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Role of Sanctification in the Process of Redemption

Sanctification occupies a distinct yet inseparable place within the redemptive work of God, functioning as the progressive transformation that follows the initial act of justification. While redemption encompasses the entire scope of God's saving work—including justification, adoption, and glorification—sanctification represents the Spirit's ongoing ministry of conforming believers to the image of Christ. The term itself derives from the concept of separation: "separation to the service of God" [2], echoing the Old Testament pattern where persons, objects, and times were set apart for holy purposes [12].

The Biblical Foundation

Scripture presents sanctification as both a definitive act and a progressive reality. Paul declares that believers "are washed," "are sanctified," and "are justified" [14], using past-tense language that indicates a completed transaction at conversion. Yet the same apostle exhorts the Thessalonians toward sanctification as an ongoing imperative: "this is the will of God, even your sanctification" [10]. This dual aspect—positional and progressive—distinguishes sanctification from justification while linking both to the single work of redemption accomplished in Christ's blood [5].

The Levitical system foreshadowed this reality. God declared, "I am the LORD who sanctifies them" [4], establishing that sanctification originates in divine action rather than human effort. The annual Day of Atonement provided "the great annual purification of the people" [3], prefiguring the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ that would effect both redemption and the sanctifying work that flows from it.

The Agent and Means

The Holy Spirit executes sanctification as "the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption" [1]. This work extends beyond moral reformation to encompass "the whole nature" [1], bringing every faculty under the influence of the new life implanted at regeneration. The Spirit accomplishes this through multiple means: the atoning work of Christ [2], the Word of God [2], and the believer's union with Christ [2]. John Chrysostom emphasized that sanctification refers to "the Laver, the Purification," reminding the Corinthians that they were sanctified "not by their own good deeds, but by the loving-kindness of God" [9].

Calvin articulated the relationship between redemption's two principal parts: "remission of sins, and spiritual regeneration" [11]. He insisted that "the entire blessing of redemption consists mainly in these two things," positioning sanctification (spiritual regeneration) as co-equal with justification in the application of redemption. This stands against any notion that justification exhausts the meaning of salvation or that sanctification functions as an optional addendum.

Sanctification's Relationship to Other Redemptive Elements

Justification and sanctification, though distinct, remain inseparable. Justification is "the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law" [6]. It is forensic, instantaneous, and complete. Sanctification, by contrast, is transformative, progressive, and incomplete in this life. Yet both flow from union with Christ, who "made, of God, to us" both righteousness and sanctification [2].

The order of application matters for theological precision. Matthew Henry noted that Paul sometimes inverts the natural order when discussing redemption, speaking of "the application of it" before "the purchase of it" [7], because believers experience the effects of redemption before fully comprehending its foundation. Similarly, election precedes sanctification: "Saints elected to salvation through" sanctification [2], indicating that God's eternal purpose includes not merely the forgiveness of sins but the transformation of character.

John Gill observed that redemption serves as "the source and foundation of the other blessings of grace," including "justification, pardon of sin, and conversion" [8]. Sanctification thus depends upon redemption's accomplishment. The believer cannot be progressively sanctified apart from the definitive redemption secured by Christ's blood. This redemption is "of a spiritual nature," delivering from "the captivity of sin, Satan, and the law" [8], and sanctification manifests that deliverance in lived experience.

The Scope and Goal

Sanctification "extends to the whole man" [1], affecting body, soul, and spirit. Paul's instruction that believers present their bodies as instruments of righteousness [1] demonstrates that sanctification is not merely inward or mystical but encompasses concrete behavioral transformation. The process is described as "the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration" [1], indicating both continuity with the initial act of regeneration and incompleteness requiring divine continuation.

The ultimate aim is conformity to Christ and fitness for God's presence. The church is "made glorious" through sanctification [2], prepared as a bride without spot or wrinkle. This eschatological dimension means that sanctification, while progressive in this age, anticipates the final glorification when believers will be fully conformed to Christ's image. The Spirit's present work guarantees that future completion, as the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead will also "quicken" the mortal bodies of believers [15].

Internal and External Dimensions

John Gill distinguished between internal and external sanctification. Internal sanctification is "the work of the Spirit of God" and constitutes "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" [10]. External sanctification "arises from this, and lies in holiness of life and conversation" [10]. This distinction preserves the priority of heart transformation while insisting that genuine internal change produces visible fruit.

The practical outworking includes "mortification of sin" [2], the putting to death of sinful habits and desires. Sanctification is not passive reception but active cooperation with the Spirit's work, though even this cooperation depends upon grace. Believers are exhorted to "sanctify Christ as Lord" in their hearts [13], an act of consecration that both responds to and enables further transformation.

Sanctification thus occupies the middle ground in redemption's application: grounded in the finished work of Christ, initiated definitively at conversion, progressing throughout the believer's earthly life, and culminating in glorification. It is neither optional nor automatic, neither purely divine nor humanly achieved, but the Spirit's patient work of bringing those purchased by Christ's blood into actual conformity with the holiness that justification declares them to possess.

Sources

  1. 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”
  2. 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”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Purification — The process by which a person unclean, according to the Levitical law, and thereby cut off from the sanctuary and the festivals, was restored to the enjoyment of all these privileges. The great annual purification of the people was on the Day of Atonement (q.v.). But in the details of daily life there were special causes of cermonial uncleanness which were severally provided for by ceremonial laws enacted for each separate case. For example, the case of the leper (Lev. 13, 14), and of the house defiled by leprosy (14:49-53; see also Matt. 8:2-4). Uncle”
  4. Leviticus “Leviticus 22:16 (BSB) — by allowing the people to eat the sacred offerings and thus to bear the punishment for guilt. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.””
  5. Colossians “Colossians 1:14 (LITV) — in whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins;”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justification — A forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; an”
  7. Colossians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Colossians 1:12: Here is a summary of the doctrine of the gospel concerning the great work of our redemption by Christ. It comes in here not as the matter of a sermon, but as the matter of a thanksgiving; for our salvation by Christ furnishes us with abundant matter of thanksgiving in every view of it: Giving thanks unto the Father, Col 1:12. He does not discourse of the work of redemption in the natural order of it; for then he would speak of the purchase of it first, and afterwards of the application of it. But here he inverts the order, because, in our sense and feeling of ”
  8. Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 1:27: Zion shall be redeemed with judgment,.... The blessing of redemption by Christ is the source and foundation of the other blessings of grace, before mentioned, the little remnant are favoured with, as justification, pardon of sin, and conversion, Isa 1:18, Isa 1:25 it is of a spiritual nature; the redemption of the soul is a deliverance from the captivity of sin, Satan, and the law, and is plenteous and eternal; the objects of redeeming grace are "Zion" and her converts; not the world, but the church is redeemed by Christ; for by Zion is meant, not a place, but peopl”
  9. 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”
  10. 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 ”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 28.3: become man, and be a partaker of our flesh, that he might be our brother: it was necessary that he should by dying become a sacrifice, that he might make his Father propitious to us. That he might present us holy. Here we have the second and principal part of our salvation — newness of life. For the entire blessing of redemption consists mainly in these two things, remission of sins, and spiritual regeneration. ( Jeremiah 31:33 .) What he has already spoken of was a great matter, that righteousness has been procure”
  12. Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 13 (introduction): THE FIRST-BORN SANCTIFIED. (Exo 13:1-2) Sanctify unto me all the first-born--To "sanctify" means to "consecrate," to "set apart" from a common to a sacred use. The foundation of this duty rested on the fact that the Israelites, having had their first-born preserved by a distinguishing act of grace from the general destruction that overtook the families of the Egyptians, were bound in token of gratitude to consider them as the Lord's peculiar property (compare Heb 12:23).”
  13. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 3:15: sanctify--hallow; honor as holy, enshrining Him in your hearts. So in the Lord's Prayer, Mat 6:9. God's holiness is thus glorified in our hearts as the dwelling-place of His Spirit. the Lord God--The oldest manuscripts read "Christ." Translate, "Sanctify Christ as Lord." and--Greek, "but," or "moreover." Besides this inward sanctification of God in the heart, be also ready always to give, &c. answer--an apologetic answer defending your faith. to every man that asketh you--The last words limit the universality of the "always"; not to a roller, ”
  14. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 6:11: ye are washed--The Greek middle voice expresses, "Ye have had yourselves washed." This washing implies the admission to the benefits of Christ's salvation generally; of which the parts are; (1) Sanctification, or the setting apart from the world, and adoption into the Church: so "sanctified" is used Co1 7:14; Joh 17:19. Compare Pe1 1:2, where it rather seems to mean the setting apart of one as consecrated by the Spirit in the eternal purpose God. (2) Justification from condemnation through the righteousness of God in Christ by faith (Rom 1:17). ”
  15. Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 8:11: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead,.... These words are not to be understood as they are by some, of the continued work of sanctification in the heart by the Spirit of God; for regeneration, and not sanctification, is signified by quickening, which quickening occurs when the Spirit of God first takes up his dwelling in the soul; besides, the apostle had spoke of the life of the spirit or soul before; and they are mortal bodies, and not its mortal souls, which are said to be quickened, for these cannot mean the body of sin, or the remains of co”
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