Martin Luther wrote, "There is no justification without sanctification, no forgiveness without renewal of life, no real faith from which the fruits of new obedience do not grow."
In Scripture, Luther recognized all those justified by faith in Christ are also sanctified. Sanctification means that believers are set apart as God's people in Christ. One who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is immediately justified and sanctified by the Spirit of God.
We are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:2). God justifies and sanctifies every true believer in Christ. God sanctifies us by the blood of Jesus and through the Holy Spirit.
God sanctifies us as the purchased possession of Christ. You are bought with the price of His blood shed at the cross. The cross work of Christ is applied to believers in both justification as well as sanctification.
God sanctifies us by faith in the gospel, upon trusting Christ as our Lord and Savior. However, our sanctification is a continuing process of growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Sanctification leads to our glorification at the return of Christ. Until then, we are sanctified in Christ.
