The Idea of Sanctification

Sanctification isn’t real. It’s some farfetched dream that some Christians believe in to make themselves feel closer to God. Preachers use the idea to make those in their congregation want to strive to be a better person. That’s what I always thought of sanctification. I always felt that there was no such thing, and that people only mentioned it to give themselves the “holier than thou” feeling. If they felt better about themselves then they won’t have to look at the truths in life. Sanctification is said to come out a crisis moment in life. I would have to disagree with that statement. I believe that God can reveal things to you at anytime, not just in a crisis moment. Once you’re saved you begin to change things in your life. Your desires start to become not your desires but God’s. With the continual growth in Christ, then comes the initial sanctification. It can start at any time. God can reveal to you anything he chooses at anytime he chooses. So the saying that sanctification comes to you at a crisis moment in your life, just doesn’t sit too well with me. Entire sanctification is first a completed work, and yet still a progressive work of the Holy Spirit. The completed work would be the initial sanctification; the progressive work is the entire sanctification. After your salvation, you learn and grow, then can become sanctified. After the first or initial sanctification, you can become entirely sanctified. To me this is almost a complete loss of self and a complete want for God. With an almost complete want for God, you begin to live differently. You no longer want the things your heart desires you desire God’s desires. With no longer desiring yourself, it opens up so many other opportunities. You begin to do for others things you wouldn’t normally do. You sacrifice yourself not for glory or attention; you do it for the love of God, and the desire to please Him. Paul writes in his letter to the Corinthians “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let