Christians have long debated the meaning and experience of “sanctification.” Some believe living the holy life entails an arduous life-long struggle. For them, sin so permeates our existence that we are left to struggle to grow out of sinful habits. Their mantra is “try harder.” Others emphasize the indelible sin of the human heart. Their conclusion is that God alone is holy and so, if a sinner is in Christ, then His holiness is sufficient. We are not fundamentally changed, but He covers us with His holiness. We, in The Salvation Army, have a perspective that engages with all of scripture and answers the fundamental question: Is it possible to have a clean heart and to live a life of holiness before heaven? Our answer is a resounding yes!

The repeated call of God in the Old Testament is that the people of God would be holy even as He is holy (Leviticus 11:44). When Jesus prayed for the Father to sanctify the disciples, He had us in mind (John 17:17). The prayers and the challenges of the apostles were expectant that God would make actual holiness in the real world possible (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Peter 1:15, Hebrews 13:12).

Jesus pointed to our hearts’ deepest needs when He called us to deny ourselves both in a moment (Mark 8:34) and continually (Luke 9:23). Paul uses language like “put to death” (Colossians 3:5) or “be completely sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). He and John are quite clear that the fullness of saving grace enables a believer to not commit intentional sin (Romans 6:7, 1 John 3:6). So, there are two critical points for every believer: one is to be freed from sins (justification) and the other is to be cleansed at the source of those sins (sanctification). We who were dead due to sin and made alive in Christ are now called to “die” once more. Death to my agenda makes a radical difference! Receiving the grace which restores and fills us with perfect love is a change no person can produce without the Spirit of God.

Many respond to this glorious inheritance with anxiety, anticipating that they will break the law of God every day. But we must not let our experience override the promise of the gospel, the total work of Christ, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and the desire of our God. What is the difference between being saved and being sanctified?

The best example for me is a wedding. A man and a woman can say they love each other, but their covenant before God places their relationship on a whole new plane of commitment regardless of circumstance. They willfully choose to die to their own way and to love another above their own desires. 

I have often thought that risking one’s life to rescue someone is also similar to sanctifying grace. There must come a point when a person says, “I will give my all for this one. I deny myself, my way, my ambition and put the other before me.”

I believe we see holy love played out every time a mother gives birth to a baby. She skirts death out of love to bring new life and a new level of relationship into being. 

The point of being made holy is realizing that God is not reserved in His self-giving, so likewise we must not be reserved in our response to His sanctifying love. We know it’s possible to give ourselves to another without any desire to hold anything back. That kind of self-offering love alters a relationship forever. It marks everything you say, do and think. 

Being sanctified is fully agreeing with what Jesus wants to do in your life. It is a willingness to give up everything you have ever held dear to Him in total trust. Sanctification makes a huge difference in every aspect of life. We Salvationists view that as a marvelous privilege for every saved person. It is what Jesus desires for everyone who calls upon His name. Have you received His life-altering offer to die to your own way and be filled with His sanctifying love? 

Questions

1. What do you think living the sanctified life would look like? How would a person who has died to his own way and been filled with sanctifying love live?
2. Is there any relationship in your life not characterized by selfless love?

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