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!

P6 Christian Sanctification's Second Stage: Progressive Sanctification

Introduction:

    In the last post I spent time explaining what theologians refer to as the initial stage of Christian sanctification - "definitive" or what is sometimes called "positional sanctification". Readers may review the last post to get a sense of what I meant in the unpacking of that truth here Growing Christian Resources: P5 Christian Sanctification's First Stage: Definitive / Positional Sanctification. 

    In today's post I want to continue in our series on the Biblical doctrine of sanctification. Admittedly I had meant this to only be a short series, however, in my current preaching series on Sunday evenings, wherein we are working our way through Christian sanctification, I wanted to have a chance to flesh out further observations. With that noted, we move today to the second main phase of Christian sanctification, namely "progressive sanctification". 

Progressive sanctification.  1 Peter 1:5-7, 9-12, 1:14-2:3

    I spent the last post on "positional sanctification" due to what is often it's neglect in conversations about the Christian life. It is this second sense of "progressive sanctification" that is most often discussed and which is the focus of this post. 

    Positional or definitive sanctification is the Holy Spirit’s uniting me to Christ and beginning the cleansing work in my heart at regeneration. Not only does the Holy Spirit unite me to Jesus Christ in that first phase of sanctification, but He also breaks the dominion of sin's power (not presence!) in the moment of regeneration. It is from thereon that sanctification continues. 

    We call this second phase of Christian sanctification “progressive” because it is a continual, ongoing process whereby the Holy Spirit is making me more like Jesus in thought, word, and deed. Furthermore, my participation and cooperation with the Holy Spirit is necessary for progressive sanctification. The “sanctification” part speaks of what we’ve already noted, namely the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God in my life along with my needed compliance to His work. Philippians 2:12-13 “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Let’s note some features of progressive sanctification.

A. Sanctification is a refining work.

      Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:5-7 “who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 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.”  I’ve underlined three verbs in these verses that in the original language speak of an ongoing experience in the Christian’s life. The ESV renders that first verb as “being protected” – an ongoing work of God shielding us in our Christian growth. The second verb refers to rejoicing throughout our Christian walk in a growing and increasing way. We come to see more the need for our Savior and our desire for Him as we live through this life. Then that third verb, “tested”, conveys that tests are never done. The process of sanctification is a refining work of God in our lives. Sanctification as a process is a refining work. Second…..

B. Sanctification is a reaffirming work.

1 Peter 1:9-12 “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.”  

As we grow in progressive sanctification, the Holy Spirit reminds us again and again that we are children of God, destined for glory. 1 John 3:2-3 “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”  As we progress in sanctification, it is refining and reaffirming. Thirdly, 

C. Sanctification is a responsible work.

1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  Then skip down to 1 Peter 1:22-23 “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” 

Peter then issues this exhortation in 1 Peter 2:1-3 “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.”

Progressive sanctification isn’t a “let go and let God” nor is it “do better, try harder”. Instead, it is He working in me and I working with Him. We must not think of it as me giving my 50% and God doing the other 50%. Such a view of sanctification would render me in dire straits if I fail to do my part. Rather, think of sanctification as God upholding us all the way (1 Thessalonians 2:13-14) and us working with Him as evidence of His cleansing work in our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12). 

To illustrate, when I was learning how to drive from my father, he would drive us out from our house to an old back road. We would pull over and then he would let me drive a short distance. I can remember him sometimes having to nudge the steering wheel for me, since the car would tend to drift into the side of the road as I drove. Then, we would pull over again and my dad would turn the car around and we would head home. Now, when we got into the house, my mother would ask: “how did driving go?” My dad would say: “he is getting better and he did good”. By that illustration, it is plain that we’re it not for my dad, there is no way we could had gotten out to that old country road nor gotten back home. Yet, my participation was needed to demonstrate that I had taken in what my dad was teaching me.

Final thoughts:

 That’s progressive sanctification. We’ve noted how it begins with positional or definitive sanctification at saving faith. Keep those two distinctions in mind will help you as you study God’s Word on the Christian life. Next time we will look at the final phase of Christian sanctification, what I'm calling "perfect sanctification". 

P4 God's Plan For Christian Sanctification And Its Main Truths

Introduction:

In our last post here Growing Christian Resources: P3 God’s Plan Before The Christian Life’s Beginning For Sanctification, I spent time reminding us of how the Christian life begins in regeneration, faith, and repentance. By noting that beginning, we observed how from that beginning God bestows the graces of justification, adoption, and union with Jesus Christ. All of these beginning graces set me firmly in my positional and relational standing before God. 

    The beginning graces just described are like a brand-new automobile purchased out of a showroom. The driver has the keys, a full tank of gas, and get this - everything is paid for by the manufacturer! What’s next? The driver needs to drive the car – that’s sanctification! The life of the car began when it was assembled at the plant and set apart in the showroom for the driver, but now that car was not built to be a showpiece. Instead, the car is meant to drive, travel, and do everyday chores. 

    In that last post I briefly touched upon how God had already planned sanctification to be part of the lives of His people whom He chose in Christ from1 Peter 1:1-2. What I want us to do in this post is to get the bigger picture of what Christian sanctification is all about. 

    I had offered the following definition of sanctification in the last post: 

"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."

    The Apostle Peter lays out for us in the first chapter of his first letter an overview of the Biblical doctrine of sanctification from its origins in the mind of God in eternity through the Christian life following saving faith into eternity. 

    One more thing before we move forward: why does sanctification matter? Note what God says in His Word. Jesus prayed for future generations of sanctified believers in John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” 1 Peter 1:15 “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3a “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”  Even the Apostle Peter closes out his second letter with this command in 2 Peter 3:18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 

    Francis Schaeffer’s book, “True Spirituality”, gives this helpful insight for why we need to better grasp Christian sanctification: 

"The important thing after being born spiritually is to live. There is a new birth, and then there is the Christian life to be lived. This is the area of sanctification from the time of the new birth, through this present life until Jesus comes or until we die.” 

    Below is an outline of the main contours of Christian sanctification that I intend to cover in the next few posts. 

1. Positional sanctification. 1 Peter 1:1-4

2. Progressive sanctification. 1 Peter 1:5-7, 9-12, 1:14-2:3

3. Perfect sanctification. 1 Peter 1:8,13

More next time.....

P2 Getting Beyond The Christian Life’s Beginning.

Introduction:

Last time I began a short series that will cover the richness of beginnings of the Christian life here Growing Christian Resources: The Richness Of The Christian Life's Beginning. My goal in this series is to help readers to get a grasp of what not only takes place at salvation, but also what the Christian life actually is. Salvation isn’t only about the beginning (everything I just wrote about in the last post). Salvation is meant to be an ongoing experience of the Christian living and growing in Jesus Christ. The diagram below will illustrate what I am talking about here.

 

Getting beyond the Christian life’s beginning.

In 1971 Francis Schaeffer wrote a classic book on Christian living entitled “True Spirituality”. I was reminded of something he said near the beginning of that work that is relevant to today's post:

“We must also realize that while the new birth is necessary as the beginning, it is only the beginning. We must not think that because we have accepted Christ as Savior and therefore are Christians, this is all there is in the Christian life.”

Shaeffer continues later: 

“In one way, the new birth is the most important thing in our spiritual lives, because we are not Christians until we have come this way. In another way, however, after one has become a Christian, it must be minimized, and that we should not always have our minds only on our new birth. The important thing after being born spiritually is to live. There is a new birth, and then there is the Christian life to be lived. This is the area of sanctification from the time of the new birth, through this present life until Jesus comes or until we die.”

The Apostle Peter is one of my favorite authors in the New Testament. The reason I gravitate toward Peter is because we have the most detailed record of one Christian's life from the time He was born again in faith in Jesus Christ up until the near-end point right before his execution in 66 A.D. Peter wrote his first letter (1 Peter) under the Divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit sometime after 62 A.D. Peter helps us  to grasp this wondrous (and too often) neglected truth of sanctification. 

If we were to boil down the whole book of 1 Peter, it would be 1 Peter 5:12b “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!” That verb translated “stand firm” conveys the idea of having started something and remaining in it to this day. As I said in the last post, 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.  

Another Apostle, Paul, emphasizes this doctrine of sanctification in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-10. Notice how often he mentions the word "sanctification" in the text:

 “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”

As Paul stresses the importance of Christian sanctification, so does the Apostle Peter. In the next post, we will look more at what Peter says as he has us look at sanctification as it was planned by God in eternity.