Theological Term of the Week: Progressive Sanctification

progressive sanctification
“That gracious and continuous operation of the Holy Spirit, by which He delivers the justified sinner from the pollution of sin, renews his whole nature in the image of God and enables him to perform good works”;1 often simply called sanctification.

• Scripture used to support the idea of prevenient grace:

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 (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV).

• From The London Baptist Confession, 1689: 

Chapter 13: Of Sanctification

1. They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. (Acts 20:32; Romans 6:5, 6; John 17:17; Ephesians 3:16-19; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23; Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:24; Colossians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14)



2. This sanctification is throughout the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 7:18, 23; Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11)

3. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed them. (Romans 7:23; Romans 6:14; Ephesians 4:15, 16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1)

• From Systematic Theology by Robert Letham, page 607: 

Sanctification in its most commonly recognized aspect is understood in ethical terms. The letters of Paul are replete with instructions on how we are to live. That we can obey God is due to the Spirit’s work within us, transforming us into his image (Ephesians 4:24; Col. 3:10). The dynamic of union with Christ is expressed in the life experience of believers. Christ has risen, never again to die. So we, in union with him are no longer subject to the domain of sin and death, and so grow “more and more” (WCF, 13.1) in conformity to Christ by the Spirit through the means God has provided: the ministry of the Word, the Sacraments, and prayer (WSC, 88),

Learn more:

1. Tim Challies: The Essential: Sanctification
2. Simply Put: Sanctification
3. Got Questions: What is sanctification?
4. Nick Batzig: 5 Things You Should Know about Sanctification
5. Fred Zaspel: The Doctrine of Sanctification
6. J. Ligon Duncan: The Good News of Progressive Sanctification
7. John Murray: Definitive and Progressive Sanctification
8. Sinclair Ferguson: The Reformed View of Sanctification

Related terms:

• adoption
• conversion
• glorification
• justification
• mortification
• regeneration
• repentance

Filed under Salvation

1 Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof, page 532.

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Theological Term: Prevenient Grace

prevenient grace
The grace of God that, according to synergistic (or Arminian or Wesleyan) teaching, counteracts the spiritual death that resulted from the fall, sufficiently restoring lost human freedom so that a person is able to choose to cooperate or not cooperate with saving grace; also called preventing grace.

• Scripture used to support the idea of prevenient grace:

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world (John 1:9 ESV).

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself (John 12:32 ESV).

• From On Working Out Our Own Salvation by John Wesley: 

For allowing that all the souls of men are dead in sin by nature, this excuses none, seeing there is no man that is in a state of mere nature; there is no man, unless he has quenched the Spirit, that is wholly void of the grace of God. No man living is entirely destitute of what is vulgarly called natural conscience. But this is not natural: It is more properly termed preventing grace. Every man has a greater or less measure of this, which waiteth not for the call of man. Every one has, sooner or later, good desires; although the generality of men stifle them before they can strike deep root, or produce any considerable fruit. Everyone has some measure of that light, some faint glimmering ray, which, sooner or later, more or less, enlightens every man that cometh into the world. And every one, unless he be one of the small number whose conscience is seared as with a hot iron, feels more or less uneasy when he acts contrary to the light of his own conscience. So that no man sins because he has not grace, but because he does not use the grace which he hath.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: What is prevenient grace?
2. R. C. Sproul: Prevenient Grace
3. Sam Storms: The Arminian Doctrine of Prevenient Grace
4. Tom Schreiner: Does Scripture Teach Prevenient Grace in the Wesleyan Sense?

Related terms:

• Arminianism
• effectual call
• irresistible grace
• synergism

Filed under Salvation

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Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.

Theological Term of the Week: Perseverance of the Saints

perseverance of the saints
“[T]hat continuous operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer, by which the work of divine grace that is begun in the heart, is continued and brought to completion”;1 the teaching that “all whom the Father had chosen to salvation in Christ will certainly be brought to saving faith, be maintained in faith by the Holy Spirit until the very end of their days, and so inherit eternal life.”2 

• From Scripture:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV) 

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:37-40 ESV)

• From The Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 79: 

Question: May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?

Answer: True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God,[1] and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance,[2] their inseparable union with Christ,[3] his continual intercession for them,[4] and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them,[5] can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace,[6] but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.[7]

1. Jer. 31:3
2. II Tim. 2:19-21; II Sam. 23:5
3. I Cor. 1:8-9
4. Heb. 7:25; Luke 22:32
5. I John 2:27; 3:9
6. Jer. 32:40; John 10:28
7. I Peter 1:5

•  From Living for God’s Glory by Joel Beeke, pages 116-17 :

This doctrine does not mean that believers are immune to sin or that they can never fail to exercise saving faith. Though their faith won’t die, there are times when, sadly, it will not be active. Apart from continuous influx of Christ into their souls, believers cannot continue or flourish. God alone gives the increase for He never forsakes the work of His hands. When we speak of the perseverance of the saints, we do mean that having brought the elect into vital union with Himself, Jesus Christ continually supplies them with His grace. He is the life of their life and the strength of their strength. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit, having selected the hearts of the elect as his dwelling place, never leaves them; He promotes their sanctification until He has made their souls ripe for entrance into heaven. The faithful, covenant-keeping God keeps alive in the hearts of His elect the spark of holy love, which He Himself has kindled, despite their waywardness, slothfulness, and disobedience…. God, and God alone, sees to it that his children never tear themselves loose from His grip and fall prey to Satan (John 10:27-30). 

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Perseverance of the Saints — Is it biblical?
2. Simply Put: Perseverance
3. R. C. Sproul: Perseverance of the Saints
4. Danny Myers: What Is the Perseverance of the Saints?
5. Keith Kauffman: Perseverance of the Saints and Shepherding
6. Luke Stamps: Preservation and Perseverance
7. Jim Eliff: The Preservation and the Perseverence of the Saints
8. Brian Schwertly: Perseverance of the Saints
9. Curt Daniels: Perseverance of the Saints, Part 1, Part 2

Related terms:

• assurance
• election
• irresistible grace
• union with Christ

1Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof, page 546.

2Systematic Theology by Robert Letham, page 743.

 Filed under Salvation

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.