How does sanctification fit in with righteousness? Those are two churchy words that may be confusing. This devotion looks at the relationship of these two concepts.
Nuggets
- Sanctification is the evidence of justification. It starts with regeneration and holiness.
- Sanctification should be a complete deal – mind, body, and soul.
- When we are sanctified, there is evidence of the Holy Spirit working within our lives.
- Sanctification is the process of building the relationship with God that leads to righteousness.
To read a devotion in the What Is Righteousness? series, click on the button below.
What Is the Relationship Between Righteousness and Sanctification?
We’ve been discussing righteousness. The past couple of devotions have looked at how it intersects with holiness and obedience. This devotion looks at the relationship between righteousness and sanctification.
Let's Put It into Context
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor” (I Thess. 4: 3-4 ESV).
Righteousness is “the actions and positive results of a sound relationship within a local community or between God and a person or His people” (Holman Bible Dictionary). Instead of just “uprightness,” the original definition was based on fulfilling the covenant and building relationships with God and others.
Sanctification is “the process of being made holy resulting in a changed life-style for the believer” (Holman Bible Dictionary). It is how we get to righteousness.
In a previous devotion, we said that we are sanctified through faith. God utilizes this process so that we may be used to expand His kingdom.
What Is Sanctification?
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin” (Rom. 6: 6 NLT)
Barlow defined sanctification as “… the perfection of the Christian life, and is attained, not by some magical feat, but by patient plodding and stern conflicts.” In other words, it is working to become perfect, as God is.
Sanctification is the evidence of justification. It starts with regeneration.
According to Ashley and Watson, sanctification, like righteousness, is the result of holiness. Sanctification begins as the result of being set apart. It is the process of becoming rooted and grounded.
Kirk noted that “sanctification is the restoration of that which was ruined by the apostasy.” Apostasy is when you are not a Christian. In other words, it is fighting what was lost with the original sin.
To read a related devotion, click the appropriate button below.
Sanctification is the evidence of our conversion. It shows that the Holy Spirit is living within us. It is an indication that we have been reconciled with God.
It is God’s Will that we be sanctified. Jesus provided the means for that to be accomplished. It is through the Spirit’s work that it is completed in us.
Characteristics of Sanctification
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess. 5: 23 ESV)
Sanctification should be a complete deal. It should be mind, body, and soul. We are to submit to God’s loving kindness with all of our being.
The characteristics of one who has been sanctified are the following:
- Having asked God for His salvation and having been granted His forgiveness.
- Entirely surrendering ourselves to His Will.
- Dedicating our lives to obedience to God’s laws and commandments.
- Purging sin from our lives.
- Renewing our minds (Rom. 12: 2)
- Being perfected
- Producing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22-23).
Sanctification separates us from our old lives and builds a new life in Christ. This is done by the work of the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
Being sanctified means we don’t have to feel guilty about previous sins. “So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water” (Heb. 10: 22 GNT). God has forgiven us and set us on a new path.
Evidence of Sanctification
“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Rom. 6: 18 NIV)
When we are sanctified, there is evidence of the Holy Spirit working within our lives. It is shown in our desire to do God’s Will.
Those around us can tell we are not following the worldview. Instead, we are obeying God’s laws and commandments. We aren’t just giving lip service. We are following God’s call for our lives.
Making the Connections
Sanctification is the process of building the relationship with God. It begins upon conversion, when we are set apart. It leads to righteousness as righteousness is the positive results of our relationship with God.
We are sanctified because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. “… 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” (I Cor. 6: 11 ESV). He died so that we could be forgiven and made new creatures — those who are holy, sanctified, and righteous.
We are called to be holy. Therefore, we are called to be sanctified and righteous.
How do we know that? We are told to grow in grace and knowledge (II Pet. 3: 18). Sanctification is the vehicle and righteousness is the results of that growth.
But this is more than just a one-day-we-will-be-perfect type of deal. It is a guidepost of how we live our lives now. It is to govern our thoughts and actions now.
Another thing to remember is it is a process. It isn’t a flip-the-switch-and-we-are-someone-totally-different deal. It is a growing process.
Making the Connections to Self-Discipline
Go back to I Thessalonians 4: 4. “that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor” (I Thess. 4: 3-4 ESV).
We need to discipline ourselves. We also need to remember that it isn’t about us. It is about what God does in us. We can’t discipline ourselves without Him. We have to discipline ourselves His way and for His glory.
But that is what sanctification is all about. It is God disciplining us until we are righteous.
How Do We Apply This?
To be sanctified and righteous, we have to know what God’s Word says. Follow this progression.
- “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (Jn. 17: 17 NIV). God wants to be holy, sanctified, and righteous.
- “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (Jn. 14: 6 NIV). We can only be sanctified and righteous by accepting Jesus through faith as our personal Savior.
- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1: 1 NIV). We learn of Him through studying God’s Word.
- “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119: 11 NIV). When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we invite Him into our hearts.
Sanctification depends on us seeking God. As it is a process, we have to seek God to grow in grace and knowledge. Ignorance is the root of impurity.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17)
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3)
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16)
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11)
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2)
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11)
To read Has God Provided Everything We Need?, click the button below.
We have to exercise self-discipline. This means we remain pure and control our evil desires.
Did you catch what is happening at the core of all of this? Our faith is growing. No, we may not see it growing deeper on a day-by-day basis. We will when God pulls out one of those tests He puts us through. Then we can see how our faith has grown.
But we have to remember. Sanctification does not give us license to sin. It calls us to the opposite — a life separated from sin. Sanctification is the process making that so.
It is going to be a struggle. “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions” (Gal. 5: 17 NLT).
It is a progression, but it isn’t going to be uniform. We are going to have fits and starts.
Don’t worry if we are not where we want to be on the sanctification scale. God is working with us. Sanctification is training us to be righteous. This is imperative as we train for our eternal lives.
Don’t worry — but don’t be complacent. We are to continue to grow to be more like God. We need to be where we are supposed to be when this life ends.
If sanctification is the process to righteousness, we will get there. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within [us], will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus return” (Phil. 1: 6 NLT).
What is completion? Doing God’s Will. Being purified. Being reconciled. Going home to be with Him.
Father God. When we accepted Jesus as our Savior and You as our Sovereign God, You made us holy. You are in the process of sanctifying us. You are in the process of making us righteous. Lord, we want to be righteous so that we can live with You for eternity. Help us to become as You are. Amen.
What do you think?
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