⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 4 min read
Sanctification, How God Shapes Our Daily Life in Christ
Show Summary
Sanctification is the ongoing work of God in the life of every believer. Unlike justification, which is instantaneous and grounded entirely in the finished work of Christ, sanctification is progressive and unfolds over the course of the Christian life. It is the gracious work of God by which He conforms His people more and more into the likeness of His Son.
In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave examines what sanctification is, how it differs from justification, and why it matters deeply for daily Christian living. Sanctification is not an abstract theological concept reserved for scholars it is the lived reality of every believer who has been united to Christ by faith.
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What Is Sanctification?
Sanctification is the gracious and lifelong work of God by which He makes His people holy. It begins at conversion and continues until we see the Lord face to face. While justification declares us righteous before God, sanctification actually transforms us. It is not perfection, but direction a steady pursuit of Christlikeness empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Scripture teaches that sanctification is God’s work in us. As Philippians 2:13 declares, “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” God initiates, sustains, and completes our growth in holiness. Sanctification is not self-improvement; it is divine transformation rooted in union with Christ.
Sanctification and Our Active Obedience
While sanctification is God’s work, it also involves our active participation. Philippians 2:12 calls believers to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” This does not mean we earn salvation through effort. Rather, because we belong to Christ, we actively pursue obedience as a response to grace.
Sanctification, then, is grace-driven effort. We resist sin, pursue holiness, and cultivate godly habits not to gain God’s favor, but because we already have it in Christ. Our obedience flows from a heart transformed by grace and strengthened by the Spirit.
The Role of God’s Word in Sanctification
Sanctification is fueled by the Word of God. Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” Scripture shapes our thinking, renews our minds, and reorders our desires. Growth in holiness cannot be separated from regular, faithful engagement with God’s Word.
As believers immerse themselves in Scripture, the Spirit uses the Word to convict, instruct, correct, and train them in righteousness. A neglected Bible leads to stunted growth, while a Word-saturated life produces discernment, maturity, and obedience.
The Fruit of Sanctification
Sanctification produces visible fruit in the life of the believer. Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are not manufactured by human effort but cultivated by the Spirit as He works within us.
Over time, Christlike character increasingly marks the believer’s life. Sanctification touches every area our desires, habits, speech, relationships, priorities, and even our private thoughts. True holiness flows from a heart changed by the gospel.
Why Sanctification Matters for Daily Living
Sanctification matters because it shapes how we live every day. We are called to pursue holiness through humble obedience, to saturate our hearts in the Word and prayer, to depend upon the Spirit for strength, and to put sin to death daily. Growth in grace replaces self-reliance with dependence on Christ.
Sanctification is evidence of genuine faith and the fruit of the gospel at work in our lives. Every step of progress in holiness is a gift of God’s grace and a testimony to His faithfulness. The God who saved you is the God who is sanctifying you, and He will finish the work He began.
Episode Notes
- God’s Work in Us: Philippians 2:13
- Our Active Obedience: Philippians 2:12
- Sanctification as grace-driven effort
- The Word of God sanctifies: John 17:17
- The Spirit produces fruit: Galatians 5:22–23
- Holiness shaping desires, habits, speech, and priorities
Call to Action
If this episode encouraged your pursuit of holiness, please share it with someone who may need biblical clarity and encouragement. Subscribe to the podcast and explore more faithful teaching at the Contending for the Word Q&A page on Servants of Grace or on our YouTube channel.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
