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."
Believers 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. We 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 believers in Christ, sanctification sets us apart as the purchased possession of Christ. We are bought with the price of His blood shed at the cross. The cross work of Christ is applied to us in justification, as well as sanctification.
We were justified in the past, upon trusting Christ as our Lord and Savior. However, our sanctification is past and present, continuing unto our glorification at the return of Christ. Until then, we are sanctified by faith in Christ, through the Holy Spirit. God sanctifies us in Christ.
