Term
| what is the definition of sanctification? |
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Definition
“The gracious operation of the Holy Spirit, involving our
responsible participation, by which he delivers us from the
pollution of sin, renews our entire nature according to the
image of God, and enables us to live lives that are pleasing
to him.” (Hoekema, 192) |
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Term
| Sanctification: Biblical Concept |
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Definition
• Sanctification: Latin, sanctus (holy) & facere (to make)
• OT: qādosh – to separate from other things
– Earlier OT books, priests set apart, people set apart by
ceremonial practices
– Later OT books, more ethical/moral terms: doing
righteousness, speaking truth, acting justly, loving mercy,
walking humbly with God (Ps 15:1-2; Mic. 6:8)
• This establishes a two-fold usage:
– to show that something is set-apart
– to show something is pure |
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Term
| Sanctification: Biblical Concept |
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Definition
• NT: hagios – holy
– Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her
so that He might sanctify her. (Eph 5:25-26)
• Two-fold sense of holiness in the NT:
– separation from sinful practices
– consecration to God’s service
• Just like OT: Not simply the avoidance of sin, it is
includes moral purity |
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Term
| Sanctification: Union with Christ |
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Definition
• Dying: “We were buried therefore with him by
baptism into death… our old self was crucified with
him.” (Rom 6:4,6)
• Rising: “We were buried therefore with him by
baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we
too might walk in newness of life. For if we have
been united with him in a death like his, we shall
certainly be united with him in a resurrection like
his.” (Rom 6:4-5) |
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Term
| Sanctification: Union with Christ |
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Definition
• “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set
your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated
at the right hand of God.” (Col. 3:1)
• “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who
became to us wisdom from God, that is, our
righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
(1Cor 1:30)
• “As long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are
separated from him, all that he has suffered and one for the
salvation of the human race remains useless and of no value
for us.” (Calvin, Inst. III.i.1) |
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Term
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Definition
1. We continue to grasp our union with Christ, at the
heart of our sanctification. (Gal 2:20)
2. We come to know that in Christ sin no longer has
mastery over us. (Rom 6:6)
3. We participate in life of the Holy Spirit who enables
us to overcome sin and live for God. (Rom 8:13) |
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Term
Sanctification: Positional &
Progressive |
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Definition
• Indicatives & Imperatives
• We “died to sin” (Rom 6:2) – indicative
• We should “present ourselves as those who have been
brought from death to life” (Rom 6:13) – imperative
• Same Pattern
• “those sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be holy” (1 Cor
1:2)
• “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the
Spirit of our God.” (1Co 6:11) |
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Term
| Sanctification: Positional |
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Definition
• When did this happen?
• Objectively believers died when Christ died on the cross
and were raised when Christ was raised from the grave.
• Subjectively believers experience this oneness with Christ
in time by the Spirit. |
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Term
| Sanctification: Progressive |
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Definition
• All have sinned and (continue) to fall short of the
glory of God. (Rom 3:23)
• We all stumble in many ways. (James 3:2)
• If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and
the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
• Sum: Because sin continues to be present in those
who are in Christ, the sanctification of believers is a
continuing process. |
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Term
Sanctification:
Mortification/Vivification |
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Definition
• Progressive sanctification involves mortification (dying
to sin) and vivification (being made alive to
righteousness) “both of which happen to us by
participation in Christ.” (Calvin, Inst. III.iii.2)
• Negatively: For if you live according to the flesh you
will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death [lit.,
keep on putting to death] the deeds of the body, you
will live. (Rom 8:13)
• Negatively: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in
you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire,
and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Col 3:5) |
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Term
Sanctification:
Mortification/Vivification |
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Definition
• Positively: You have put off the old self with its
practices and have put on the new self, which is
being renewed in knowledge after the image of its
creator. (Col 3:9-10)
• SUM: Sanctification is best understood as both a
definitive/positional sense and progressive sense. |
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Term
| Sanctification: Old Self & New Self |
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Definition
• The expressions of old self are found in Rom 6:6, Col
3:9, Eph 4:22 – sometimes as “old nature” (literal old
anthropos = man/person). The term new self is found
in Col 3:10 and Eph 4:24 – sometimes “new nature”
(literally new anthropos = man/person). |
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Term
| Sanctification: Old Self & New Self |
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Definition
• One view:
– Old self = aspect/part of us before conversion
– New self = aspect/part of us after conversion
• Alternate view:
– Old self = whole person dominated/enslaved by sin
– New self = whole person dominated/freed by Spirit
• Sum: The 1st view tends to locate this in aspects/parts
the 2nd in the whole person under two masters |
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Term
| Sanctification: Perfection? |
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Definition
• Yes: Wesleyan (Methodist, Church of God, Christian
Missionary Alliance, Nazarene – even the Salvation
Army)
• Language of Wesley:
– “By perfection… I don’t contend for the term sinless,
though I do not object against it.” (Works of John Wesley,
Brief Thoughts on Christian Perfectionism, 11:446)
– “Sinless perfection is a phrase I never use, lest I should
seem to contradict myself.” (Works, A Plain Account of
Christian Perfectionism, 11:396) |
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Term
| Sanctification: Perfection? |
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Definition
• Yes: Wesleyan (Methodist, Church of God, Christian
Missionary Alliance, Nazarene – even the Salvation
Army)
• Language of Wesley:
– “By perfection… I don’t contend for the term sinless,
though I do not object against it.” (Works of John Wesley,
Brief Thoughts on Christian Perfectionism, 11:446)
– “Sinless perfection is a phrase I never use, lest I should
seem to contradict myself.” (Works, A Plain Account of
Christian Perfectionism, 11:396) |
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Term
| Sanctification: Perfection? |
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Definition
• Language of perfection:
– “The phrase ‘perfect love’… is misleading to many people
who suppose that we mean that our expressions of love
to God and others is absolutely flawless. We only mean,
however, that such love is not mixed with carnal
emotions.” (Grider)
– “perfect love” (Works, A Plain Account, 11:442)
– “A Christian is so far perfect, as not to commit sin.”
(Works, A Plain Account, 11:376)
– “the circumcision of the heart” is “being so ‘renewed in
the image of our mind,’ as to be ‘perfect as our Father in
heaven is perfect.’” (Works, A Plain Account, 11:367) |
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Term
| Sanctification: Perfection? |
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Definition
• Perfection qualified:
– “ignorance, or mistakes, in things not essential to
salvation,… manifold temptations, or… numberless
infirmities.” (Works, A Plain Account, 11:383) |
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Term
| Sanctification: Perfection? |
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Definition
• Entire Sanctification:
– “A personal, definitive work of God’s sanctifying grace by
which the war within oneself might cease and the heart be
fully released from rebellion into wholehearted love for
God and others.” (Dieter, Five Views, “The Wesleyan
Perspective” 17.)
– Distinct from justification; a person might not be entirely
sanctified until many years after being justified.
– Received by faith.
– Instantaneous moment when there is a removing of the
sinful nature.
– Is with a view to sin defined as a “voluntary transgression
of a known law.” (Works, A Plain Account, 11:396) |
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Term
| Sanctification: Perfection? |
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Definition
• Entire Sanctification – Biblical Examples:
– Wesley: “Go on unto perfection…” (Heb 6:1); “Let those
of us who are perfect think this way…” (Phil 3:15)
– Wiley: Noah, Job, Zacharias and Elisabeth, persons who
Paul references in 1 Cor 2:6; Phil 3:15
– Passages in 1 John which state the regenerate do not sin: 1
John 3:9; 5:18
– The teaching of 1 Thess 5:23.
– Passages where believers are commanded to be perfect. |
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Term
| Sanctification: Perfection? |
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Definition
• Some Critique:
– Weakened of the definition of sin/law (Ps 19:12; 1 Cor.
4:4; James 2:10)
– Diluted notion of perfection (teleios means
mature/complete & perfect doesn’t have degrees)
– Claim of removal of “carnal nature” (Gal 5:16-17 struggle
with flesh; Col 3:5 earthly nature)
– Second work of grace? (NT just/sanct together 1 Cor 1:30)
• Biblical Texts
– That claim no one is free from sin (Rom 3:23; James 3:2)
– That require believers to confess sin and pray for
forgiveness (Matt 6:12; 1 John 1:9)
– That depict struggle between the old / new (Rom 6; Col 3) |
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Term
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Definition
• Still under the law – Theonomist
• Under part(?) of the law – Reformed (moral or 3rd
use)
• Not under the law – Antinomian |
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Term
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Definition
• In one sense the believer is free from the law:
– For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not
under law but under grace. (Rom 6:14)
• In another sense the believer is not free from the
law.
• Three uses (Reformed View):
– Curb – the law is a curb against us sinning because it says:
“no” to sin and lays out the penalty (1 Tim 1:8-10).
– Mirror – the law is a mirror that shows us our own sin
because we do not uphold the law (Rom 7:7).
– Guide – the law is a guide that shows us God’s righteous
ways and informs/regulates our life (1 John 2:3-4; 5:2-3). |
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Term
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Definition
• “The third and principle use [of the law], which
pertains more closely to the proper purpose of the
law, finds its place among believers in whose hearts
the Spirit of God already lives and reigns… Here is
the best instrument for them to learn more
thoroughly each day the nature of the Lord’s will to
which they aspire… Again, because we need not
only teaching but also exhortation, the servant of
God will also avail himself of this benefit of the law.”
(Calvin, Inst. II.vii.12) |
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Term
| Sanctification: Already / Not Yet |
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Definition
• Indicatives & Imperatives
• ALREADY: We “died to sin” (Rom 6:2) – indicative
• NOT YET: We should “present ourselves as those who
have been brought from death to life” (Rom 6:13) –
imperative
• Not lists, but looking to Christ
• Cure for being passive or triumphalistic |
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Term
| Now on to perseverance.... |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
• Start: Baptism removes original sin and past sins.
• Process: Non-willful sins (venial) can be forgiven
through confession or purgatory.
• Process: Willful sins (mortal) can are liable to eternal
punishment unless one performs penance.
• Theologically: Justification = Sanctification
• Result: Perseverance is not inevitable. [b/c of man] It
is impossible without special grace.
• Assurance: Uncertain. |
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Term
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Definition
• Start: One trusts Christ by their own willing,
restored by the Spirit in prevenient grace.
• Process: The believer by their own willing and the
Spirit should grow in holiness (second work of
grace).
• Process: Since salvation came by creaturely willing, it
can be lost through creaturely willing. (conditional)
• Theologically: Justification (necessary) / Sanctification
(not strictly necessary)
• Result: Perseverance is not inevitable. [b/c of man]
• Assurance: Possible if one remains in God’s grace. |
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Term
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Definition
• Start: One trusts Christ by God’s act (call,
regeneration) which is seen as a gift.
• Process: God is the primary agent of growth, but
believers do cooperate with God.
• Process: Since salvation came by God’s act, it cannot
be lost by our act. (unconditional)
• Theologically: Justification (necessary) / Sanctification
(necessary)
• Result: Final perseverance is inevitable; periods of
failure are admitted. [b/c of God]
• Assurance: Given to all believers by God’s grace. |
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Term
| Perseverance: Ways to read texts |
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Definition
• Loss of salvation (Arminian) – the finality of one’s
perseverance and thus ultimate preservation in salvation
resolves upon man’s efforts (connected & synergistic)
• Eternal security (moderate Reformed) – the finality of
faithfulness in persevering resolves on man’s efforts,
whereas the finality of one’s ultimate preservation in
salvation resolves on God (disconnected and
synergistic/monergistic)
• Perseverance of the saints (Reformed) – the finality of
one’s faithfulness in persevering and thus preservation in
ultimate salvation resolves upon God’s efforts
(connected & monergistic) |
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Term
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Definition
• Son: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have
you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed
for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have
turned again, strengthen your brothers." (Luk 22:31-32)
• Son: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does
not come into judgment, but has passed from death to
life. (Joh 5:24) |
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Term
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Definition
• Father/Son: And this is the will of him who sent me, that
I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise
them up at the last day. (Joh 6:39)
• Son: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never
perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (Joh
10:27-28) |
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Term
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Definition
• Father/Son: For those whom he foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in
order that he might be the firstborn among many
brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called,
and those whom he called he also justified, and those
whom he justified he also glorified. (Rom 8:29-30)
• Father/Son: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor
angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of
God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39) |
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Term
| Perseverance: Spirit’s Work |
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Definition
• We are:
– Indwelt by the Spirit (Rom 8:9, 11, 15)
– Led by the Spirit (Rom 8:13)
– Controlled by the Spirit rather than the flesh (Rom 8:14)
– Sealed by the Spirit (Eph 1:13; 4:30)
– Interceded for by the Spirit (Rom 8:26-27)
– And the Spirit himself is the deposit (arrabōn: 2 Cor 1:22;
5:5; Eph 1:14). He is s a pledge that is the guarantee that
the amount will be paid in full |
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Term
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Definition
• Does a strong view of perseverance and
preservation make one morally lazy?
• What about exhortations to continue?
• What about actual cases of apostasy?
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been
enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have
shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of
the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and
then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance,
since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their
own harm and holding him up to contempt. (Heb 6:4-6) |
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Term
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Definition
• Owen’s answer:
– No mention is made of their faith
– Despite all that is said about them, they are not said to be
regenerated, sanctified, or sons of God
– They are compared in v. 8 to land that produces thorns
and thistles, and therefore ready to be burned
– They seem distinguished from true believers by the
following remarks:
• The author says to those he addresses: “We are confident of
better things in your case – things that accompany salvation” (v. 9)
• He ascribes to his readers “a love you have shown him [God] as
you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (v. 10)
• He assures his readers of their preservation in the faith on
account of the justice of God (v. 10) and the unchangeable nature
of God’s promise (v. 17-18). |
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Term
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Definition
• Owen’s answer:
– Once enlightened
– Tasted the heavenly gift
– Have shared the Holy Spirit
– Have tasted the goodness of the word of God… and the
powers of the age to come
• Ways to Read Hebrews:
– Hypothetical Warning / Rhetorical Strategy
– Proof that one is not a believer
– Loss of salvation
– Loss of rewards |
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Term
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Definition
• Believers may backslide/fail (Christian life not a
perfect line)
• Some apostatize b/c they were not converted
• Perseverance in the faith is the Biblical pattern
(expectation & norm) |
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Term
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Definition
• Q1: What is your only comfort in life and death?
• A: That I am not my own, but belong with body and
soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour
Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His
precious blood, and has set me free from all the
power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a
way that without the will of my heavenly Father not
a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must
work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His
Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and
makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to
live for Him. |
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