Sanctification Part 1: What it is, and are you happy about it?

As a pastor people ask me questions all the time.  The other day the question, “What is sanctification?” came up.  The Westminster Shorter Catechism question 35 came to the discussion.  It says, “Sanctification is the work of God’s grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.” 

This was followed by another question, “How does Jesus Christ help us to be renewed in the image God?”  To put it another way, “How does Jesus Christ help us to be more Christ-like?”  Well, this got me thinking.  So I want do some post’s on how Christ helps us in our sanctification. 

Let’s begin with a basic definition of sanctification.  Sanctification is another word for Christ-likeness.  God the Father through his Son Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit redeems us and unites us to himself.  As we are united to God we are set apart for him…set apart for holiness and enjoying God.  Jesus Christ in his humanity was holy and enjoyed God, and the gospels goal is to make us and re-make us to be like Christ.  Sanctification is the process of God’s grace working in us to bring us to Christ-likeness.

Growing in Christ-likness is described in the Bible as...

• Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)

• Abiding in Christ and bringing forth fruit in Christ (John 15:5)

• Adding to faith, the knowledge of God, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Pet 1:5-7)

• Going on to perfection (Hebrews 7:1)

• Growing up in Christ in all things (Ephesians 4:15)

• Working out our salvation with fear and trembling as God works in us (Philippians 2:12)

• Walking in newness of life (Romans 6:4)

• Giving ourselves to God as someone who is alive from the dead and who is now alive for God (Romans 6:13, 18)

• Serving God and others with joy and a new attitude of love (Romans 7:6)

• Being created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:23-24; Colossians 3:10)

Many more passages could be cited, but you get the idea.

But how does Jesus Christ help us become more and more like him.  We will start answering that question in the next sanctification entry.

Oh, by the way this work of sanctification brings joy to us.  Rejoice in the Lord.