The New Testament word for sanc­tification is “hagiasmos,” and it denotes ethical purification, while in­cluding the idea of separation: “the separation of the spirit from all that is impure and polluting, and a renuncia­tion of the sins towards which the de­sires of the flesh and of the mind lead us.” (Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 528) “The word, as used in Scripture, very probably came from a root which meant to be cut off, or to be separated.” (Herman Bavinck Our Reasonable Faith, 469). Sanctification is the lifelong work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of believers by which they are made holy, delivered from the filthiness and power of sin, and enabled to live in obedience to the Word of God.

In distinction from justification, sanctification is a work of Christ in us (justification is Christ’s work for us), a lifelong work (justification is once only), a work in which we become active (in justification we are passive), and a work that removes the pollution of our sin (justification removes the guilt and pen­alty of sin). Being justified is like an im­migrant becoming a legal citizen of his new country. Having become a citizen, however, he begins to learn the language, wear the clothing, eat the food, and adopt the customs of his new land in order to live like a citizen of that coun­try. Sanctification is similar; it is God’s people learning to live the life of heaven, which is Christ-likeness. Sanctification, therefore, can be defined as “that process by which the believer is gradually trans­formed in heart, mind, will, and conduct and conformed more and more to the will of God and to the image of Christ, until at death the disembodied spirit is made perfect in holiness.” (John Murray, Collected Writings Vol. 2, 277)

Although Scripture does mention that all three persons of the Godhead are active in sanctification, this pro­cess is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit and it begins with regeneration and grows from that point. Even after the sinner is born anew, the work of the Spirit of God continues in the progress­ing and growing sanctification of the soul. From the new birth there shall be a new fruit-producing life, or as the Hei­delberg Catechism reads, “it is impos­sible that those who are implanted into Christ by true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness” (Q64). Christ is emphatic in demonstrating the fruit-bearing aspect of the believer;

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. There­fore by their fruits you will know them.Matthew 7:16-20

And likewise He says, Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.John 15:2

This change comes from a true change of the heart (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The sanctification of every believer depends solely upon the gracious opera­tion of the Holy Spirit. Though believ­ers become active in doing good works, and they must (Titus 3:8, 14), never­theless sanctification is always a work of God’s grace. When we are sancti­fied, our salvation is not turned over to us so that we alone become responsible for it. In sanctification we do not sud­denly begin to “cooperate” with God so that our salvation is no longer wholly of grace. (Sanctification is monergistic, not synergistic). Though we do good works in sanctification, there is still no merit in these works (Ephesian 2:8-10), “...even though it is God’s will to reward them in this life and in that which is to come­ the reward comes not of merit, but of grace” (HC Q63).

Simply stated, man cannot sanctify himself, “for all holiness and sanctifi­cation proceeds from God.” (Herman Bavinck Our Reasonable Faith, 469). Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” This opera­tion of the Holy Spirit is accomplished by His will operating within us, “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

This walking in the Spirit produces a constant conflict with remaining, in­dwelling sin, and seeks to put to death the remnant of remaining sin still in the soul. Paul says in Galatians 5:17,

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

The be­liever is constantly battling “to put off the old man” while at the same time striving “to put on the new man in Christ.” The apostle Paul told the believers at Ephe­sus to “...put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-14).

And this is a continuous spiritual battle for the redeemed in this earthly pilgrimage. They truly hate their sin, but, inconsistent with the new principle of grace in their soul, they continue to sin and greatly grieve their conscience (Romans 7). “Yet with earnest purpose they begin to live not only according to some, but according to all the Commandments of God” (HC Q114). And this “earnest purpose” and beginning obedience “to all the commandments of God” and every motivation to good works in the believ­er’s life is done by the Spirit’s power in moving the believer’s soul to think and live aright.

Romans 8:14 states, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

In the process of sanctification, the Holy Spirit imparts a reverence and godly fear for the LORD in the heart of every true believer. The believer no lon­ger views God as the angry Judge, but is now enabled by the Holy Spirit to see Him as a loving heavenly Father. Paul explains, “because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Galatians 4:6) This Spirit of adoption implies a hearty sense of gratitude and a principle of supreme love to God, such as a child has towards a forgiving and affectionate father. The Apostle John wrote, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 5:18).

This spirit of love also implies a warm brotherly love toward all those who are members of God’s family. This is a new affection that arises from the new rela­tionship we have in Christ, which unites believers with other members of Christ’s organic, spiritual body (1 Corinthians 12), and now causes us to “...walk in love, as Christ also has loved us” (Ephesians 5:2). And this is a result of “the love of God that has been poured out within our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5). True faith, which is implanted in the soul by the Holy Spirit at regeneration, now motivates believers to so trust God as their Father,

That we may be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and for what is future, have good confidence in our faithful God and Father, that no creature shall separate us from His love.HC Q28

The remedy for fear in tri­als that surround believers in this life is to simply return to the childlike faith that one had at conversion — the simple trust that believes “all things work to­gether for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Sanctification is beyond our natural power to accomplish on our own, as Paul said to the Galatians, “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). Sanctification demands the exercise and operation of the Spirit within us if we will be comforted by His grace. God Himself is the Author of all comfort and He communicates this comfort to every believer through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13, Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The early Christians were blessed by this hope and comfort that comes from God, “and walking in the fear of the LORD and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied” (Acts 9:31). Such comfort of the Spirit comes by believing the truth of Scripture; through the sanc­tifying work of the Holy Spirit, believers are enabled to understand the impor­tance of the Word of God in their lives. Through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit teaches believers the comfort of “...knowing that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other cre­ated thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our LORD” (Romans 8:38-39). It’s the Holy Spirit who works grace into the believer’s heart and comforts him to be assured of the reality of his salva­tion. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16). And “by this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit” (1 John 4:13). Let every believer understand that sanctification is not op­tional or unimportant in the Christian life. Rather, sanctification is the blessed work of the Holy Spirit who guarantees that the redeemed of Christ will be those who “Sing to the LORD, bless His name, and proclaim the good news of His sal­vation from day to day” (Psalm 96:2).

Pray for the sanctifying work of the Spirit of God in the life of God’s people in order that the church would “...con­tinually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).

May the name of the LORD ever be praised!