by Garrett Glende

A few weeks back, we looked at the doctrine of justification and saw that it is the act of God that brings sinners into right legal standing before Him. This week we come to chapter 38 in Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, dealing with the issue of sanctification. The two topics are often confused, leading to serious problems in daily life and application. In order to live a gospel-motivated and cross-centered life, the differences between the two must be clear in our hearts and minds.

To begin, Grudem defines sanctification as “a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.” This definition is purposeful in differentiating sanctification from justification. Instead of a one-time action, sanctification is progressive; it is a process that flows throughout our lives. Not only a work of God, sanctification is synergistic; involving the efforts of both God and man. Rather than being declared righteous, sanctification is the path to becoming Christ-like, though never perfect. Grudem also notes that justification is the same in all Christians, while growth in holiness is experienced to different degrees.

The initiation of our spiritual growth begins immediately at regeneration. We see this displayed in the stark contrast Paul describes between the one who is in slavery to sin and the one who is a slave to righteousness. There is no middle ground between the two. Once someone is regenerated, they immediately lose their status of slaves to sin and begin a new life striving towards holiness. This gradual climb is something that continues until our lives on earth are through. We are constantly being renewed into the image of our Creator as we strive towards the upward call that is in Christ Jesus (Col 3:10, Phil 3:13-14). Speaking to redeemed believers, Paul also says that we “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor. 3:18). This lifelong battle will finally end at death, when we will be given perfect resurrection bodies and sin will no longer remain. There will be no more growth because there will be no more room for it – no more need to fight against sin, as it will be gone forever.

Misunderstanding the way sanctification works can have profound impacts on our daily lives. One instance this can occur in is when sanctification is believed to be fully a work of God or fully a work of man. Both stances are wrong and guide us into improper living. If God is the only one behind spiritual growth, then people are bound to be lazy, just waiting around for growth to occur. However, the reality is that we can’t grow without putting in the effort in disciplines such as Bible study and prayer. On the other hand, if one relies completely on their own works, then legalism is liable to set in. Devotional times become merely intellectual studies and our spiritual lives are full of activity, but there is no true growth. Instead, we must trust first and foremost that God is the only one who can really carry us along towards holiness, while at the same time striving hard after Him. Paul prays for “the God of peace himself [to] sanctify you completely” (1 Thess. 5:23), while also encouraging believers to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). Both are essential parts in the Christian’s sanctification and we must make every effort to understand the proper balance as we continue pursuing holy lives, all because of the gospel.