Sanctification
is not a Work
by Ron Corson
It sounds much like
something you would see on a bumper sticker, "Sanctification is the work
of a lifetime". Often it is spoken with pious impunity as if that is the
last word on the subject and anyone
and everyone should understand the deep theological
impact of such words. But when you start to think about it what do they really
mean? Until the Reformation both Justification and Sanctification were pretty
integrally linked. Yet I have never once heard someone say that Justification
is the work of a lifetime. It seems to be pretty well understood that
Justification is the gift of God by which we repentant believers in God are
forgiven and declared to be "clean" or righteous. "…To be Justified
by God means to be righteous before God (Rom 2:13) and to be regarded as
righteous by him (Rom. 9:19) But this acknowledgment of being righteous in the
presence of God is due not to the fulfillment of religious and moral
commandments (for such an accomplishment is impossible for man) but to the
grace of God alone, who through Christ accepts even a sinner by forgiving him,
thus making him his own. By faith man knows that he is God’s." (An
Encyclopedia of Religion Ed. Vergilius Ferm Philosophical Library New York 1945
page 409)
While dictionary
definitions are useful, it is also useful to see how sanctify is first used in
the Bible:
Sanctify them by
the truth; your word is truth.
As you sent me
into the world, I have sent them into the world.
For them I
sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. John 17:17-19 (NIV)
Now let us see what
the dictionary says:
verb transitive
1 :
to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use :
consecrate
2 :
to free from sin : purify
3 a : to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or
respect to
b :
to give moral or social sanction to
1. : to make
productive of holiness or piety (© 1996 Zane Publishing, Inc. and
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated)
It seems fairly
clear that to sanctify is to set apart for God. As we can see from many Bible
texts including the preceding verse in John 17, God sets us apart for Him. But
as with many areas including theology, tradition has added its own teachings.
We find these when we look in the dictionary under Sanctification:
noun
1 :
an act of sanctifying
2 a : the state of being sanctified
b :
the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after
baptism or conversion (© 1996 Zane Publishing, Inc. and Merriam-Webster,
Incorporated)
Even if we were to
use the last definition listed above it would be misleading to claim that
growing in God’s grace is the work of a lifetime. The big problem comes from
the confusing language which. particularly for those
coming out of a legalistic religion, is found in the phrase. "Sanctification
is the work of a lifetime," it leaves the impression that being set
apart for God is something that a person must do. A work
which is only accomplished after a lifetime of work. Dependence is
shifted from what God does for us to what we do for God. The
powerful legalistic concept that we are to save ourselves. Much like those who like to take the statement in the Bible to,
"work out your salvation with fear and trembling". Ignoring
what the texts actually say in their pursuit of a do it yourself salvation.
Therefore, my
dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much
more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and
trembling,
for it is God who works in you to will and to act
according to his good purpose. Phil 2:12-13. (NIV)
The Christian is
not working to become sanctified, we are already sanctified by God, set apart
for Him to use as He wills according to his purpose. As we are used we become
more familiar with our God, more understanding of His ways and our needs. That
is best not confused with sanctification rather it is best defined as Christian
Growth.
Too many people
have become connoisseurs of theological jargon, able to expound the words yet
at the same time not understanding the meanings. Possibly
implying ideas which they in fact do not mean or intend. Yet those very
ideas may cause others to stumble back into ways of thinking which were best
left behind. The trite phrase that may sound attractive may indeed be less then
useless.
As Martin Luther
once taught, a Christian is one who under the guidance of the Holy Spirit is
continually becoming a Christian. That is most likely what those who say
Sanctification is the work of a lifetime mean, it is
unfortunately the wrong use of the Biblical term known in English as sanctify.