I was just skimming through this book, Across the Spectrum by Gregory Boyd, and it got me to thinking about the topic of sanctification. The book gives a basic explanation and Biblical defense for some of the major “debates” in the Bible. It talks about topics like eternal salvation, and the incarnation and how we have tried to make sense of it all. Realistically I don’t think we can ever fully comprehend everything about the Bible, but there are certain issues that have very practical application. I wanted to read about the process of sanctification, because I’ve been asking myself “who is it that does the work in the process of sanctifying human beings?” Obviously Jesus is the one who has justified us by his work on the cross, and His Spirit lives inside us helping us to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. And I do believe that at the point of genuine faith in Jesus for salvation, there is a conquering of sin that happens then and there. I think that most people would agree that there is a difference between the act of sin and the inward “sin nature” that all people have. It is this sin nature, inherited from Adam that Christ conquers and overcomes when we are justified. We are no longer “slaves to the sin nature,” and Satan has been overthrown in our lives, but there is still a war going on, and so there is still conflict in our minds to do what is right. And that’s where the process of sanctification, or cleansing from the actions of sin, comes in.
Now back to the original question: “who is it that accomplishes the work of sanctification in a believer’s life?” One of the major opinions is that we must simply have faith in Christ for the sanctification to take place, and there’s nothing more to be done about it. Just as the sinner is helpless to bring salvation to himself, so he is helpless to bring sanctification to himself. Based on this idea, the author writes: “The law, therefore, does not exist as a guide for the promotion of holiness; it simply functions to intensify sinfulness.” This is all based on the passage in Romans where Paul is talking about the law, and how it is through the law that mankind is made aware of sin. I agree with Paul, the law sets a standard so high that no man can ever fulfill it, and so one must turn to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. But is it that really all the law is meant to accomplish? I think it’s far too often that we depend on the grace of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins so much that we don’t hold ourselves accountable to that law. I’m not talking about self-righteousness, like that of the Pharisees, that comes from outwardly following the law. But I’m talking about the renovation of our hearts from the inside out. God has already given us all the grace we need to accomplish this, which is why he commands us to set our hearts on things above and not on earthly things. This is I think the essence of our becoming sanctified before God: when we consciously and deliberately set our hearts not on what the sin nature desires, but what the law demands and what the Spirit lead us to do.
“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.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.” 1 Corinthians 10:6
I do want anyone to think that sanctification is something we do all by ourselves, because it is God who must call our souls to greater intimacy with himself. But we must be the ones who will respond to the call. Righteousness is a gift from God, just as all the spiritual gifts are, but we must accept that gift and develop it within ourselves. God did not call us to be like the Pharisees, who create laws and traditions to measure themselves against and deceive themselves into feeling righteous. But we are called to follow God’s law, and it is against his law alone that we can be judged. I think that too often we are like the Pharisees because we want to change everyone else in the whole world before we want to change ourselves. But if we really want to change this world, then I think it is clear that we must begin with ourselves. I’d like to leave you with a poem: some food for thought…
When I was a young man I wanted
to change the world
I found it was difficult
to change the world
so I tried to change my nation
when I found I couldn’t
change the nation
I began to focus on my town
I couldn’t change the town
and as an older man
I tried to change my family
now as an old man
I realized that I could only
change myself
and suddenly I have realize
that if long ago
I had changed myself
I could have made
an impact on my family
my family and I
could have made an impact
on our town.
Their impact could have
changed the nation
and I could indeed have
changed the world
