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Doctrine of Sanctification

Nathaniel Parker

Created 8/6/20

Updated

Definition of Doctrine

Sanctification: The ongoing supernatural work of the Holy Spirit on the basis of the death

of Christ to make believers holy, set apart, and blameless. There are three aspects of

sanctification: positional/definitive, progressive, and ultimate.

Annotated Definition

Sanctification: The ongoing supernatural work of the Holy Spirit1 on the basis of the

death of Christ2 to make believers holy3, set apart4, and blameless5. There are three aspects of

sanctification: positional/definitive6, progressive7, and ultimate8.9

1 Romans 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13

2 Hebrews 10:10-13; Hebrews 13:12; Second London Confession; Westminster

31 Peter 1:16; Leviticus 19:2

4 Greek Term for Sanctify; Baptist Faith and Message

5 Ephesians 5:26-27; 1 Thessalonians 5:23

61 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 6:11; John 17:17-19

7 Romans 8:12-13: John 17:17-19

8 Ephesians 5:26-27

9 Ryrie
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Elaboration

• Positional/definitive sanctification: “the position every believer enjoys by virtue of

being set apart as a member of God’s family through faith in Christ” (Ryrie)

• Progressive sanctification: “the present…progressive work of continuing to be set

apart during the whole of our Christian lives” (Ryrie)

• Ultimate sanctification: “we will attain in heaven when we shall be completely and

eternally set apart to our God” (Ryrie)

Biblical Foundation

• Ephesians 5:26-27

• “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or

wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

• Romans 15:16

• “That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the

gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being

sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”

• 2 Thessalonians 2:13

• “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the

Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through

sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

• Hebrews 10:10-13

• “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus

Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering

oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man,

after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of

God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.”
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• Hebrews 13:12

• “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood,

suffered without the gate.”

• John 17:17-19

• “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into

the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I

sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

• Romans 8:12-13

• “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For

if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the

deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

• 1 Corinthians 1:2

• “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in

Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name

of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23

• “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole

spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord

Jesus Christ.”

• 1 Peter 1:16

• “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

• Leviticus 19:2

• “Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them,

Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.”

• 1 Corinthians 6:11
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• “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye

are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Inadequate Views

• Conflating justification with sanctification

• Antinomianism (Mullins considers it an inadequate view)

• Christian Perfectionism this side of eternity

• Wesleyan, Keswick, and Pentecostal Views

Corollaries

• Part of the Ordo Salutis (Order of Salvation)

• Regeneration: sanctification continues after regeneration

• Justification: sanctification is the application of justification (Lexham Survey of

Theology)

• Faith: “faith is the mediate or instrumental cause of sanctification” (Berkhof)

• Union with Christ

Linkage to Other Doctrines

• Soteriology: the doctrine of sanctification is part of the doctrine of Soteriology

• Anthropology and Hamartiology: sanctification rescues humanity from sin (Lexham

Survey of Theology)

• Pneumatology: the Holy Spirit is involved in the sanctification of a believer

• Christology: believers are sanctified through the death and blood of Jesus Christ

• Bibliology: the Bible is the foundation for the believer’s sanctification (Ryrie)

• Ecclesiology: the church comprises the sanctified body of believers

• Eschatology: the ultimate sanctification of a believer awaits the believer in heaven

(Walvoord and other opponents of earthly Christian perfection)

Confessional Texts

• Second London Confession

• Chapter 13

• Westminster Confession

• Chapter 13

• Baptist Faith and Message

• “Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the

believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral

and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit

dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate

person's life.”

• New Hampshire Confession

• Part 10

• Orthodox Creed

• Article 25

• Council of Orange

• Council 5

• First London Confession

• Part 20 and 29

Theologians

• Five Views on Sanctification (Zondervan)

• Outlines the major positions on sanctification

• Naselli, Let Go and Let God? A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology

• Contains useful charts on various positions on sanctification, as well as a

critique of Keswick Theology from a Reformed position

• Ryrie, Basic Theology, Chapter 67

• Berkhof, Systematic Theology, Part 4, Chapter 10

• Erickson, Systematic Theology, Chapter 46

• MacArthur, Biblical Doctrine, Chapter 5

• Mueller, Christian Dogmatics, Chapter 16

• Mullins, The Christian Religion in its Doctrinal Expression, Chapter Chapter 16