Sep 24
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Baptist Catechism 38
Question: What is sanctification?
Answer: 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 Reading: Proverbs 3:1–12
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” (Proverbs 3:1–12, ESV)
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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.
Introduction
The question that is before us today is, what is sanctification?
Sanctification is the third of the three fountainhead blessings that our catechism identifies as belonging to those who have faith in Christ. I call them “fountainhead blessings” because there are other blessings — indeed many other blessings! — but these either accompany or flow from the three that are mentioned: justification, adoption, and now sanctification. To be justified is to be pardoned, that is, declared not guilty and made righteous in God’s sight. To be adopted is to be received into God’s family as beloved children. It is not difficult to see that there are many other blessings that are attached to or flow from these benefits. But as I have said, sanctification is the third of the three fountainhead blessings.
What is sanctification? The answer provided by our catechism is very good. It is carefully worded, brief, and a true summary of the teaching of Holy Scripture.
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Baptist Catechism 38
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.
Notice a few things about sanctification.
Firstly, sanctification is said to be the work of God’s free grace. Who is the one who sanctifies? God sanctifies his people. And why does he sanctify? Our catechism is right to say that it is by his free grace. Like with justification and adoption, sanctification is a gift that God freely gives. It is not based upon anything deserving (meritorious) within us.
But perhaps you noticed something a little different about sanctification. Whereas justification and adoption are said to be acts of God’s free grace, sanctification is a called a work of God’s free grace. This is an important observation. Justification and adoption are acts of God because God alone justifies and adopts his people, and he does these things in an instant. There is nothing ongoing or progressive about the act of justification or the act of adoption. But sanctification is a called work of God. I think we are to take this to mean that it is a work in progress and a work that God does in us, as we will soon see.
Secondly, our catechism describes what God does in those who have faith in Christ when he sanctifies them. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God.
This little phrase, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, is loaded with meaning. It should remind us of what Baptist Catechism 13 taught us about the original creation of man. How did God create man? Answer: God created man, male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures. This phrase should also remind us of what Baptist Catechism 21 taught us about man’s fall into sin and its effects. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell? Answer: The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. So, man’s nature was upright, perfect, and pure when God first made him, but when Adam fell into sin, human nature was corrupted. We should also remember Baptist Catechism 34. There we learned about effectual calling. What is effectual calling? Answer: Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel. When God effectually calls sinners, he gives them new life (see John 3). He enlightens the mind and renews the will. Stated differently, when God effectually calls a sinner, he gives them new birth to make them willing and able to believe. Without this regeneration or new birth, no one can turn from their sin and to Christ, for we are by nature, blind, deaf, and dead, spiritually because of sin (see Colossians 2:13). All of this is true. But it would be a mistake to think that God’s work of renewal is completed in an instant. No. Although effectual calling and regeneration are completed in an instant, God’s work of renewal is progressive and ongoing. It lasts a lifetime. This is what we call sanctification.
All of this can be compared to physical birth and growth. Effectual calling and regeneration can be compared to conception. At conception, a new human life is brought into existence in an instant. But there is a great deal of growth to take place after conception, and this may be compared to the spiritual process of sanctification. Sanctification is a process of spiritual growth and renewal. It lasts a lifetime.
Thirdly, our catechism describes what those who are sanctified are enabled to do. 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. So you can see that sanctification is not only an act that God does to us but a work that God does in us. Stated differently, unlike with justification and adoption, we do have a role to play in our sanctification. In sanctification, God, by his grace, enables us more and more to die to sin and to live to righteousness. Who, I ask you, is to die to sin and live to righteousness? We are. This is a work that we must do. But it is a work that God, by his grace, enables us to do.
This is precisely what the Scriptures teach. Listen to Philippians 2:12-13. Here Paul exhorts Christians, saying, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12–13, ESV). Who obeys? Who is to work out their salvation with fear and trembling? Who is to will and work for God’s good pleasure? We are. But all of this is made possible by God’s work in us.
From time to time in this study through our catechism I have made mention of our confession of faith, the Second London Confession. Our catechism summarizes our confession, remember? Reading our confession alongside our catechism can be a very helpful exercise. In fact, I would recommend that you read Second London Confession chapters 10-13 alongside Baptist Catechism questions 34-38. Here in these sections, both documents deal with effectual calling, justification, adoption, and sanctification. I appreciate what our confession of faith says about sanctification. I’d like to read it to you now.
Chapter 13 of our confession is entitled Of Sanctification.
Paragraph 1 says, They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Paragraph 2 says, This sanctification is throughout, in the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
Paragraph 3 says, In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ, as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed to them.
This is a wonderful description of sanctification. If you have been effectually called by God’s Word and Spirit to faith in Christ, you are justified and adopted. This is finished. Your justification and adoption cannot be increased or diminished. And if you are a justified and adopted child of God, God the Father is sanctifying you now, by his grace. You are being renewed in the whole man after the image of God. God is doing this work in you. By his Word and Spirit, he is enabling you to put to death the deeds of the flesh and to live a holy life before him. I do appreciate that our confession describes this as a war. Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. Sometimes the battle is really hard. But we believe the promise of God’s Word, “that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, ESV). Thanks be to God, he will finish the work he started in us, by his grace.
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Conclusion
What is sanctification? Here is a fine answer: 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.
