Theological Term of the Week: Progressive Sanctification
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at 3:30AM 
“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:
- Tim Challies: The Essential: Sanctification
- Simply Put: Sanctification
- Got Questions: What is sanctification?
- Nick Batzig: 5 Things You Should Know about Sanctification
- Fred Zaspel: The Doctrine of Sanctification
- J. Ligon Duncan: The Good News of Progressive Sanctification
- John Murray: Definitive and Progressive Sanctification
- Sinclair Ferguson: The Reformed View of Sanctification
Related terms:
1 Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof, page 532.
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