Sanctification: Holiness vs. Worldliness

How does one become Holy? Is perfection even a potential mark to hit that God demands out of people? How can a person live a Holy life in a fallen, corrupt, and polluted world? These are all questions in which one will find answers to by discovering what sanctification truly means. Sanctification means to be set apart to holiness or to be set apart as sacred (Aaron, 2012; Barry et al., 2016; Grenz, Guretzki, & Nordling, 1999). This short definition begins to shed some light on how one can be holy, and that is to separate oneself from that which is unholy. What determines what is holy and what is evil though? This is the question that will be expounded on the most. Moving forward one will discover the life of a contemporary lifestyle does not produce a life full of fruit and Godliness compared to a life full of Biblical spiritual disciplines. Also, one will discover how a person is declared holy in the eyes of God and how a believer in Christ can still be productive and produce fruit in a fallen and polluted world for God’s Kingdom. 

A quick survey of a normal contemporary lifestyle may not look all that bad on the outside. Perhaps the person is well rounded, loves people generally, pays their bills, is an upright worker, and even participates in events that are morally good (i.e., philanthropy). The problem begins when a person tries to define what is morally acceptable and what is not. Today in our culture there has been a shift in what is good and what is bad. For example, just a few decades ago, homosexuality and transgenderism were looked at in a way in which these practices were morally wrong. Today, it is being celebrated in the streets, and if one has a different view than that of celebration and acceptance, then this person is looked upon as a bigot or one who causes division and hate (Beyerstein, 2010; Shore, 2017). Even a lifestyle that seems to fit the basic contemporary life falls drastically short of what God has commanded humanity to be like (Rom. 3:9-20). A life without God feeds on the root of the single and most devastating sin that branches off into other vices that produce bad fruit (DeYoung, 2009). In a relationship, the sin of pride can result in fruit that causes division in which the result is the relationship being severed, the chief relationship being that with God (Isa. 59:2). Due to this, a person is taken from a lifestyle of pleasing God and holiness to living a life that is pleasing to self which a person’s main motives primarily point to money, career, fame, and the indulgence of self-gratification.

If a person dedicates themselves to a life that is pleasing to the Lord and implements certain practices and disciplines that encourage growth towards holiness; this person will be able to resist the temptations of this world. Prayer, scripture reading, accountability, trials, devotion, love, faithfulness, and a life surrendered to the commands and teachings of Jesus produce a person that is full of good works that help resist the lifestyle of this culture and more importantly the Devil. Joshua said to meditate on God’s Word day and night so that people will do what is written in it and they will have success (Jos. 1:8). David and Jesus, display a life of one who is devoted to prayer and the fruit that it brings in a person’s life (1 Ch. 21:8; 2 Sam. 12:16; Luke 22:44; Heb. 5:7; Matt. 26:36). Accountability, trials, and suffering purifies believers towards holiness and love, devotion, and obedience proves that one is on the road towards perfection (1 John 2:19; Jas 1:3; 2:26; Job 23:10; Pr. 27:17; Rom. 5:3-5). Moreover, participating in a body of believers in which sacraments can be experienced with is a sure way to move in the direction of holiness (Elwell, & Beitzel, 1988). Even though perfection is not attainable in this flesh, Easton (1893) says, “the more holy a man is, the more humble, self-renouncing, self-abhorring, and the more sensitive to every sin he becomes, and the more closely he clings to Christ.” With this kind of mindset, one can easily see that a life devoted to these kinds of things will produce what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

How does a person participate in such things if they are fallen in the flesh and are already separated from God by their sins? Jesus said one must be born again (John 3:3). Due to Jesus’s life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and the sending of the Holy Spirit, one is now able to be positionally holy in the eyes of God and yet day by day be sanctified towards holiness in this flesh (Bird, 2013). Justification is an act of God’s grace that pardons our sins and declares us Holy in God’s eyes due to the imputation of Jesus’s life into our account (Berkhof, 1938; Bird, 2013). Even after justification has taken place though, sin continues to dwell inside the Christian, and this is where sanctification takes over.

Sanctification has three tenses and types described by theologians. (1) Past-tense sanctification which is related to justification by which God sees believers holy already (1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11; Heb. 10:10, 14). (2) A future-tense sanctification, which is a believer’s glorification when one is made entirely perfect in all senses (1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23; Romans 8:30; 9:23) and finally (3) a “present-tense sanctification known as progressive, because our holiness progresses as we grow in Christ and sin less” (2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:16; 7:1’ Aaron, 2012, p. 158; Elwell, & Beitzel, 1988). It is in this middle stage of sanctification known as progressive sanctification in which the Holy Spirit participates in making believers holy. Cojin (2010) says, “the Holy Spirit makes soteria actual in the lives of believers by setting them apart for God and making them holy so that they can share in the glory of Christ” (2 Thess. 2:13; p. 137). Furthermore, believers should be crucified with this world and their desires and be sanctified of the Spirit and by Spirit which will produce the fruit of the Spirit in them (Grudem, 2004). Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all virtues that lead believers more and more to holiness (Berkhof, 1938). It is now the Holy Spirit’s primary job to help a Christian grow, persevere, sacrifice, and become more like Jesus day by day (2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Peter 3:18; Heb. 6:1; Phil 3:14; Rom. 12:1). This is how the Holy Spirit makes believers Holy; He mortifies the old man and begins the renewing of a new man in the Kingdom of God (Berkhof, 1938; Gal. 2:20; 5:24; Rom. 6:6). A holy life on Earth looks much like this:

A holy life is not necessarily a perfect life, but a life that is open to God and transparent to God's goodness. A holy life, then, is a life of witness more than a life of perfection. It is a life that draws a contrast to normal, worldly human life. It is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit and simplicity. In this way, a holy life is living life amid the kingdoms of this world according to the values and priorities of God's kingdom (“Lecture 6,” 2016, para. 4).

A life of sanctification which one becomes a participant in the Kingdom has a twofold outlook – avoiding sin and practicing virtue (DeYoung, 2009; Ryken et al., 2000). When one avoids sin, one casts off evil practices, they put off or put the death their old nature, and they do not conform to a sinful lifestyle any longer (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:22; Col. 3:12, 14; Eph. 4:22; Gal. 5:24; Rom. 13:12; Ryken et al., 2000). When one practices virtue, they put on the good, they build their foundation on Christ, and are renewed in the Spirit day by day (1 Cor. 3:10-15; Col. 3:12, 14; Eph. 4:24; Gal. 5:22-23; Phil. 1:11; Rom. 13:12; Ryken et al., 2000). The imagery is that of a child growing up into adulthood becoming more aware of God’s grace (Eph. 4:13-15). They become people who abound more and more, who increase in love, who become rich in good deeds, and abound in godliness (1 Thess. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:18; 2 Peter 1:8; Phil 1:9; Ryken et al., 2000). These are the characteristics of a believer who is sold out and who is madly in love with Jesus resisting the spirits of this world.

As one can see if a person lives life for the world, inevitably the sin of pride will kick in, and they will live for themselves. If one is born again and submits their lives to God, good fruit will automatically be produced by implementing simple disciplines of the Christian faith. It is only by God alone that a Christian can walk in this world and be an active participant for the Kingdom of God and begin a life of holiness. Therefore, sanctification fits beautifully in the middle of God’s redemptive salvific plan in Christ. As Swindoll (2003) has often said, “Christians have been saved from the penalty of sin (regeneration), they are being saved by the power of sin (sanctification), and one day believers in Christ will be freed from the presence of sin (glorification). In the end, it is God who wins” (p.883).

References

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Berkhof, L. (1938). Systematic theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans publishing co.

Beyerstein, L. (2010). If You Oppose Equal Marriage, You Are a Bigot. Retrieved from https://bigthink.com/focal-point/if-you-oppose-equal-marriage-you-are-a-bigot

Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical theology: A Biblical and systematic introduction. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Colijn, B. B. (2010). Images of salvation in the New Testament. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic.

DeYoung, R. K. (2009). Glittering vices: A new look at the seven deadly sins and their remedies. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press.

Easton, M. G. (1893). In Easton’s Bible dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers.

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Grenz, S., Guretzki, D., & Nordling, C. F. (1999). In Pocket dictionary of theological terms. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: An introduction to Biblical doctrine. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

Lecture 6. (2016). HTH-202: Christian Theology II. Phoenix, AZ: Grand Canyon University.

Ryken, L., Wilhoit, J., Longman, T., Duriez, C., Penney, D., & Reid, D. G. (2000). In Dictionary of Biblical imagery(electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Shore, N. J. (2017). Ask John: Does my Bible belief make me a 'bigot'? Retrieved from https://www.citizen-times.com/story/entertainment/2017/10/17/ask-john-does-my-bible-belief-make-me-bigot/769978001/

Swindoll, C. R., & Zuck, R. B. (2003). Understanding Christian theology (p. 883). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.