Paul, in his letter to the Church of Rome, gave the lesson of sanctification through the Holy Spirit. Paul speaks of the required obedience of the Christians and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit into each Christian. Taking into consideration the teachings of Paul on the matter of self-sacrifice of not only our spirit but also our bodies as well as the ultimate transformation of ourselves into that of a new person, a Christian. As Paul wrote to the church of Corinth, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature”[1](2 Cor 5:17 KJV) Paul states in Romans 8 that the Spirit brings to fruition the will of God in our lives, and that by walking in the Spirit we are sanctified.
Definition
Vine’s concise dictionary defines sanctification from the Greek word hagiamos, with a couple of different meanings. The two definitions being,” that relationship with God into which men enter by faith in Christ; separation of the believer from evil things, and ways.”[2] These are two separate statements but share the same message. With the technical definition on hand, what is it that scholars define as sanctification? Paul makes the argument that through faith we are saved. That the Christians is no longer under the old law but now under a new covenant with God. This covenant bringing about a different relationship with God than anything man has experienced before. While there is interaction between God and man in the old testament, such as Moses and the burning bush, this is more physically spiritual; the new testament man receives a relationship with God on a ore intimate and personal level, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit into our body.
Through this indwelling, the true believer will receive a gift of comfort from God. Christ even called the Holy spirit the comforter, the very spirit of God indwelt into the hearts and minds of man. Paul informs us in his letter that we are slaves to sin, that only Jesus Christ, the messiah, and through faith and belief in him can we be set free. “Only the salvific acts of God in Jesus Christ, and consummated through the Spirit, can free human beings from their hopeless situation (Rom. 8:23).”[3] Sanctification in it’s truest form is freedom of sin, through the works of Christ and belief in the miracle of the cross, death, and resurrection.
Paul also states the offering of ourselves to Christ. A simple argument for this is, that if Christ sacrificed himself for us on the cross, we also should sacrifice ourselves to Him, and while martyrdom is one from of sacrifice of ourselves, Paul teaches the sacrifice of self through holy living. The giving of ourselves to the work of God, abstaining from sin, and striving for holy living.
I would submit for thought that this is exactly on point. God sacrificed his only begotten son, so that we could have a closer more personal relationship with him. It would make sense to conclude that we in turn would give ourselves for Him. We are no longer under the old covenant law because it is a law of the flesh. If we are saved through faith, we have died to self, to our flesh. The Christian would strive to leave the things of evil in the world, and cling to the love of our heavenly father. Sanctification to me, is in fact, the giving up of our old lives, our old ways in order to seek a more personal and more complete, relationship with God, our creator.
Bases
Sanctification can only occur through belief in the sacrifice of Christ, the divinity of Christ, and the resurrection of Christ. The bases of sanctification is redemption. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross paid for our redemption, he is often referred to as our redeemer. “Redemption is the word used for what is given to enemies in order to ransom captives and restore them to their liberty. Therefore, human beings were held in captivity by their enemies until the coming of the Son of God, who became for us not only the wisdom of God, and righteousness and sanctification, but also redemption.”[4]
Through this a Christian can receive assurance of his or her salvation. When a person becomes saved, or born again, they take a step of faith away from this world, and into the spiritual warfare that wages between good and evil. That Christian must make the choice to resist temptation, and the ways of the world, for this is the life they lead before accepting Christ. Self-sacrifice is self-obedience.
Through this obedience we draw ourselves closer to Christ. When the Christian resists temptation, when the Christin adds prayer to their life, when a Christian places the will of God the father over their own will; through their obedience they draw upon the glory of God, bringing themselves closer to His will, and strengthening their relationship with Him.
Paul speaks of the baptism of the believer in Chapter 6 of Romans and ties it to the death of self, explain that through baptism, we are linked the Christ’s death on the Christ, and through baptism we are also partaking in the death of the old person, and resurrecting from the water as Christ did from the grave as a new person, a Christian. “Reminding the Romans of their baptism into Christ, he explains that they should not persist in sin, since they have died to sin through their baptismal union with Christ.”[5]
This concludes that the bases for sanctification is not only belief in the death burial and resurrection in Jesus as Christ and messiah; but also that the Christian must discipline themselves in their daily lives in such a manner as to reflect the holiness and purity of God. This in itself is accomplished through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Christian can not have both, they cannot live worldly and Godly. “For Paul, the flesh and the spirit share nothing in common. There is no middle ground between walking in the spirit and walking in the flesh.”[6] This also serves as a blessed assurance to a believer of their salvation. Through their walk in life, and by which path they desire most to take, will tell the Christian if they are a true believer.
Means
The means by which we are sanctified is through belief in Christ and in the Grace of God. Paul tells us that we are saved by grace, and that we are no longer under the old law, but under a new law; “but the old was characterized by ‘letter’ (a written code), while the new is characterized by the ‘spirit’ (his indwelling presence). In the old order we were married to the law and controlled by the flesh, and we bore fruit for death, whereas as members of the new order we are married top the risen Christ, and liberated from the law, and bear fruit for God.”[7] While belief and profession are enough for salvation, it is not enough for sanctification.
Sanctification itself is achieved through the lifestyle of the believer. The setting aside of their worldly ways and a turning to Godly ways. We are to love the things that God loves and to hate the things that God hates. Through our choices we take a path of good or of evil, and down the path of good lies a closer walk with God. One means of the Christian walk is repentance, and repentance occurs when we turn away from our sins, are truly apologetic for them, and choose a walk with God.
Through this walk of repentance, we become sanctified, and children of God. Through our sanctified bodies we build a temple for the indwelling of the spirit of God, allowing for further change in our lives. We must die to sin which means an altered way of viewing sin. “
Time Factors
There are two sides to the argument on when sanctification begins. One side arguing for an instantaneous sanctification upon acceptance of Christ and the other side believe sanctification occurs through repentance and an altered lifestyle in which we glorify God through our day to day lives. Not agreeing with the first viewpoint I will focus on the second, sanctification is a lifelong process and one the Holy Spirit of God will lead us through.
The process is manual at first and them becomes automatic as we grow in sanctification. Our fleshly nature is to sin, our fleshly bodies love it, sin is fun after all. We must first manually turn ourselves from sin. Once we are baptized into Christ the process begins. We know our big sins, and we can make a conscience choice to turn from those sins. Rather it is drinking, fornicating, pornography, drugs, anger, or any other sin, we can see these big ones and make an effort to resist, turn from and avoid them. This leaves the smaller unconscious sins.
As our growth continues, we see this sin often times not until after we have done it, but there is an awareness. The comforter, Holy spirit of God gets our attention and points us to our wrong. In this way we have acknowledgement of the sin and can actively begin endeavoring to fix or avoid that sin. This is growth in sanctification, and because we do not come straight from the waters of baptism as perfect saints of God, it is more easily argued that sanctification is a long, lifelong process.
Results/Fruits
With sanctification comes rewards from God, not in the form of gifts and blessings as some think, but much greater. With sanctification comes several rewards such as: security, intimacy, effectiveness, glorification, peace, and good fruits. “Paul now sets the indwelling spirit who is both our liberator now from the ‘law of sin and death’ (8;2) and the guarantee of resurrection and eternal glory in the end (8:11, 17, 23).”[8] This is our security.
One of the most glorious rewards is a greater intimacy with God the Father. Through sanctification and as we grow in sanctification, we develop a closer more intimate relationship with our creator and heavenly father. Christians sometimes complain of not feeling closer to God or as if something is missing in their lives, quite often it can be addressed in with some research into their lives they will see that they are not pursuing sanctification. God seeks a close personal relationship with his creation; but we in turn must pursue Him, this is accomplished through growth in holiness.
As a Christian pursues sanctification, he or she will begin noticing changes, that things are becoming easier. As we walk closer to God, and begin to work more in his will, through the indwelt Holy Spirit’s guidance, thing s that glorify God start to become much easier for us. The dread of volunteering at the church or speaking to someone about their salvation becomes less of a chore and becomes easier for you to do. I submit that even tithing your 10% would become easier to do.
As a Christian when we walk closer to God in our faith, and as our intimacy with God increases, this change begins to be noticed by those around us. The greater a person’s sanctification, the more the glory of God shines through them. With this people become more noticed, and their lifestyle becomes more noticed. And while I am not talking about showboating yourself around, the glory of God and the glory of His kingdom begins to shine forth bringing glory to God himself though you. The Christian becomes the beacon of light in a dark world, shining God’s light in every direction.
Sanctification brings a peace into the Christians life. This again stems back to the growing intimacy with God. As your life becomes more holy, and as your faith grows, and your spirit is filled, a certain peace will fall over you. This peace comes to the Christian in multiple forms, one peace is of security, you no longer fear death, and may even look forward to it. Worries that plague most people such as money and relationships, begin to fade as God takes control of more and more of your life.
And ultimately your sanctification will bring forth Godly fruit. Your works will begin to spread, and others will see. You begin to witness to others, to help the needy, feed the hungry, and the compassion you show in general for your fellow man increases. This alone is proof of your closeness with God, as his unconditional loves is no longer pour into you, but begins spilling out into the world around you wherever you go.
Assurance
Assurance of sanctification involves a look into the fruit that a person bears, as well as a perspective of your own heart and emotions.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that lovers God [9]
We have assurance merely by looking at our lives. Is your life blessed, are you a blessing to other people? There are but a few ways to gain assurance of your sanctification but the few that there are, are powerful.
What was your life like 10 years ago? 5 years ago? What was it like 1 years ago? If you can look back over your life and see and inward change in your nature, you will see your sanctification. A closer walk with God is not chaotic, it is peace, it is security. Growth into sanctification leads a person into the arms of God and a life that glorified God.
Assurance ultimately dies not come from making holy choices. Assurance ultimately comes from the close intimacy that you share with the creator. It comes from knowing God, from trusting him entirely, and never questioning his faithfulness to you. Assurance comes when sanctification becomes the normal in your life.
[1] 2 Cor 5:17 (KJV)
[2] Vine, William E., and James Strong. The New Strong's Concise Concordance and Vine's Concise Dictionary of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1999.
[3] Ayodeji Adewuya, J. “The Holy Spirit and Sanctification in Romans 8.1-17.” Journal of Pentecostal theology. 9, no. 18 (April 1, 2001): 71–84
[4] Kruse, Colin G. 2012. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans. http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=584771&site=ehost-live&scope=site
[5] Matera, Frank J. romans. Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Academic, 2010
[6] Ayodeji Adewuya, J. “The Holy Spirit and Sanctification in Romans 8.1-17.” Journal of Pentecostal theology. 9, no. 18 (April 1, 2001): 71–84
[7] Stott, John R. W. The Message of Romans: God's Good News for the World. Leicester, England;Downers Grove, Ill;: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
[8] Stott, John R. W. The Message of Romans: God's Good News for the World. Leicester, England;Downers Grove, Ill;: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
[9] Rom. Chapter 8: 26-28a (KJV)