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Bible Dictionaries
Sanctification
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary
or That work of God's grace, by which we are renewed after the image of God, set apart for his service, and enabled to die unto sin and live unto righteousness. It must be carefully considered in a two-fold light.
1. As an inestimable privilege granted us from God, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 .
And,
2. As an all- comprehensive duty required of us by his holy word, 1 Thessalonians 4:3 . It is distinguished from justification thus: Justification changeth our state in law before God as a Judge; sanctification changeth our heart and life before him as our Father. Justification precedes, and sanctification follows, as the fruit and evidence of it. the surety-righteousness of christ imputed is our justifying righteousness; but the grace of God implanted is the matter of our sanctification. Justification removes the guilt of sin; sanctification the power of it. Justification delivers us from the avenging wrath of God, sanctification conforms us to his image. Yet justification and sanctification are inseparably connected in the promise of God, Romans 8:1-39; in the covenant of grace, Hebrews 8:10; in the doctrines and promises of the Gospel, Acts 5:31; and in the experience of all true believers, 1 Corinthians 6:11 . Sanctification is,
1. A divine work, and not to be begun or carried on by the power of man, Titus 3:5 .
2. A progressive work, and not perfected at once, Proverbs 4:18 .
3. An internal work, not consisting in external profession or bare morality, Psalms 51:6 .
4. A necessary work, necessary as to the evidence of our state, the honour of our characters, the usefulness of our lives, the happiness of our minds, and the internal enjoyment of God's presence in a future world, John 3:3 . Hebrews 12:14 . Sanctification evidences itself by,
1. A holy reverence, Nehemiah 5:15 .
2. Earnest regard, Lamentations 3:24 .
3. Patient submission, Psalms 39:9 . Hence Archbishop Usher said of it, "Sanctification is nothing less than for a man to be brought to an entire resignation of his will to the will of God, and to live in the offering up of his soul continually in the flames of love, and as a whole burnt-offering to christ."
4. Increasing hatred to sin, Psalms 119:133 .
5. Communion with God, Isaiah 26:8 .
6. Delight in his word and ordinances, Psalms 27:4 .
7. Humility, Job 42:5; Job 6:1-30 :
8. Prayer, Psalms 109:4 .
9. Holy confidence, Psalms 27:1 .
10. Praise, Psalms 103:1 .
11. Uniform obedience, John 15:8 .
See Marshall on Sanctification; Dr. Owen on the Holy Spirit; Witsii OEconomia, lib. 3: 100: 12; Brown's Nat. and Rev. Theology, p. 447; Haweis's sermons, ser. 11, 12, 13; Scougal's Works.
See articles HOLINESS, WORKS.
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Buck, Charles. Entry for 'Sanctification'. Charles Buck Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/cbd/s/sanctification.html. 1802.
