Sanctification – Part IV

How justification & sanctification differ.

“They differ in their nature: justification is a relative change of state; sanctification is a real change of the whole man, soul and body.”

“They differ in their matter: the matter of justification is the righteousness of Christ imputed; the matter of sanctification is an inherent righteousness communicated.”

“They differ in their form: justification is a judicial act, by which the sinner is pronounced righteous; sanctification is a physical or moral act, or rather a series of acts, by which a change is effected in the qualities of the soul.”

The Reformed Faith
An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith -
Robert Shaw

Since the fall of Adam, man in his original state stands guilty and condemned before the bar of God’s justice – - inherently sinful creatures whom God must deny fellowship and even entrance into His holy presence. The remedy is justification.

Sanctification – Part III

Romanists, as we formerly noticed, confound justification with sanctification; and, as this leads to various dangerous mistakes, we shall mention several points in which they differ. 

The Reformed Faith
An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith – Robert Shaw

If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.

The Council of Trent – Session VI – Canon IX

As the post preceding this one indicates, the Roman Catholic conflation of justification and sanctification continues unabated. The RC failure to recognize any distinction between the two results in faith + infused meritorious works = justification. This causes would-be Catholic apologists to charge Protestants with easy-believism for affirming justification by faith alone – sola fide. In fact, when you mix justification and sanctification together, a faith + works system is unavoidable.

The truth of the matter is as I have demonstrated in my first two posts on sanctification. Justification by faith alone, which pertains to our legal standing before God, is not the end of the salvation process. Yes, my RC friends, Protestants certainly do affirm that there is an inner transformation granted to us as well, as a result of our “right legal standing.”  The transforming work of the Holy Spirit in us enables us to cooperate with God and do good works/obedience. This is sanctification.

Protestants distinguish between sanctification and justification, but we do not sever one from the other or confuse them. We recognize that there is a distinction of properties and function to be seen in each, but both are part and parcel of salvation.  Like the old song “Love & Marriage” says, you can’t have one without the other. So the Roman Catholic apologist’s constant lament over sola fide falls flat.

Q77: Wherein do justification and sanctification differ?
A77: Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification,[1] yet they differ, in that God in justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ;[2] in sanctification his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof;[3] in the former, sin is pardoned;[4] in the other, it is subdued:[5] the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation;[6] the other is neither equal in all,[7] nor in this life perfect in any,[8] but growing up to perfection.[9]

Westminster Larger Catechism

1. I Cor. 1:30; 6:11
2. Rom. 4:6, 8
3. Ezek. 36:27
4. Rom. 3:24-25
5. Rom. 6:6, 14
6. Rom. 8:33-34
7. I John 2:12-14; Heb. 5:12-14
8. I John 1:8, 10
9. II Cor. 7:1; Phil 3:12-14

Sanctification – Part II

Since I do not operate under the delusion that I can do any better than the gifted men who have gone before me, I would like to provide bite-size excerps of Robert Shaw’s commentary on the Westminster Confession of Faith along with my own two cents.

“In Scripture, the word sanctification bears a variety of senses. It signifies separation from a common to a sacred use, or dedication to the service of God. Thus the altar, temple, priests, and all the sacred utensils, were sanctified. It also signifies purification from ceremonial defilement.–Heb. ix. 13. But the sanctification of believers, of which this chapter treats, consists in their purification from the pollution of sin, and the renovation of their nature after the image of God. 

Antinomians maintain, that believers are sanctified only by the holiness of Christ being imputed to them, and that there is no inherent holiness infused into them, nor required of them. This is a great and dangerous error; and, in opposition to it, our Confession asserts, that believers are really and personally sanctified. Their sanctification includes “the mortification of sin in their members.” It includes also “the fruits of the Spirit, as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”–Gal. v. 22. These are personal things; they are wrought in the hearts of believers, and produced in their tempers and lives. It is absurd to say they are in Christ, and imputed to believers; they are the effects of the Holy Spirit imparted to us, whose operations are compared, by Christ himself, to “a well of water within us, springing up unto everlasting life.”

The Reformed Faith
An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith – Robert Shaw

In his systematic theology, Wayne Grudem identifies three “stages” of sanctification. In the first stage, called “initial” or “definitive,” believers are set apart or dedicated to God’s service. This stage is the beginning of a “definitive” consecration and inward moral change. This corresponds to the first part of the WCF shorter catechism, answer #35.

Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God . . . (See Eph. 4:24 for example)

The second stage, called “progressive,” is the one most of us readily contemplate when we here the word “sanctification.” This aspect corresponds to the last part of the WCF shorter catchism, answer #35:

. . . and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. (See Romans 8:13 for example)

I think it’s easy to see at this point that Calvinists do not teach “easy believism.” Rather, we believe and teach, as does Scripture, that believers are to put on the “new man” and not live according to the old man/sinful flesh, but according to the Spirit of God who works in us. Therefore, yield your “members” to holiness because God has enabled us to do so.

Php 2:12 . . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The third stage can be called “final” sanctification. This stage points to our “glorification” and our complete conformity to the image of Christ at the resurrection. The Apostle Paul tells us:

Rom 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Rom 6:5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

1Co 15:49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

Sanctification

Recently, a zealous individual accused Calvinists of teaching that one can simply sit back, just believe, “do nothing else” and be saved.  Like so many others, this person fails to make a distinction between justification and sanctification. He mingles these two aspects of salvation together and everything that they entail. For those who unwittingly do this, justification by faith alone is the beginning and end of the salvation process according to Calvinists. Nothing more is required. As long as you have faith you can go out and live like a pagan and still be saved. This is what they think we believe and teach. This couldn’t be further from the truth of the matter. Let’s find out what Calvinist’s really believe.  

This is part 1 of a series on sanctification. First, lets define sanctification.

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q35: What is sanctification?
A35: Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

Westminster Confession
Chapter XIII
Of Sanctification

I. They, who are once effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection,[1] by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them:[2] the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,[3] and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified;[4] and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces,[5] to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.[6]

1. I Thess. 5:23-24; II Thess. 2:13-14; Ezek. 36:22-28; Titus 3:5; Acts 20:32; Phil. 3:10; Rom. 6:5-6
2. John 17:17, 19; Eph. 5:26; Rom. 8:13-14; II Thess. 2:13
3. Rom. 6:6, 14
4. Gal. 5:24; Rom. 8:13
5. Col. 1:10-11; Eph. 3:16-19
6. II Cor. 7:1; Col. 1:28, 4:12; Heb. 12:14

II. This sanctification is throughout, in the whole man;[7] yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still some remnants of corruption in every part;[8] whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.[9]

7. I Thess. 5:12; Rom. 12:1-2
8. I John 1:8-10; Rom. 7:14-25; Phil. 3:12
9. Gal. 5:17

III. In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail;[10] yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome;[11] and so, the saints grow in grace,[12] perfecting holiness in the fear of God.[13]

10. Rom. 7:23
11. Rom. 6:14; I John 5:4; Eph. 4:15-16; see Rom. 8:2
12. II Peter 3:18; II Cor. 3:18
13. II Cor. 7:1