What the Bible says about Santification

Sanctification is a fundamental of Christianity, it is the process by which believers are set apart and made holy through the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, conforming to the image of Christ. Here are some verses from the Bible that teach about sanctification.

1. John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
   • Here, Jesus prays for His disciples, asking God to sanctify them, highlighting the role of God’s truth in the process of sanctification.
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.”
   • This verse explicitly states that sanctification involves a moral purity, which includes abstaining from sexual immorality.
3. 1 Corinthians 6:11 – “And that is what some of you were. 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.”
   • This verse demonstrates the transformation that occurs through sanctification, linking it with justification and cleansing.
4. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”
   • This passage connects sanctification with salvation, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit and belief in the truth.
5. Hebrews 12:14 – “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
   • Indicates that sanctification, denoted here as holiness, is essential for seeing the Lord, underscoring its importance in the believer’s life.
6. Ephesians 5:26 – “To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.”
   • Describes how Christ sanctifies the church, using the metaphor of cleansing with water, which represents the word of God.
7. Romans 6:22 – “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
   • Talks about sanctification as a process that leads to holiness and is part of the journey towards eternal life.
8. 1 Peter 1:2 – “Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance.”
   • Emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s role in sanctification, which leads to obedience and is associated with the sacrificial blood of Jesus.
9. Leviticus 20:7-8 – “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord who makes you holy.”
   • An Old Testament perspective showing that sanctification is both a command and an act of God.
10. 2 Corinthians 7:1 – “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
    • Advises believers to actively pursue holiness, highlighting a reverence for God as the motivator.
11. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
    • A prayer for complete sanctification, encompassing the entire being of a person.
12. Ezekiel 36:27 – “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
    • God promises the indwelling of His Spirit to enable His people to live in obedience, a key aspect of sanctification.
13. Philippians 2:12-13 – “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
    • Shows the cooperative aspect of sanctification between God’s work and human responsibility.
14. Romans 15:16 – “To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
    • Highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctifying the believers, making them an acceptable offering to God.
15. Acts 20:32 – “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
    • Demonstrates the building up and inheritance received by those who are sanctified, stressing the community aspect among believers.

These verses together show that sanctification is an necessary and ongoing process for believers, that includes the truth of God’s Word, the work of the Holy Spirit, and a life lived in obedience and reverence to God.