Sanctification

Is the ongoing supernatural work of God to rescue justified sinners from the disease of sin and to conform them to the image of his Son: holy, Christlike, and empowered to do good works.

This process involves spiritual rebirth and continuous conversion as the Holy Spirit works within believers

. While sanctification is inseparable from justification, it differs in that justification changes one's status before God, while sanctification changes one's being

. The process of sanctification is both objective, as Christ has been made our sanctification (1 Cor 1:30), and subjective, as the Holy Spirit works within believers

. It requires active participation from Christians through obedience, Bible study, prayer, and learning from ministers of the Word

. Ultimately, sanctification aims to conform believers to the image of Christ, though it remains incomplete in this life

Sanctification is the ongoing supernatural work of God to rescue justified sinners from the disease of sin and to conform them to the image of his Son: holy, Christlike, and empowered to do good works.

what Paul says

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 3:18.

In Roman Catholic tradition, so much stress has been placed on the cleansing power of baptism and on the meritorious character of good works that one may rightly question whether the significance of divine grace is not thereby ignored

 Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Sanctification,” in Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1900.

Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,