Sanctification: Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought
about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit
bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the
new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In
other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work
begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man
(Romans 6:13)
(2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Corinthians 6:19) It is the special office of the
Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work
(1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13) Faith is instrumental in securing
sanctification, inasmuch as it
2. brings the believer into living contact with the truth, whereby
he is led to yield obedience "to the commands, trembling at the
threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life
and that which is to come."
Perfect sanctification is not attainable in this life
(1 Kings 8:46)
(Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8) See Paul's account of himself in
(Romans 7:14-25; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Timothy 1:15) also the confessions of David
(Psalms 19:12,13; 51:1)ff of Moses
(Psalms 90:8) of Job
(Job 42:5,6)
and of Daniel
(Daniel 9:3-20) "The more holy a man is, the more humble,
self-renouncing, self-abhorring, and the more sensitive to every sin
he becomes, and the more closely he clings to Christ. The moral
imperfections which cling to him he feels to be sins, which he laments
and strives to overcome. Believers find that their life is a constant
warfare, and they need to take the kingdom of heaven by storm, and
watch while they pray. They are always subject to the constant
chastisement of their Father's loving hand, which can only be designed
to correct their imperfections and to confirm their graces. And it
has been notoriously the fact that the best Christians have been those
who have been the least prone to claim the attainment of perfection
for themselves.", Hodge's Outlines.
