Sanctification

The Order of Life in Christ
There is a beautiful and intentional order to life in Christ. First comes salvation—the moment you place your trust and hope in Jesus Christ and openly express your faith in Him. In that instant, you are saved. From that moment until the day you are called home, a lifelong journey begins. That journey is called sanctification.

Sanctification is not a single event. It is the process that unfolds between salvation and eternity with God.

What Is Sanctification?
The word sanctification is closely tied to the word saint. To be sanctified means to be made more saint-like—more holy, more set apart, and more like Jesus Christ.

This process looks different for every believer. No two journeys are the same. God has a specific plan, pace, and purpose for you. Because of that, comparison is dangerous. Comparing your walk with Christ to someone else’s can lead to pride, discouragement, or confusion. Trust that God knows exactly what He is doing in your life.

Struggle Does Not Mean You Are Unsaved
One of the most common lies believers face is the idea that struggle equals failure—or worse, that struggle means you were never truly saved.

Sanctification includes struggles, setbacks, moments of weakness, and even seasons of backsliding. The presence of sin in your life does not mean you are not saved. It means you are still living in a physical body that is affected by sin.

Your body still sins—but you are no longer a sinner in your identity before God.

Made in the Image of God
Scripture tells us:

“So God created mankind in His own image,
in the image of God He created them.”
— Genesis 1:27

God is a triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This does not mean three different gods, nor does it mean God shifts between forms. God exists eternally, fully, and simultaneously as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The words Father, Son, and Holy Spirit describe how the one true God relates and functions within Himself—distinct in role and relationship, yet perfectly unified in essence. This is difficult to grasp because we are finite beings. But faith is not about complete understanding—it is about trusting the truth even when it surpasses our comprehension.

Faith is believing without needing to see or fully explain—because God has revealed it as true.

Body, Soul, and Spirit
Being made in God’s image also means we reflect Him in a limited way. We, too, are made of three parts:

• Body – the physical part of us, visible and temporary

• Soul – the seat of emotions, desires, and will

• Spirit (or mind) – the part made new at salvation

The body is easy to recognize. The soul and spirit are where most of our struggles occur.

When you are saved, your spirit is made new—born again, renewed, and made righteous in Christ. This is the part of you that desires God and aligns with His will.

The soul, however, becomes the battlefield.

Scripture speaks to this internal conflict:

“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit,
and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.
They are in conflict with each other.”
— Galatians 5:17

Your spirit desires God’s will. Your body desires sin. Your soul stands between them, influenced by both.

Sanctification as a Process
Sanctification is the gradual process where your spirit gains more influence, and your body loses ground. This does not happen overnight. Growth takes time because:

• We still live in a fallen world

• Evil actively works against us

• We are physically connected to sinful bodies

But as we choose obedience—again and again—we begin to change. Over time, the change accelerates. We become more Christlike, not by our own strength, but by yielding more fully to God’s work in us.

Opposition Is Part of the Journey
The journey of sanctification is not easy because it is opposed. The enemy does not want you saved, growing, or transformed. You will face spiritual resistance.

Jesus was attacked, beaten, and killed. His disciples were persecuted, and most were martyred. Countless believers throughout history have been imprisoned, tortured, and killed for their faith.

If they were attacked, we should not be surprised when we are.

But remember this: Jesus rose from the dead.

That single truth changes everything. Death is temporary. Evil is temporary. Suffering is temporary. We, too, will rise and live eternally with Christ.

Baptism: Help Along the Way
God has given us baptism as a powerful help in the sanctification journey.

There are two baptisms:

1. Baptism in Water
Water baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It represents dying to the old life and being raised into a new life in Him.

It is:

• A public declaration of faith

• A symbol of new birth

• A covenantal sign, much like circumcision was for Israel

Water baptism does not save—but it powerfully proclaims that you belong to Christ.

2. Baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is God filling believers with His Spirit, empowering them, and imparting spiritual gifts.

Scripture says:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.”
— Acts 1:8

This baptism is not a one-time event. Scripture shows believers being filled again and again:

“Be filled with the Spirit.”
— Ephesians 5:18

We do not “run out” of the Holy Spirit. Instead, we become ready for more of Him—more strength, more guidance, more gifts for the work God has prepared for us.

A Prayer for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Just as we ask God for salvation, we can ask Him to fill us with His Spirit:

Father God,
I thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
I ask now that You fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
Empower me, guide me, and equip me with the gifts I need
to walk in obedience and grow in sanctification.
I yield myself fully to You.
Amen.

The Helper Is With Us
Jesus promised He would not leave us alone:

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever.”
— John 14:16

Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. But the Holy Spirit is here—now—with us, within us, walking alongside each believer.

Sanctification is not something you do for God. It is something God does in you—step by step, day by day—until you are finally made complete in Him.