P7 Christian Sanctification's Final Stage: Perfect Sanctification

Introduction:

    In this series of posts I have attempted to introduce the reader to the Biblical doctrine of Christian sanctification. We've noted how it begins, how it progresses, and in today's post how it will end and continue on into eternity. 

      Initial sanctification is what we have noted as "positional" or "definitive" sanctification. The Christian life that proceeds from that beginning point at regeneration/justification by faith is the second stage of sanctification known as "progressive sanctification". We now turn to the third and final phase, or what we're calling "perfect sanctification".     

Perfect sanctification.  1 Peter 1:8,13

    When I say “perfect sanctification”, I mean that final aspect of our sanctification where the presence of sin is no more and we are finally pure. Sanctification’s overall progression throughout the Christian life finds its lion’s share in that progressive phase we just observed. 

    Half of all the New Testament letters spend time giving exhortations on how to grow onward and upward in progressive sanctification. As such, the Christian life doesn’t cease at death. Peter notes in 1 Peter 1:7-8 “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

     The Apostle Peter details the trials and testings of progressive sanctification in 1 Peter 1:7. Why do we undergo such things? For the sake of what we will experience once we’re perfected either at Christ’s coming or when we pass on from this life to the one to come. Peter  about perfect sanctification in 1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

      Elsewhere in the New Testament we read about this perfect sanctification or what is also called “glorification” – the final phase of our salvation’s completion after death or at Christ’s second coming. Romans 8:30 guarantees the Christian’s arrival at sinless perfection at death or at the Lord’s return: “and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  

    Jude describes perfect sanctification or glorification in Jude 1:24-25 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” In heaven right now, the saints of God who have went on before us are “perfected” in Hebrews 12:23 “to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”

      It has been well said by theologians that at regeneration/justification I am set free from sin’s penalty. We saw already how at saving faith, the Spirit of God begins the work of sanctification by it being a definitive work of positioning us in Jesus Christ. So, it is at regeneration/justification I am set free from sin’s penalty. 

    Then, in progressive sanctification I am being set free from sin’s power. It will be at the moment of death or the Lord’s return at the rapture that I am set free from sin’s presence! 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

    It will be then that the perfect soul of every Christian will be reunited with a glorified resurrected body, wherein we could say that at resurrection I am set free from sin’s putrefaction. You know putrefaction? It's what happens to vegetables in so many people’s refrigerators as they lay at the bottom of our produce drawers. Our bodies decay in the grave, awaiting the time when Jesus returns and raises them to reunite with the soul (John 5:24-29).

Closing thoughts:

      Well, there is more I could say (that’s what the preacher says when he has ran out of time!) Let’s review. In our overview of Christian sanctification, we noted first how God ordained the sanctification of those sinners whom He chose in Christ as spelled out by Peter in 1 Peter 1:1-4. 

      The Holy Spirit then calls such sinners to exercise saving faith in Jesus Christ, installing them positionally to begin their Christian life in positional sanctification. What follows is a progressive onward and upward growth in Jesus Christ in progressive sanctification (1 Peter 1:5-2:3). 

      Then finally, the goal is perfect sanctification or glorification, where the Christian has a perfected soul at death or rapture, with the latter being a time when the perfected soul is united with a glorified resurrected body. Remember: Sanctification speaks of the Christian life lived from its beginnings in regeneration until the believer’s homegoing at death or the rapture of the church. May God be glorified!