Hope and HolinessSample

Do You Not Know?— Definitive Sanctification: The Purpose of the Gospel

Key Question: How does knowing you are sanctified enable and empower sexual purity?

Sanctification is often thought of as a process, or ongoing work of God’s free grace, within believers, whereby they are progressively and inwardly renewed and conformed into Christlikeness. This is certainly true. However, the Scriptures use the term “sanctified” more broadly. They distinguish between what theologians call definitive and progressive sanctification. In 1 Corinthians 1:2 and 6:11, Paul uses “sanctified” to speak of definitive sanctification. What, then, is definitive sanctification?

Let’s start with some basics. The term “sanctified,” much like “saint,” means to be set apart, to separate. . . sanctification is first of all God’s act of setting us apart from the world for Himself. . . every Christian is a saint—a separated one—because they have been sanctified—set apart—by God for His use.

Because they are sanctified, Paul calls on the immoral Corinthians (and us!) to be holy. The gospel way of holiness is, “You are holy (i.e., definitive sanctification; set apart from the world by God for God); therefore be holy (i.e., obey what God requires in His moral law)” The power of God is not only at work in Christ for us but is also the power at work within us (Ephesians 3:20), so that, despite our weakness, Christ’s energies are at work in us by His Spirit (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Paul understood that before the Corinthians could pursue holiness and growth in grace, they had to know that God had first set them apart from the world for Himself. The exhortation to “Be who you are” is infinitely different from moral pep talks or exhortations to try harder.

Do you know that you have been sanctified, set apart by God, for God and His holy purposes? Do you, therefore, know that you are a saint and holy by God’s grace?

Prayer: Most gracious God, mercifully give us grace so that we may know we have been set apart by you, for you, for your holy purposes, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.