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SANCTIFICATION

In justification, a sinner's legal state is changed. Before justification, he was guilty and worthy of eternal condemnation; after justification, he is free from guilt and is an heir of eternal life. However, while he is declared free from the guilt of sin, he is not made free from the power of it. Justification changes the sinner's state, but not his condition. It delivers from the guilt of sin, but not from the pollution of sin. Justification pardons, but it does not cleanse the sinner -it does not make him holy. God's continual work of making the believer holy in daily living is termed' 'sanctification." Sanctification is the divine process by which the moral condition of a child of God is continually being conformed to his legal status before God.


The Shorter Catechism defines sanctification in the following manner:


    "Sanctification is the work of God's 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 to live unto righteousness."

Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it;

That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

That He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

- Ephesians 5:25b-27

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- I Thessalonians 5:23

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

- Acts 26:18

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

- Ephesians 4:24


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