Sanctification and Christians

What is sanctification? Is this concept important to me as a Christian? If so, how? 

Before I delineate what “sanctification” you will need to keep it mind its relationship to justification. I have explained to you above that justification is God’s declaration repentant sinners righteous. God does not stop there; He actually is making the sinners righteous through the power of the Holy Spirit; this is “sanctification.” In justification, the guilt of our sin is removed only on the account of atoning work of Christ, yet in sanctification, the pollution of our sin is in the process of being removed by the power of Holy Spirit. Justification is better seen the work of Christ “for” us, sanctification is the work of Christ “in” us. Thus, Sanctification can be seen more “experiential.” The following comparison in the table will make you more clear and understand that sanctification is important in our daily christian life.

Justification	Sanctification
Legal standing before God	Internal condition of heart before God
Christ’s work “for” us	Christ’s work “in” us through the power of Holy Spirit
Once and for all time	Continuous throughout life
Solely God’s act	We cooperate through faith and obedience
Perfect in this present life	Not perfect in this life; only in the age to come

Now what let’s look at the word “sanctification.” It is derived from Latin term (sanctus facere ) meaning “to make holy.” In OT, this word is synonymous to qados meaing to “be consecrated or be holy,” derived from hebrew root qad meaning to “cut” or “separate.”  In ceremonial context this verb is used to signify that a person, places or objects are holy for they are separated from what is profane and set apart and devoted to Yahweh. The people of God are set apart from all what are profane for God’s service so that they should avoid whatever displeases him. 

In NT, the word “sanctification” means two things; (1) it is separation from all the sinful practices of that day, thus, it is more moral and ethical, and (2) it is also consecration to God’s service. So being holy is not just avoiding all bad things; thus, doing good deeds. It rather means totally dedicated to God. Sanctification is a process and who initiates this process in christian life? It is Triune God himself.  

Therefore, sanctification is the gracious work of the Triune God (the Father is the Originator, the Son is the Completer, and the Holy Spirit is the Efficator) whereby those who are effectually called and regenerated are set apart from sin to be partakers of His holiness (Heb. 12:10; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; 2 Pet. 1:4). Sanctification is predestinated by the eternal decree of the Father (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:2); accomplished by atoning blood of the Son (Heb. 9:10, 14; 10:10; 13:12); and effectuated by the power of indwelling Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:11; Rom. 15:16; 1 Pet. 1:22). It is appropriated through the Word of God, and is conditioned by the faith and obedience of human being (Ac. 15:9; Jude 20; 1 Jon. 5:4-5). The role of human is both passive and active. Passive in the sense, we totally depend on God to sanctify us; active in the sense, we strive to obey God by the power of Spirit and take steps that will increase our sanctification. 

In sanctification process, repentant sinner has been positionally and initially sanctified, is being progressively and experientially sanctified and shall be ultimately and completely sanctified in the presence of God. Let me explain this statement. 

1. At regeneration, the repentant sinner is positionally sanctified; legally set apart from unholy things in his standing before God. Even though he once lived under the power of sin, he is now placed out of that realm into the special care and loving service of God. Now he becomes the recipient of special blessings and effectual working of Triune God. By virtue of this standing, all believers who are sanctified in Christ are therefore called saints (1 Cor. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 1:12). 
2. At regeneration, the repentant believer receives God’s gracious cleaning of initial sanctification. He will experience purification, the power of sin is destroyed and he will be turned from sin to righteousness (Rom. 6:6-22). The “old self” is crucified and the “new self” has been put on (Rom. 6:6), which is “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24), which is “being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Col. 3:10-12). 
3. Through out his life, believer is progressively brought into greater conformity to the Image of Christ (Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Jn. 4:17). He is continuously to be putting of the characteristics of “old self” (Rom. 6:12; 8:13; Col. 3:5). His renewed nature is to be continually strengthened while the indwelling remnant of corruption, that remains through out his life, must be more fully subjected. Thought the desire of the flesh may occasionally come out; though he may face inner conflict between the flesh and the Spirit, yet the true believer will not continue to sin because he has overcome the desires of the world by faith (1 Jn. 3:2). 
4. Finally the goal of sanctification is reached in its ultimate aspect, when the believer is fully conformed to the image of Jesus Christ in the age to come when he is finally glorified (Rom. 8:29), then he will be like Christ (1 Jn. 3:2) bearing the image of the heavenly (1 Cor. 15:49), having put on incorruption and immortality (1 Cor. 15:53).