Q. 35. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is God’s work of free grace by which our whole person is made new in the
image of God, and we are made more and more able to become dead to sin and alive to
righteousness.
Thoughts: One step at a time, one moment at a time, one bit at a time-- that is sanctification. It contrasts with conversion/justification/adoption which happen once for all time- and happen at once. Sanctification is the Pilgrim's Progress- going through the valleys, over the mountaintop, around the pittfalls of life. It is a journey toward a destination. Often legalists over-emphasize sanctification. I have heard some fundamentalists talk about different stages of the Christian life- squeezing people into a "pipeline" of believer- disciple- disciplemaker- apostle. On the other hand I have heard liberals speak of progressing as if they used to be fundamentalists and then they broadened their viewpoints and were enlightened (almost Buddha-like) into an ever-broadening way of thinking and inclusiveness so that they are able to leave their narrow-mindedness behind them. Scripture is a check on such legalistic views. They push beyond scripture- and downplay that God works with different people in different ways. For the fundamentalist, they add more requirements than scripture makes. For the liberal, the requirements go beyond scripture so that the liberal seems wiser than scripture itself- developing/relying on their own experts and gurus. In either case, human pride enters in. The process of becoming dead to sin is a mystery relying on what God does in each human heart. Part of being dead to sin is to have ears that listen more than a mouth that talks. The listening is not to the latest theory or fad or expert, but to the time-honored and true Word found in scripture. There are Spiritual Directors who claim to have the ability to steer people through their spriitual journey and sanctification. Perhaps this is scriptural (Paul did help Timothy who was told to teach others who would teach others also 2 Tim. 2:2). God puts people, teachers, preachers in our path to help us on our way. We can learn from anyone. But we also need to know that we need to work out our own sanctification with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in us. Each person suffers different- but suffering is surely part of the sanctification process. Each person grows differently, but surely growth encompasses some of the proven means of grace (like scripture, prayer, communion, service, etc.). Teresa of Avila has a wonderful book called "Interior Castle" that speaks of growing in faith as if going through different rooms of a castle. Robert Munger, PCUSA writer, wrote, "My Heart Christ's Home" about giving God the different areas of your life as a part of our spiritual growth or sanctification. Ignatius wrote "Spiritual Exercises" about things we can do to enhance our sanctification. Richard Foster's "Celebration of Discipline" is also a helpful tool. There are many other classic and common books today. But while they may be helpful, none is exhaustive. The scriptures, I believe, are enough- sufficient- to aid us in our walk with God. If we were on a deserted island and we could have only one book- I pray it not be a dictionary or encyclopedia (sorry wiki), but the Holy Bible. Other works seem shallow pale and thin besides the proven depth and helpfulness of the Bible. Why? Not because the Bible is so clear- or so poetic- or so amazing in and of itself. Rather the Spirit promises to speak through scripture as in no other book. That in itself is a mystery- almost like communion. There is no 1-2-3-4 step plan in the Bible. But the steps to our sanctification are found there.
Prayer: Help me to walk day by day with you, O Lord. Give me grace to walk each step, each moment with you- working out my salvation by your Spirit.
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