Definitive Sanctification

Using the illustration of a wide-angle lens on a three-peaked mountain, Pastor Martin surveys the biblical doctrine of sanctification in its three great dimensions. Peak one — definitive sanctification — is the radical, once-for-all cleavage with the dominion of sin (1 Corinthians 1:2, 6:11; Acts 20:32; Romans 6). Peak two — progressive sanctification — is the continuous process of mortifying sin and being conformed to Christ (Romans 6:22, 8:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 7:1; 1 John 3:3). Peak three — climactic sanctification — is the final deliverance from all sin at death and in the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 12:23). He closes by insisting that no biblical salvation exists without all three dimensions, and no sanctification occurs outside union with Christ received by repentance and faith.

Pastor Martin zooms in on Romans 6 as the watershed passage for definitive sanctification. He shows that verse 2 — 'we who are such as have died to sin' — contains the distilled essence of the chapter and answers the devil's logic drawn from the doctrine of justification. He unfolds Paul's extended analogy of sin and righteousness as two slave-masters, illustrates the change of ownership with a parable of a gracious sovereign slaying a rebellious slave to reclaim him, and shows how our union with Christ in his death and resurrection is both the power and pattern of liberation. He closes by insisting there is no such creature as a justified, adopted sinner who has not died to sin.

Pastor Martin zooms in on Colossians 3:9-10 as a second great witness to definitive sanctification, working through the letter's larger framework of the person of Christ, the work of Christ, and union with Christ. He examines the vivid imagery (undressing and dressing), the profound analogy (old man and new man as the totality of humanity in Adam or in Christ), and the decisive tenses (a once-for-all 'having put off' and 'having put on'). He draws three conclusions: every believer has put off the old man and put on the new, every believer as new man must still deal with remaining sin, and every believer must fight sin from the conviction that he is a new man — illustrated by Augustine's famous 'it is no longer I.'

Pastor Martin turns to Ephesians 4:17-24 as a third key passage on definitive sanctification. After establishing both the larger and immediate context, he defends the indicative translation of verses 22-24 (ye have put off... and have put on...) against imperative renderings, then shows the same vivid imagery, profound analogy, and decisive tenses he exposited in Colossians 3. He draws four conclusions: the saving instruction of Christ always results in definitive sanctification, definitive sanctification forms the basis and reference point for progressive sanctification, definitive sanctification places us in a position to become what we were originally created to be, and this work is an exercise of gracious omnipotence.

Pastor Martin completes his exposition of definitive sanctification by working through Romans 8:5-9 and Galatians 5:16-24. Romans 8 draws an extended contrast between those after the flesh and those after the Spirit, concluding that if the Spirit dwells in us He does so as the liberator from the realm of the flesh and if any man has not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his. Galatians 5 adds that those who are of Christ Jesus have once-for-all crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. He draws four final conclusions: a radical breach with sin is on the threshold of all true Christian experience, this breach is rooted in Christ's death and resurrection, its virtue becomes ours by union with Christ, and it must condition all our future dealings with sin.