Topical Bible: Faith: Through It Is: Sanctification

◄ Faith: Through It Is: Sanctification ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Nature of Faith

Faith, in the Christian context, is the confident trust and belief in God and His promises as revealed in Scripture. It is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is foundational to the Christian life, serving as the means by which believers are justified and enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Sanctification Through Faith

Sanctification is the process by which believers are set apart for God's purposes and progressively transformed into the likeness of Christ. This transformation is both a definitive act and a progressive journey. Faith plays a crucial role in sanctification, as it is through faith that believers receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers and guides them in this process.

Biblical Basis for Sanctification Through Faith

1. Initial Sanctification: At the moment of salvation, believers are sanctified positionally through faith in Jesus Christ. This is a definitive act where they are declared holy and set apart for God. As Paul writes, "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11).

2. Progressive Sanctification: Sanctification is also an ongoing process that requires continual faith and obedience. Believers are called to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12), relying on God's power to grow in holiness. This process involves the renewal of the mind and the transformation of character, as described in Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

3. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the agent of sanctification, working in believers to produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Through faith, believers are filled with the Spirit, who enables them to overcome sin and live a life pleasing to God. Ephesians 3:16-17 highlights this empowerment: "I pray that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."

4. Faith and Obedience: Faith is not passive but is demonstrated through obedience to God's commands. James 2:17 states, "So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead." True faith results in a life of obedience, as believers seek to align their actions with God's will.

5. The Goal of Sanctification: The ultimate goal of sanctification is to conform believers to the image of Christ, as stated in Romans 8:29: "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son." Through faith, believers are assured that God will complete the work He has begun in them (Philippians 1:6).

Conclusion

Sanctification through faith is a dynamic and transformative process that involves the believer's active participation and reliance on the Holy Spirit. It is through faith that believers are empowered to live holy lives, reflecting the character of Christ and fulfilling God's purposes for them.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 15:9
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Greek

3962. pater -- a father
... Through ongoing sanctification, the believer more and more their heavenly Father --
ie each time they receive faith from Him and obey it, which results in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3962.htm - 8k

Library

On the Sanctification of Man
... the object of sanctification is man, a sinner, and yet a believer " a sinner ... the
living God " a believer, because he is united to Christ through faith in him ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xlix on the sanctification.htm

Mans Sanctification and Good Works...
... Mans Sanctification and Good Works ... do not speak of a vain faith, but of such a faith
which is called in Scripture a faith working through love, which ...
/.../various/the belgic confession /article xxiv mans sanctification and.htm

Sanctified by Faith
... was the type of this spiritual inheritance of sanctification, our land of rest,
our very own, which we, the spiritual seed of Abraham through faith in Christ ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/byers/sanctification/chapter vi sanctified by faith.htm

I Believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the ...
... us the Word, whereby He works and promotes sanctification, causing it ... to grow and
become strong in the faith and its ... of sin, which is wrought through the holy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the large catechism/i believe in the holy.htm

Do are Then Make Void the Law through Faith? God Forbid; Yea, we ...
... It secures all the requisite influences to produce sanctification. ... in heaven do not
reach us through the senses ... But when faith is exercised, the wall is broken ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/do are then make void.htm

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... For this reason all through the New Testament believers ... grows in sanctification rather
than into sanctification out of ... By a simple act of faith in Christ the ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

Eighteenth Day. Holiness and Faith.
... As the evidence of things not seen, it rejoices in Christ our complete sanctification,
as a present possession. Through faith I simply look to what Christ is ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/eighteenth day holiness and faith.htm

Sanctification
... Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord ... That
man who has faith in Jesus Christ as a personal Savior ... Fifth: Sanctification. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/sanctification.htm

Twenty-Ninth Day. Holiness and Chastisement.
... To such faith the apparent mystery of suffering is ... the Author of salvation perfect
through suffering,' but ... spoken very clearly of our sanctification from its ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-ninth day holiness and chastisement.htm

Whether the Articles of Faith are Appropriately Enumerated
... On the first point: by faith we hold many things concerning God which the ... On the
fifth point: the sanctification of a creature through grace, and its ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article eight whether the articles.htm