What you need to know about Sanctification & Glorification

The “shuns” are biblical teachings that end in -tion.  All Christians need to be familiar with core biblical teachings, and the Fun with Shuns study is a fun way to learn biblical truths or reinforce the doctrines you already know.  You’ll be better able to live and share your Christian faith when you fully know what you believe and can clearly articulate it.

It’s important to fully understand what Jesus has done for us and what He has given to us.  We have covered The Gift of SalvaTION: Justification & Imputation.  Those doctrines remind us of what Jesus has already done for us and in us.  The Doctrine of Sanctification reminds us of what Jesus is doing in us now, and the Doctrine of Glorification is what He will complete in us one day.

Fun with Shuns #6 — SanctificaTION

sanc·ti·fi·ca·tion \ noun \ saŋ(k)-tə-fə-kā-shən\

1: an act of sanctifying
2a : the state of being sanctified
b : the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion

 sanc·ti·fy \ transitive verb \ saŋ(k)-tə-fī\

1: to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use: consecrate
2: to free from sin : purify
3a: to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to
b: to give moral or social sanction to
4: to make productive of holiness or piety <observe the day of the sabbath, to sanctify it — Deuteronomy 5:12

The moment Christ justified us, we were sanctified by His imputed righteousness and given a robe of righteousness.  But until we go home to glory, we continue to sin.  At the moment we were justified, we also began the life-long process of growing in holiness and being set apart to be used by God.   This is our journey in sanctification, the path we travel until we arrive at our heavenly destination.

To all whom Christ saves, He gives His Holy Spirit to be their Comforter, Teacher, and Life Guide (John 14:26, 16:13).  The Holy Spirit is the power of God given to believers to work in them, to conform them to the image of Jesus, and to empower them to:

flee from sin and “follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11).
“put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14)
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

Sanctification is about growing.  It’s not about perfection, it’s about progression and direction…. and confidence.

Philippians 1:6  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Paul wrote to the believers in Colossae, reminding them to “be filled with the knowledge of [the Lord’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding…” (Colossians 1:9), and then Paul told the Colossians why this was so important.

Hide God’s Word in Your Heart

Colossians 1:10-12  that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.  

GlorificaTION

glo·ri·fi·ca·tion \ noun \ glȯr-ə-fə-kā-shən\

1: an act of glorifying
2a : the state of being glorified

glo·ri·fy \ transitive verb \ glȯr-ə-fī\

1 a : to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration
b : to elevate to celestial glory
2: to light up brilliantly
3 a : to represent as glorious : extol <a song glorifying romantic love>
b : to cause to be or seem to be better than the actual condition <the new position is just a glorified version of the old stockroom job>
4: to give glory to (as in worship)

We’ve covered the first of  God’s three works of salvation, justification, which includes imputation.  We’ve also addressed God’s work in sanctifying us in our journey of sanctification. The third work of God in salvation is glorification.  Glorification is a transformation that takes place when we depart this earth and enter into Heaven, into the presence of our Lord and Saviour.

2 Corinthians 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Just as imputation is part of our justification, the doctrine of glorification has two aspects. We are transformed in glorification when our souls leave our earthly bodies at death and enter Heaven, and we will be fully glorified one day in the resurrection of the body when Jesus returns for His Bride, the Church. The bodies of those who died in faith will be raised from the graves and exalted in glorification.

Hide God’s Word in Your Heart

1 Corinthians 15:52-54  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

In Summary

Salvation is the most important Christian doctrine, and we must understand all three parts: justification (including imputation), sanctification, and glorification. It’s easy to remember these doctrines by understanding the progression of each in these explanations.

Justification, Sanctification, Glorification

• Justification saves us from the penalty of sin.
• Sanctification separates us from the power of sin.
• Glorification removes us from the presence of sin.

The Three Tenses of Salvation

• Past Tense—Justification: we have been saved from the penalty of sin.
• Present Tense—Sanctification: we are being saved from the power of sin.
• Future Tense—Glorification: we will be saved from the presence of sin.

Past and Present Works of Salvation

• Justification is for us.  Sanctification is in us.
• Justification declares the sinner righteous.  Sanctification makes the sinner righteous.
• Justification removes the guilt and penalty of sin.  Sanctification removes the growth and the power of sin.
• Justification is what Christ did for us by paying the penalty for our sins and imputing His righteousness to us. Sanctification is what His Spirit works in us, and it is also something we can do for Him by living to bring glory and honor to Him through our thoughts, words, and deeds.

Future Work of Salvation

Glorification takes place when we leave our sinful flesh. At death, when our body goes into the grave, our soul and spirit go to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). In the completion of God’s purpose and plan, on the day of Christ, our bodies will be resurrected to glory (Philippians 3:21).

• Glorification removes the presence of sin.

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Articles About Salvation

• How can I convince someone that they have eternal security?
• Does Hebrews 6 Teach Salvation Can Be Lost?
• What is eternal security/assurance of salvation? Can I lose salvation?
• What Happens If I Continue to Sin?
• 1 John 1:9 What is the Christian “Bar of Soap?”
• The Gift of SalvaTION: Justification & Imputation
• What you need to know about Sanctification & Glorification
• What are the Doctrines of Imputed, Infused, and Imparted Righteousness?
•  Did Jesus Really Mean “Be Perfect?” (Matthew 5:48)
• Ways to Glorify God - Bookmark
• How Should I Understand Salvation? In Simple Terms