How You Are Sanctified

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."

You 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). The blood of Jesus sanctifies every true believer in Christ. You are sanctified, set apart with God's people in Christ.

In Scripture, sanctification is for all believers in Christ. Sanctification is not the second blessing, coming as a distinctly separate stage for some in the Christian life. All believers in Christ are justified and sanctified, by the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit. 

As a believer in Christ, sanctification sets you apart 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 you in justification, as well as sanctification.

You are justified upon trusting Christ as your Lord and Savior. However, your sanctification is past and present, continuing unto your glorification at the return of Christ. Until then, you are sanctified by faith in Christ, through the Holy Spirit. God sanctifies you as a believer in Christ.