1. Positional Sanctification
Since Jesus has opened our hearts so we can receive the Word of God and He saved us from
our sins. We are now sanctified through the offering of His body on the cross of Calvary by the
will of God.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of
Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10.)
Because of Christ offering His body for us, we are separated unto Christ, and in God's sight we
are holy, not because we are on our own but because of Jesus' sacrifice which He
accomplished for us.Our standing in Jesus Christ is, I am holy because the Father sees the
Blood of His dear Son all over us.
Jesus Christ accomplished this for us by one and only one offering, His body on the cross,
For by one offering he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
(Hebrews 10:14.)
The positional sanctification cannot be achieved by human strength, good works, going to church
or giving money. It is a divine act of our Sovereign Lord.
2. Experimental Sanctification
Now, the experimental sanctification, this aspect of the Sovereign work of God for the believers
is progressive. It is accomplished by the power of God through the mighty power of the Holy
Spirit and the Word of God.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is Truth.
John 17:17.)
But we all, with one face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the
Spirit of the Lord.
(II Corinthians 3:18.)
Husband, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing
of water by the word.
(Ephesians 5:25-26.)
All this is according to various relationships. God has a part to do with it and He allows us
to have a part to play in this.
a. In relation to the believer's yielding to God by presenting his body a living sacrifice.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect will of God.
(Romans 12:1-2)
b. In relation to sin.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the
lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness
unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but
under grace.
(Romans 6:12-14)
c. In relation to Christian growth.
It is progressive. It is an everyday step by step, development and advancement toward
God. It is God beginning a good work in you and completing it.
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:6)
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
(II Peter 3:18)
3. Ultimate Sanctification.
This will only happen in glory when we enter into God's presence in glory.
That he might present it (the church) to himself a glorious church, not having
spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish.
(Ephesians 5:27)
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the father, through sanctification
of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ; Grace
unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
(I Peter 1:2)
All this Biblical sanctification is really saying is this:
We are being sanctified, and we will be sanctified and perfected in eternity and for
eternity when we enter into the presence of God the Father, God the Son and God
the Holy Spirit. In this world we are being transformed by God through the power of
the Holy Spirit into the very image of His Son, the Lord jesus Christ.
