Introduction:
In recent posts I've devoted time to the doctrine of Christian sanctification. In the last post I provided a summary of three major headings under which the doctrine of sanctification is Biblically understood here Growing Christian Resources: P4 God's Plan For Christian Sanctification And Its Main Truths. In today's post we will begin to unpack the first of those headings, what is known as "positional" or "definitive sanctification". I'll draw most of my observations from the opening verses of 1 Peter 1.
A Look At Positional sanctification.
When we talk about "positional sanctification" or "definitive sanctification", by what do we mean? Theologian John Murray offers the following insight about this first stage of Christian sanctification:
"We are thus compelled to take account of the fact that the language of sanctification is used with reference to some decisive action that occurs at the inception of the Christian life, one that characterizes the people of God in their identity as called effectually by God’s grace."
I bring out this important distinction of "definitive" or "positional sanctification" because it is often overlooked in comparison to the much more familiar understanding of Christian sanctification as a progressive work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life following conversion. This distinction helps the Bible student make sense of passages that speak of sanctification but clearly are not talking of it in its progressive sense (which I'll deal with in the next post), but in terms of how it starts as a definitive work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration/saving faith (see for instance 1 John 3:3,6,9). We could say that definitive or positional sanctification is when the Holy Spirit has us to make a decisive break with the domination of sin (note, not the presence of sin!) that characterizes the unregenerate unbeliever.
The Apostle Peter helps us grasp this important aspect of Christian sanctification in 1 Peter 1:1-4. Note with me the following points.
A. Planned from eternity. 1:1-2
Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:1-4 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
Peter opens up his letter with how his readers’ sanctification was planned by God from all eternity. Paul reminds us that the goal of God’s sovereign choice of sinners in salvation is for them to be set apart positionally to be conformed to Christ’s image. Not only is God wanting to save sinners from something (wrath, separation from God, final judgment) but unto something (relationship with Him through Christ, godly living for His glory, eternity with Him). We especially see this connection between God's plan for our salvation and sanctification in eternity to the start of it in reception of salvation in saving faith in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 "But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth." We also note too Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”
The good works the Christian will perform throughout their Christian walk were ordained by God. Ephesians 2:10 “for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” This ought to comfort the Christian, since there are times our efforts to grow in Christ are met with the still lingering desire to sin. Nonetheless, Paul reminds us in Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will bring it unto completion in Christ Jesus”. Our positional sanctification was planned by God from all eternity. Then it….
The sanctification or "setting apart" of the sinner at salvation, their positional standing as a saint of God gets underway at the moment of regeneration and saving faith. 1 Corinthians 6:11 “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” The use of the term “sanctified” here speaks of the Christian's position as as a saint of God from the moment of the new birth in saving faith. Why does this matter?
“This initial step in sanctification involves a definite break from the ruling power and love of sin so that the believer is no longer ruled or dominated by sin and no longer loves to sin.”
It’s not the presence of sin removed, but the power of sin’s domination that is severed. It is this beginning work of definitive or positional sanctification at regeneration that explains why the Christian feels miserable when they do something they ought not to do. Titus 3:4 “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”
At regeneration, there is a legal change and an experiential change brought about in me. Legally, I’m declared justified by faith by God the Father as He imputes or credits me with Christ’s righteousness, setting me free from sin’s penalty. On the experiential side, the Spirit of God’s work cleanses me by definitive or positional sanctification to set me on my journey of becoming more and more like Jesus in my progress of sanctification. Romans 6:3-4 “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” So, we have positional sanctification that was planned by God in eternity and which begins at regeneration in saving faith.
Those thoughts hopefully clarify in the reader's mind this important first phase of Christian sanctification. Next time we will look at the second aspect or distinction in the Biblical doctrine of Christian sanctification - namely progressive sanctification.
