You can be born again and never be sanctified however you can’t be sanctified without being born again.
Sanctification is a definite work of grace requiring the cooperation of the will of the born again with the will of God.
Sanctification is not latent in regeneration and justification. It will not flow automatically or naturally from the new birth. The Spirit, Word and will of the regenerate work to accomplish sanctification.
This is a digest of CoG Declaration of Faith, Sanctification.
This digest does not define sanctification except as a work of grace. I assume that it assumes that the reader knows, which should not be assumed. First we should say what the Bible says about sanctification.
Dollas, explain what is sanctification, thanks.
The Bible speaks of sanctification in three ways. First, is positional. That which is set apart by/to God is considered sanctified; so in Gen 2:3 and the other 61 times “sanctified” is mentioned in OT. This was accompanied with a cleansing from defilement when needed.
Second, is provisional. Jesus introduces this aspect of sanctification when He prays for His disciples to be “sanctified” (Jn 17:17). For our sakes He “sanctifieth” Himself so that we may be sanctified (Jn 17:19). This sanctification is in addition to separation and cleaning; for Jesus said His disciples were already separated (Jn 17:16) and clean (Jn 15:3). So, whatever Jesus sanctified Himself to is what He has provided for us. According to Hebrews 13:12,13, His sanctification was His suffering crucifixion so that we too may be sanctified and bear His reproach: crucifixion. Does the Bible speak of believers being crucified? Yes, it calls us to take up the cross (Lk 9:23, etc), crucify the flesh (e.g, Gal 5:24, Col 3:5), and reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God (Rom 6:12). Christ died to sin so that we may reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God (Rom 6:10,11). Such death frees from sin (Rom 6:7), with sin having no reign in our mortal body (Rom 6:12).
Third, is practical or progressive. It is continuing in our separation and freedom from sin (Rom 6:6), with perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord (e.g., 1 Cor 7:1,2). This requires discipline: yielding our bodily members to do what is right and not what is unclean and lawless (Rom 6:12-23).
These aspects of sanctification parallel the holiness of God, who is separate from sinners (Heb 7:6), free from sin (1 Jn 1:5), and perfect in love (Mat 5:43-48). We are to approximate His holiness: “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet 1:15,16).
Thanks for the opportunity.
You may be able to sanctify your self but you can’t keep yourself sanctified it takes the 2nd definite blessing of grace to do that I thank God for this blessing He did something for me I couldn’t do myself
The bible teaches for us to cleanse ourselves, when a person gets under conviction he begins to cleanse himself. Or sanctify himself before he is saved…
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