The Established Path of Discipleship

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. (1 Cor. 1:30-31)

This is part 3 of a 4-part series. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Sermons on sanctification often give lists. Here are five things you need to do to live a sanctified life. You, the eager Christian, endeavor to perform all five tasks. You may do well in the first week. Then, you can only accomplish two in the second week. And those two were half-hearted efforts at best. You feel like a failure. You promise God you will do better next week. The same thing happens the following week. Take heart, my eager brothers and sisters; there is a better way.

The problem with lists like that is that they are often the list maker’s personal preferences and not necessarily biblical. I will discuss another problem with sanctification steps in a moment. First, let’s define our terms.

Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q. 35)

Sanctification is chiefly a work of God that involves the Holy Spirit, enabling the Christian to pursue an ever-increasing holiness of life.

A list of sanctification steps or methods often begins in the wrong place. We must start with Christ. Because of our union with Christ, he is our sanctification. He is the one who sanctified us through the offering of his body on the cross (Heb. 10:10). This one-time offering of the spotless, sinless Son of God washed away the defiling filthiness of our sin and set us apart for a life of holiness. When we begin our struggle to “live unto righteousness” with ourselves, it will lead to pride or despair.

2 Corinthians 3:18 makes it clear that sanctification continues throughout our earthly lives. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, who is Spirit.” The reason for our transformation in life is that Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, is doing the work of transforming. This does not mean we are doing nothing. We are putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit (Rom. 8:13). We must not, however, overemphasize our effort. Without the Holy Spirit Jesus sent us, sanctification would not happen.

If Christ is the beginning and the continuation of our sanctification, he must undoubtedly be the end. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). Christ will finish the work of sanctification. Be encouraged. Once Christ begins the work of sanctification in your life, it is a point of no return. This sanctification will continue until you reach the goal of complete Christlikeness.

What should you do if you are a new convert to Christ and are beginning your life of holiness in him? Look to Christ! What should you do if you are in the middle of your life of holiness in him? Look to Christ! What should you do if you are near the end of your life of holiness in him? Look to Christ! Christ is the beginning, the middle, and the end of our sanctification.