Q35. What is sanctification?
Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
2 Thessalonians 2:13
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.”
Ephesians 4:23–24
“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Romans 6:4, 6
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. … Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Commentary — Thomas Vincent (1674)
Question 1. Wherein doth sanctification differ from justification and adoption?
Answer. Sanctification doth differ from justification and adoption, in that, 1. Justification and adoption are acts of God without us; sanctification is a work of God within us.
2. Justification and adoption do make only a relative change. Sanctification doth make us a real change.