsel, purposes, and decrees of God," predating his earthly mission [7]. Believers likewise are "sanctified or set apart for himself in eternal election" [8], with the ministry of the word designed "for the completing the number of these in the effectual calling" [8]. Yet this eternal decree unfolds progressively: personal holiness is "a work of gradual development" carried on "under many hindrances" [5], requiring watchfulness and perseverance even as God himself perfects what he began.
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 Timothy “For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer. -- 1 Timothy 4:5”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:5 (ASV) — for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
- 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 (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 10:35: Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified,.... Not by making his human nature pure and holy, and free from all sin, and by bestowing the holy Spirit on him without measure, though both true; but these were upon, or after his mission into the world; whereas sanctification here, designs something previous to that, and respects the eternal separation of him to his office, as Mediator, in the counsel, purposes, and decrees of God, and in the covenant of his grace, being pre-ordained thereunto, before the foundation of the world; which supposes his eternal existence as ”
- 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”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:16: Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice. Be ye . . . for I am--It is I with whom ye have to do. Ye are mine. Therefore abstain from Gentile pollutions. We are too prone to have respect unto men [CALVIN]. As I am the fountain of holiness, being holy in My essence, be ye therefore zealous to be partakers of holiness, that ye may be as I also am [DIDYMUS]. God is essentially holy: the creature is holy in so far as it is sanctified by God. God, in giving the command, is willing to give also the power to obey i”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship,.... Not as men only, but as Christians; not as creatures merely, but as new creatures; the work of grace upon the soul seems chiefly designed, which like a poem, as the word may be rendered, is a very curious work; the king's daughter is all glorious within, for this is an internal work, and is a good and excellent one; it is not indeed perfected at once, but is gradually carried on, till the finishing stroke is given to it by that hand which begun it; the author of it is God, it is not man's work; nor is it the work of ministers, no, no”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: names of men he findeth no place for. But what is Sanctification? The Laver, the Purification. For he reminds them of their own uncleanness, from which he had freed them; and so persuades them to lowliness of mind; for not by their own good deeds, but by the loving-kindness of God, had they been sanctified. “Called to be Saints.” For even this, to be saved by faith, is not saith he, of yourselves; for ye did not first draw near, but were called; so that not even this small matter is yours altogether. However, though you had drawn near, accountabl”