“We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Tenth Article of Faith (Doctrine) of The Salvation Army
This doctrine echoes Paul’s prayer in his letter to the Thessalonian church, affirming that sanctification is not an impossible ideal but a present privilege through God’s faithfulness. “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, NLT
The Bible teaches that sanctification is both a divine gift and a lifelong process. To be sanctified means to be set apart —devoted to God’s purposes and made holy by His transforming power. This is different than justification. Justification declares us righteous through faith in Christ, sanctification is the continual shaping of our character into the likeness of Christ. It is the daily unfolding of what God has already declared to be true.
This idea of being “set apart” is not new. In the Old Testament, God sanctified the Sabbath (Genesis 2:3, NLT), the tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 29:43–44, NLT), and even the people of Israel (Exodus 19:6, NLT). Everything devoted to God’s service was to be distinct from the ordinary. This pattern established a divine principle: holiness is not merely moral purity—it is belonging to God. When Israel forgot this, they were reminded, “You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2, NLT). The command was not just about ritual behavior, but about reflecting the nature of the One to whom they belonged.
In the New Testament, sanctification moves from the external to the internal. Through Christ’s sacrifice, believers are made holy once for all time (Hebrews 10:10, NLT). Yet this initial sanctification must take root and grow. Jesus prayed for His followers, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth” (John 17:17, NLT). God’s Word and Spirit work together to cleanse and renew the believer from within. Sanctification, then, is the divine process of turning conviction into character and faith into fruit.
This process involves both God’s initiative and our cooperation. Paul reminds us that “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him” (Philippians 2:13, NLT). Yet believers are called to respond actively—yielding to the Spirit, resisting sin, and cultivating habits that reflect God’s nature. Sanctification is not passive. It is lived obedience born from gratitude. We participate when we “encourage those who are timid, take tender care of those who are weak, and be patient with everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:14, NLT). We strengthen the community of faith, and in doing so, we grow in holiness together.
The church plays a vital role in this growth. The early believers were described as being “of one heart and mind” (Acts 4:32, NLT). Their unity was not uniformity but shared devotion to Christ’s mission. This spiritual fellowship keeps believers separate from the values of the world, which often promote pride, self-reliance, and moral compromise. Instead, sanctified community cultivates humility, service, and faith. Paul likened the church to a body, where “all the members care for each other” (1 Corinthians 12:25, NLT). The health of one affects the sanctification of all.
The steps of sanctification often follow small, deliberate acts of faith: choosing joy in hardship (“Always be joyful,” 1 Thessalonians 5:16, NLT), maintaining continual prayer (“Never stop praying,” v.17, NLT), and practicing gratitude (“Be thankful in all circumstances,” v.18, NLT). These daily choices refine the believer’s heart. Likewise, we are told not to “stifle the Holy Spirit” (v.19, NLT), meaning we should not resist the Spirit’s prompting or discourage others’ faith. The sanctified life is a receptive life—open to correction, truth, and the quiet voice of God.
Old Testament examples remind us that sanctification requires surrender. Abraham left his homeland in obedience to God’s call, setting himself apart for divine purpose (Genesis 12:1–4, NLT). Moses removed his sandals before the burning bush, recognizing that holy ground demands reverence (Exodus 3:5, NLT). The prophets repeatedly called Israel to cleanse their hearts, not just their hands (Isaiah 1:16–17, NLT). These moments of setting apart mirror the believer’s daily call to live distinctly for God.
Ultimately, sanctification is God’s work from start to finish. “God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful” (1 Thessalonians 5:24, NLT). We are not left to strive alone. The same God who justified us continues to purify and preserve us until the coming of Christ. Like a craftsman perfecting His creation, God patiently shapes His people through trials, teaching, community, and grace.
To be sanctified is to live with a holy difference—to let God’s truth separate us from the world’s darkness and fill us with His light. As we yield our spirit, soul, and body to His transforming hand, we discover that sanctification is not merely a religious duty, but a sacred privilege. It is the steady, faithful rhythm of becoming what we were created to be: reflections of the Holy One who called us.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org