Sanctification

Sanctification is not received at the moment of salvation. In the book of Acts, we see that there were brethren that had not even heard that there was a Holy Ghost. Acts 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. Notice that he said “since ye believed.” They were already justified. If salvation and sanctification were received at the same moment, then Paul would not have asked them such a question but would have stated to them to “believe also in the Holy Ghost which is within you since ye believed.” Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Notice it said “after that ye believed.”

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit ~ evidenced by a holy life, NOT by speaking in tongues!

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire…

1 Thessalonians 3:10-13; 4:3 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.

Christ prayed earnestly to the Father for the Holy Spirit to be given to His people, which is synonymous with sanctification.

St. John 17:15-23 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Sanctification is a consecrating to the new life and a dying out to our self-life. Also, an eradication of our sinful nature is brought about by the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

• The World ~ God's people have victory over the sinful things of this world!

I John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

• Sinful Nature ~ God can purify a person's sinful nature!

Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Sanctification differs from Justification:

1. Justification is the absolution of a sinner from the guilt of sin; whereas sanctification is an alteration of qualities from evil to good.

2. Justification consists of remission of sins through the imputation of Christ's righteousness; sanctification is the renovation of nature by the Holy Spirit.

3. Justification is in nature before sanctification, for God only sanctifies those whom are justified.