WLC 75

Q75. What is sanctification?

Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.

Proof texts

• Eph. 1:4 — [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
• 1 Cor. 6:11 — [11] And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
• 2 Thess. 2:13 — [13] But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
• Rom. 6:4-6 — [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. [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. [6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
• Eph. 4:23-24 — [23] and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, [24] and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
• Acts 11:18 — [18] When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
• 1 John 3:9 — [9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
• Jude 1:20 — [20] But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
• Heb. 6:11-12 — [11] And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, [12] so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
• Eph. 3:16-19 — [16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
• Col. 1:10-11 — [10] so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; [11] being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
• Rom. 6:4 — [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
• Rom. 6:14 — [14] For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
• Gal. 5:24 — [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Eph. 1:4 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 14 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q36 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. HC Q86 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q36 · HC Q86 · BC 6.3 · BC 6.4 · BC 6.5