Chapter 10: Spirit of Holiness: The Holy Spirit in Sanctification                          Index

Sanctification is the process of being made holy, or being set apart for God’s use alone. To sanctify is to declare that a thing or person belongs to God and may not be used for any ordinary secular or unholy purpose. God told the Jews to “remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8). They were to keep it as a day which belonged to God and on which they would do no work. God told them to “Consecrate Aaron and his sons” (Ex. 29:9) to be priests. As priests they served God in the Sanctuary and were exempt from ordinary activities. The “holy of holies” was a place so thoroughly separated unto God that even the priests might not enter; only the High Priest could enter once a year, and then only under the strictest guidelines (Lev. 16). Israel was God’s own special people, distinct from all the nations of the earth: “You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation” (Ex. 19:6).  When Peter said to believers: “...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts” (I Pet. 3:15), he meant that we are to give God the absolute first place in our hearts. 

A second equally important aspect of sanctification is that the holy objects or persons were to be kept clean. So holiness involved the concept of ceremonial purification by blood (Lev. 8:15) and literal cleansing by water (8:21).  The blood of lambs, bulls and goats, of course, represented the blood of the spotless Lamb of God (I Pet. 1:19). The washing with water stands for our inward cleansing by the Holy Spirit. 

Thus, when the New Testament speaks of the sanctification of believers, the two aspects of holiness are in view: Christians are set apart from the world and unto Christ; and they are cleansed from their sins. Christians are regularly called “saints,” or “holy ones.”  That means that Christians are God’s own people, set apart for His use.  Biblical writers appeal to ‘the saints’ to maintain purity inasmuch as they are holy, consecrated, separated unto God: 

Eph. 5:3: “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people (‘saints’).” Notice Paul’s appeal: you are God’s holy people; therefore, you should avoid all impurity.  

The whole purpose of redemption is for God to have a holy people: “he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph. 1:4). Therefore God wants us to be morally pure.

I Thess. 4:2-5: “For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God...” 

Paul is referring here to sex specifically. And though sexual sins are very common, they are by no means the only enemies of holiness.  

Throughout this study we will be focusing on the ethical or moral aspect of sanctification, but always we should remember that the reason God demands moral purity is because we belong to Him, as His special people. Having called us out of the world unto Himself, and having cleansed our hearts through faith, God continues the purifying process through inward work of the Holy Spirit. 

Tit. 2:11-14: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good [KJV zealous for good works].” 

Christ’s redemptive work has in view the possession of a holy people: 

Eph. 5:25-27: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy [‘sanctify her’, that is set her apart unto Himself], cleansing [Or having cleansed] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” 

One of the ways God brings about our sanctification is through trials in the form of hardships. How we respond to those trials determines our progress in holiness. 

Heb. 12:7-15: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees! 13 ‘Make level paths for your feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses [literally, comes short of] the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”  

This passage equates the hardships God allows in (or ordains for) our lives with the discipline of a loving Father. The Fatherly discipline is designed to enable us to share in His holiness. The writer strongly suggests that, unless there is a steady growth in holiness, there can be no hope of seeing God. And notice the part that we ourselves play in our cleansing and sanctification: “Pursue peace with all men and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14 NAS). And if it is impossible, as some say, to fall from grace, I hardly see why the inspired writer warns against it. 

Four Aspects of Salvation:

There are four important aspects of our salvation:  1) First is Conversion, in which we are convicted of sins and repent and believe the Gospel (Acts 3:19; Mk. 1:15). 2) Second in order of time is Regeneration, in which a new life-principle is planted in our spirits, which causes us to hate sin and love righteousness; we are born from above by the Holy Spirit and our hearts are cleansed (I Peter 1:22-23; John 3:3-8). 3) Third, and simultaneous with the new birth, is Justification, in which our sins are forgiven and we are counted righteous by God because of the perfect sacrifice of Christ (Rom. 5:1-4; Eph. 1:7). 4) Last of all Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit by which we are changed into the likeness of Christ. The work of Sanctification begins with the new life, the new, holy disposition, received at Regeneration. Beginning at Regeneration, at which we become God’s own people and have a heart change that causes us to hate sin and love righteousness, Sanctification continues until the redemption of the body.  

We have seen that God Himself and Christ have undertaken to purify us and lead us to greater holiness. “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.” “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy.” And indeed we could no more make ourselves holy without the inward work of the Holy Spirit than we could fly without wings. And yet God will not do it without our effort. God saved us and cleansed our hearts through faith, but the entire effort was not without our earnest desire and effort. The Holy Spirit initiates our redemption, and He works in us to the end; but we must cooperate with God in this holy walk. Thus our salvation has two sides: the Divine and the Human. 

The Divine Side of Sanctification: 

Let us look first at the Holy Spirit’s part in the process of Sanctification. 

I Pet. 1:1-2: “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” 

II Thess. 2:13-14:  “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

God Himself reached out and brought us in; He chose us for Himself. We have a place in Christ through the Blood of Jesus; but the ongoing sanctification by the Holy Spirit is an essential part of our final salvation. 

Our Part in Sanctification: 

This God has done for us and continues to do in us. But in a sense we cleanse ourselves by repenting and forsaking all uncleanness and sin. 

II Tim. 2:20: “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.  21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” 

II Cor. 7:1: “ Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 

Employing the metaphor of clothing Paul exhorts us to put off our old lives with their corruption. He further stresses the Divine side of the inward transformation that is Sanctification. This signifies our earnest striving to be holy and morally pure, and at the same time looking to God for the power to do it. 

Eph. 4:22: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self [the old man; the old, fallen humanity], which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self [the new humanity in Christ], created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  

Col. 3:8-10:  “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self  [old humanity] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self  [new humanity in Christ], which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." 

Over and over we see the human and the heavenly sides of salvation: 

Rom. 12:1-2: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual [Or reasonable] act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” 

Once again we see the two aspects of sanctification—the holy object is separated unto God, and because it belongs exclusively to God, it is cleaned and kept clean. We can’t transform ourselves, but we can consecrate ourselves. As we cooperate with God’s Spirit, He changes us into Christ’s image. 

II Cor. 3:17-18: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 

The divine and human sides of sanctification is splendidly set forth in the following scripture: 

Phil. 2:12-13: “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, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” 

This is a remarkable scripture, one of my favorites.  We are to continue to work out “our own” salvation “with fear and trembling.” This suggests that the outcome is by no means sure. We labor earnestly to perfect our holiness, all the while secure in the fact that “it is God who works in you,” not just the will but also the power to act according to His Good Purpose. Praise Him! What a glorious, liberating thought that is! We are by no means excused from working as though the outcome depended on us: indeed it does. But we are encouraged to believe that our best (though always inadequate) efforts are accepted and made effectual by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The most common name of God’s Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, is HOLY SPIRIT.  The holiness of God is present in His very name and nature.

I wish I had a simple checklist of practical rituals we could perform to help the Holy Spirit in His work in us. I don’t.  But the first step is to acknowledge the presence and work of the Holy Spirit, and to apply to God for His assistance as we try to purify ourselves, put off the old man, and as we strive mightily against sin.

Note the following scripture: 

Rom. 6:11-13:  “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who  have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” 

We are dead to sin. That is, we died with Christ, and as far as our past sins are concerned we have been declared legally dead. Our sins have been forgiven and will be forgiven whenever we confess and forsake them (I John 1:7-9). Now we are indebted to fight against the flesh and grow in holiness. That ongoing growth in righteousness and holiness is expressed by such commands as:  “Do not let sin reign,” “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin,” and “Offer the parts...as instruments of righteousness.”  Our part is to strive hard to perfect holiness, yet in the confidence that “it is God who works in” us both the desire and the power to do it. 

Rom. 8:12-14: “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation — but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, Rom. 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

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