SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification follows justification and is the transformation of character resulting from a
daily life made righteous through the power of Christ.
KEY TEXT: “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former
lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”—1 Peter 1:14-
16
HIS PEOPLE MUST BE HOLY
What characteristics of God pervade heaven and must be in all who would enter His
presence?
1Peter 1:14-16
“The righteousness of God is absolute. This righteousness characterizes all His works, all
His laws. As God is, so must His people be. The life of Christ is to be revealed in the
lives of His followers. In all His public and private acts, in every word and deed, practical
godliness was seen, and this godliness is to be seen in the lives of His disciples.”
—Selected Messages book 1 page 198 para.1
“He [God] cannot endure the presence of sin. It is the thing that His soul hates. Even the
angels that stood about His throne, whom He loved, but who kept not their first estate of
loyalty, God cast out of heaven with their rebel leader. Holiness is the foundation of
God's throne; sin is the opposite of holiness; sin crucified the Son of God. If men could
see how hateful sin is, they would not tolerate it, nor educate themselves in it. They
would reform in life and character. Secret faults would be overcome. If you are to be
saints in heaven, you must first be saints upon the earth.”—Testimonies to Ministers
p.145
How is this accomplished? What part does the sinner have in it? Titus 3:5
“When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new
heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a
supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature”—Desire of Ages
p.324.
“But though Christ is everything, we are to inspire every man to unwearied diligence. We
are to strive, wrestle, agonize, watch, pray, lest we shall be overcome by the wily foe. For
the power and grace with which we can do this comes from God, and all the while we are
to trust in Him, who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him.
Never leave the impression on the mind that there is little or nothing to do on the part of
man; but rather teach man to cooperate with God, that he may be successful in
overcoming.”—Selected Messages book 1 p. 381 para.3
BIBLE SANCTIFICATION
What is Bible sanctification? What does it imply? 1 Thessalonians 3:13
“By the word and the Spirit of God are opened to men the great principles of
righteousness embodied in His law. And since the law of God is "holy, and just, and
good," a transcript of the divine perfection, it follows that a character formed by
obedience to that law will be holy. Christ is a perfect example of such a character. He
says: "I have kept My Father's commandments." "I do always those things that please
Him." John 15:10; 8:29. The followers of Christ are to become like Him--by the grace of
God to form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy law. This is Bible
sanctification.”—Great Controversy p. 469 para.2
What has been the purpose of God for man from the beginning? What do the
Scriptures tell of the will of God for us?
Ephesians 1:4; 1Thessalonians 4:3
“God has chosen men from eternity to be holy.”This is the will of God, even your
sanctification." God's law tolerates no sin, but demands perfect obedience. The echo of
God's voice comes to us, ever saying. Holier, holier still. And ever our answer is to be,
Yes, Lord, holier still. Holiness is within the reach of all who reach for it by faith, not
because of their good works, but because of Christ's merits. Divine power is provided for
every soul struggling for the victory over sin and Satan.”—The SDA Bible Commentary,
[E.G. White Comments] Vol.7, p.908
IMPUTED AND IMPARTED RIGHTEOUSNESS
What sanctification is not the work of a moment but a progressive work? What steps
are enumerated in order to reach this goal?
Hebrews 6:1; Philippians3:13-14; 2 Peter 1:5-10
“The Scriptures plainly show that the work of sanctification is progressive. When in
conversion the sinner finds peace with God through the blood of the atonement, the
Christian life has but just begun. Now he is to "go on unto perfection;" to grow up "unto
the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Says the apostle Paul: "This one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things
which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus." [PHIL. 3:13, 14.] And Peter sets before us the steps by which Bible
sanctification is to be attained: "Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to
virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance;”—Great Controversy p 470
What is done for us by the death of Christ, and what must the indwelling Christ do for
us the believers daily?
Romans5:10
“Justification means the saving of a soul from perdition, that he may obtain
sanctification, and through sanctification, the life of heaven. Justification means that the
conscience, purged from dead works, is placed where it can receive the blessings of
sanctification”—The SDA Bible Commentary, [E.G. White Comments] Vol.7, p.908
“Imputed righteousness by which man is justified from guilt, is the foundation upon
which imparted righteousness is bestowed, which sanctifies the life conduct and provides
‘our fitness for heaven’”—Christ our Righteousness, p.93
THE WORK OF SANCTIFICATION
How thoroughly is one work of sanctification to be carried out and what is the
purpose?
1Thessalonians 5:23
“Our sanctification is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is the
fulfillment of the covenant God has made with those who bind themselves up with Him,
to stand with Him, His Son, and His Spirit in holy fellowship. Have you been born again?
Have you become a new being in Christ Jesus? Then cooperate with the three great
powers of heaven who are working in your behalf”—The SDA Bible Commentary, [E.G.
White Comments] Vol.7, p.908
“Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification of the truth, the believer becomes
fitted for the courts of heaven; for Christ works within us, and His righteousness is upon
us. Without this no soul will be entitled to heaven. We would not enjoy heaven unless
qualified for its holy atmosphere by the influence of the Spirit and the righteousness of
Christ.”—Selected Messages, book 1 p. 395
“The sanctification set forth in the scriptures embraces the entire spirit, soul, and body”
—Selected Messages, book 1 p. 473
What will be the experience of the truly converted believer? What has such a believer
done when responds to the call for repentance? 1 Corinthians 15:57
“The Christian will feel the promptings of sin, but he will maintain a constant warfare
against it. Here is where Christ's help is needed. Human weakness becomes united to
divine strength, and faith exclaims: "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57.”—Great Controversy p. 469 para.3
“No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation. The righteousness of Christ is
not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin; it is a principle of life that
transforms the character and controls the conduct. Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the
entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven.”—Desire
of Ages, p. 555 para.6
THE PROOF OF SANCTIFICATION
What is the experience of the heart in which the work of sanctification is
accomplished? What will be a special joy to such ones?Psalm119:14-16
“All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we
consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and
minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out
our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing
His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life
of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through
communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.”—Desire Ages, p. 668 para.3
What is evidence of this sanctification? How does the repentant sinner know the way?
1John 2:3-6
“Righteousness within is testified to by righteousness without. He who is righteous
within is not hard hearted and unsympathetic, but day by day he grows into the image of
Christ, going on from strength to strength. He who is being sanctified by truth will be
self-controlled and will follow in the footsteps of Christ until grace is lost in glory.”
—Christ Our Righteousness, p.101
REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS
a. What does it mean to be holy?
b. Differentiate between imputed and imparted righteousness
c. How is the work of sanctification accomplished?
d. What results form true sanctification?
e. What is evidence that the soul is sanctified?
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