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Consequently, saving faith that unites a person to Christ will always manifest the reality of that union in progressive sanctification. Scripture refers to this as works or fruit. But sanctification has two aspects. There is a positional sanctification which is followed by a progressive sanctification.

Just as there are two aspects to the nature of sin the disposition of the heart and consequential behavior , so there are two parts to sanctification. Sanctification relates first to God as a person positional and secondarily to his will progressive.

It deals with the disposition of the heart being wholly set apart to God and then with behavioral obedience which flows out of the relationship. In other words, for there to be a sanctified life there must first of all be a sanctified heart—a heart set apart and devoted to God. It is what scripture calls a circumcised heart. Martyn Lloyd—Jones distinguishes these two aspects of sanctification:. The main characteristic of people who are sanctified is that God is in the center of their lives.

That is the first thing we may say about them. Before we get them to say what they do or do not do with regard to a particular action, we must be clear about the central, primary, most vital thing…Sanctification is that which separates us from sin unto God…The essence of sanctification is that I love God in whom I believe and who has been revealed to me, with the whole of my being…Sanctification is a matter of being rightly related to God, and becoming entirely devoted to him…not only separated from the world but separated unto God and sharing his life Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Sanctified Through the Truth Westchester: Crossway, , p.

There can be no obedience to the will of God without first being submitted to the person of God. It means a bondslave.

The corresponding or complementary word is the Greek kyrios or Lord. A doulos is one who is in relationship with one who is Lord. This means that unless an individual has entered a relationship with God as Lord and become a doulos he has never been set free from sin. To understand in practical terms the meaning of the word doulos it would be helpful to define it in the context of the Greek culture from which it is derived. The word literally means a slave.

The Dictionary of New Testament Theology gives the following background on the word:. For the Attic Greek , personal freedom was his prized possession. To be independent of others and to manage his own life and to live as he chooses is of the essence of such freedom. The idea of personal autonomy and independence is the antithesis of what it means to be a doulos.

A doulos is one who is owned by another. Therefore a true Christian is one who has renunciated personal autonomy and independence from God. He has submitted his life to Christ as Lord to become the possession of Christ. He then begins to live in subjection to Christ and his will. Progressive sanctification begins with a relationship in being set apart unto God as his servant. From that relationship flows a life of progressive sanctification or obedience. Positional sanctification is foundational to progressive sanctification.

John Murray emphasizes this in these comments:. But it is a fact too frequently overlooked that in the New Testament the most characteristic terms that refer to sanctification are used, not of a process, but of a once—for—all definitive act. We properly think of calling, regeneration, justification, and adoption as acts of God effected once for all, and not requiring or admitting of repetition.

It is of their nature to be definitive. It would be, therefore, a deflection from biblical patterns of language and conception to think of sanctification exclusively in terms of a progressive work. What is this sanctification? No passage in the New Testament is more instructive than Romans — He is using the language of that phenomenon with which we are all familiar, the event of death.

When a person dies he is no longer active in the sphere or realm or relation in reference to which he has died. His connection with that realm has been dissolved; he has no further communications with those who still live in that realm, nor do they have with him. In accord with this analogy, the person who lives in sin, or to sin, lives and acts in the realm of sin—it is the sphere of his life and activity. And the person who died to sin no longer lives in that sphere. There is a once—for—all definitive and irreversible breach with the realm in which sin reigns in and unto death…This means that there is a decisive and definitive breach with the power and service of sin in the case of every one who has come under the control of the provisions of grace John Murray, Collected Writings of John Murray Edinburgh: Banner, , Volume 2, pp.

A life of obedience—progressive sanctification—can only be lived out by a life that is truly consecrated to God. Sanctification is not just a process. It begins with a commitment of life to God. We must differentiate between definitive and progressive sanctification, emphasizing the one as productive of the other, because apart from this initial commitment to God , there will be no progressive sanctification in behavior. We may emphasize the necessity for submission to the will of God in Christian experience but if we do not place equal emphasis on the need for submission of heart to God himself we will only call men to morality and not righteousness.

Morality is ethical behavior without a heart submitted to God. Righteousness, on the other hand, is ethical behavior that flows out of a right relationship with God.

John Owen makes this point when he says:. All obedience unto Christ proceeds from an express subjection of our souls and consciences unto Him…We may learn hence not to satisfy ourselves, or not to rest, in any acts or duties of obedience, in any good works, how good and useful soever in themselves, or howsoever multiplied by us, unless there be a vital principle of holiness in our hearts.

While it is true that positionally a believer is viewed as sanctified before God, this is not the whole story about definitive sanctification.

As Murray points out, this aspect of sanctification involves a very real and decisive break with the rule and realm of sin. It is just as real in the experience of the believer as progressive sanctification. It is not just theological, it is also experiential. A holy life is the evidence of saving faith and justification because it is evidence of union with Christ.

The Reformers have often been falsely accused of teaching that justification by faith means that the works of sanctification are not necessary in the overall work of salvation.

It has been stated by Roman Catholics that Luther and Calvin taught that one could be justified and saved and go on living in sin. William Marshner believes and teaches this as evidenced by the following comments:. The quotations cited above from the Reformers and the Reformed theologians who followed them prove conclusively that they never taught that men who were justified in Christ remained dead in sin and continued living in it.

The Reformers all taught in the strongest possible terms the absolute necessity for sanctification. What they did not do was equate sanctification with justification. It is important to note again that the Reformers affirmed what scripture affirms—an imputed righteousness for justification as well as the righteousness of sanctification received through the grace of God by the indwelling Holy Spirit. John Gerstner offers the following clarification of the Protestant teaching in light of the Roman Catholic misrepresentation:.

Romanists have always tried to hang antinomianism on Protestantism. If this were a true charge it would be a fatal one. If Protestantism thought that a sinner could be saved without becoming godly, it would be an absolute, damning lie. And He saves His people not only from the guilt of sin but from its dominating power as well.

If a believer is not changed, he is not a believer. No one can have Christ as Savior for one moment when He is not Lord as well. Why does Rome continue to make that centuries—long misrepresentation of justification by faith alone?

Because: First, she knows that faith without works is dead. Let me explain, therefore, once again what the Protestant biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone apart from works means. Justification with God is apart from the merit of works. That does not mean that justification is apart from the existence of works. Christianity teaches justification apart from the merit of works.

Easy—believism teaches justification apart from the existence of works. Here, an objection is raised by some from within Protestantism regarding this teaching on sanctification: If sanctification is a necessary part of salvation, is that not the same thing as saying that works are necessary for salvation? But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

Our spirits have been made alive in Christ, but our bodies are still under the old regime. Hence, the war begins — the fight within us between good and evil. The struggle is ongoing, friends, but there is good news in the middle of it. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them by the cross.

In the eyes of God, our sin is defeated and nailed to the cross of His Holy Son. And it is finished, my friend, but here on earth, this reality remains to be fully seen. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. One glorious day, we will fully experience this truth standing before Jesus Christ in our resurrected bodies.

For although I still fail, I know now that I am a sinner that has been saved by grace. I know now that one day, my eyes will clearly see the victory that has been won for me by Christ Jesus.

As His child, I can run to Him for mercy , not away from Him in shame. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Nikki White is a wife of 36 years, mother of two, grammy of one, and an imperfect follower of Jesus Christ. She frequently runs out of Bible highlighters, lip liners, and printer ink in her desire to show the world an authentic believer.

You can read more about her discoveries at her blog: justabrokenbeliever. You can also find Nikki on Instagram and Facebook. By entering your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

That is why we strive to deliver biblically accurate, relatable, story-driven content to our readers each week. Living by Design Ministries is a registered c 3 non-profit organization. The Difference Between Salvation and Sanctification. Article Published on: September 29, Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Pinterest Envelope. Recent Articles. Your Suffering Friend Needs You! Read More on the Living by Design Blog:.