For the past few weeks Theology 101 has given attention to various ways by which we might understand the biblical teaching about salvation. Drawing from a variety of common analogies, we have seen the onset of one’s Christian experience in terms of spiritual birth, adoption, redemption, conversion, justification, reconciliation and forgiveness. These truths all primarily address the beginning point of salvation. These are instantaneous actions of God on our behalf as we trust Christ as Savior. However, we are keenly aware that there is more to being a Christian than the starting point, as blessed as that occasion is. This week we move on to think of salvation in terms of its continuation throughout a lifetime. The theological term for the progression of the Christian life is “sanctification.”
Just as the beginning of the Christian life involves the forgiveness of sins, so its progress involves continual or repeated confession and cleansing of our sins. Thus, the reality of forgiveness of sins is a necessary link between the onset of salvation and our progress in salvation. Although from the beginning of a Christian conversion experience we have been delivered from the eternal consequences of sin (that is, sin’s penalty), we need to be repeatedly or continually cleansed and delivered from sin’s power in our lives. This is the point of 1 John 1:9, which says, “If we (Christians all) confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” While our eternal relationship with God has been settled since conversion, our ongoing fellowship with Him requires regular confession of sins.
Sanctification
The goal of sanctification might be viewed as living a life of meaningful fellowship within a secure relationship. In light of this, we could also say that sanctification is the process of our cooperation with God’s ongoing or progressive work in freeing us from the practice of sin, which enables us to become increasingly more like Christ.
We might also think of sanctification as the process of spiritual growth in which accredited righteousness becomes actual righteousness. Said yet another way, we could speak of sanctification as the process by which imputed righteousness that has been credited to us at conversion gradually becomes imparted righteousness that shows up in conduct, outlook, actions and attitudes. Viewed this way, we might say that a close link may be seen between salvation as justification and as sanctification. Many of us are helped by simply thinking of sanctification as growth in likeness to Christ.
‘Starts and fits’
For most of us, the actual growth in likeness to Christ does not happen as a smooth upward progression. Rather, we find that spiritual growth occurs in “starts and fits” in which we deal with struggles, lapses, regressions, omissions, inconsistencies and other assorted failures that are interspersed with seasons of revival, renewal, cleansing and rededication. More about sanctification next time.
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