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By Hank Walker | Pastor at Peach City Fellowship

Following ADOPTION, SANCTIFICATION is the next “step” in the Ordo Salutis (Order of Salvation).

Sanctification is comprised of two equally important aspects: (1) Sanctification is an act of God whereby the believer is consecrated (“set apart”) for His purposes, and (2) Sanctification is the PROCESS whereby the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God and the means of “providence” (all the circumstances in the believer’s life) to progressively make the believer more-and-more like Christ.

The former (positional sanctification) is accomplished by God alone; He declares the believer to be His and sets him/her apart, for His purposes, until the day of redemption. This involves no effort on the part of the believer.

The latter (progressive sanctification) is also accomplished by God—through, (1) the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit, (2) the Word of God, and (3) all of life’s circumstances—YET, it also involves the believer’s mind, emotion, will, and obedience. Since human works of righteousness are never acceptable to God (they are “filthy rags”), it is only those works enabled by the Holy Spirit that God finds acceptable. Paradoxically, though, it is the BELIEVER who is responsible for DOING the work. I know this sounds confusing—even beyond comprehension—but, this is the clear testimony of Scripture.

Ephesians 2:10 gives a good picture of how God achieves the believer’s sanctification: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Did you catch the parts? We are “His workmanship”—God has designed us, and arranged our circumstances “beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God makes the perfect path, and man “walks”—performing the sanctifying work that God prepared before time began.

Moreover, John 17:17-19 and Romans 12:2 display sanctification from both the divine and the human perspectives. In John, Jesus prays for His disciples, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.” Jesus places the responsibility for sanctification with God and the Word of God. Conversely, Paul encourages the BELIEVER to pursue sanctification: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” So, it is with the paradox of sanctification—God guarantees that believers are sanctified, and believers obey the Word and the Spirit as they become progressively more like their Savior.

Grace and peace, y’all. Soli Deo Gloria