Progressive 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 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 moves to the second peak of sanctification — progressive sanctification — and covers four headings: the fact established (continuous mortification, growth, renewal, transformation, and pruning), the necessity explained (inescapable reality of remaining sin, undeniable imperfection of existing graces, and the unchangeable revelation of God's purpose), the essence asserted (mortification and conformation — negative and positive held in tandem), and the goal described (total eradication of all sin and complete conformity to the image of Christ). He closes by urging believers to hold the perfection of justification and the irreversibility of adoption clearly while pressing on in sanctification.

Pastor Martin opens the question of agency in progressive sanctification by warning against two opposite errors: sanctification by naked human effort (which drifts into legalism, asceticism, and self-righteousness) and sanctification by the negation of human effort (Keswick/higher life, 'let go and let God,' leading to subjectivism and antinomianism). He then unfolds the first half of the biblical answer: the triune God is an active agent — the Father sanctifies through pruning and preserving (John 17, John 15, 1 Thessalonians 5, Hebrews 13), the Son by his indwelling, advocacy, and intercession (Philippians 1, Colossians 2, 1 John 2, Hebrews 7), and the Spirit by peculiarly taking the lead in mortification and Christlike fruit (Romans 8, Galatians 5, 2 Corinthians 3). Glory belongs to God alone.

Pastor Martin completes his treatment of agency in progressive sanctification by showing that the believer himself, as a new man in Christ, is also an active agent. He surveys the general teaching of Scripture (Matthew 5, Matthew 26, Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 7, 1 John 3, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Peter 1) and then expounds Philippians 2:12-13 as the pivotal text that epitomizes the whole biblical doctrine: God works in us both to will and to do, and therefore we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. He warns equally against sanctification by naked human effort and sanctification by the negation of human effort, insisting that God's working and our working are concurrent realities, neither negating the other.

Pastor Martin concludes his treatment of progressive sanctification by establishing that the God-ordained normal context for the believer's growth in grace is the life and ministry of a specific local assembly walking by the rule of Scripture. He proves the assertion from pivotal passages (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, Colossians 3, Hebrews 10) and the historical pattern of Acts 2:41-42, then draws three practical implications: it is a growth-stunting abnormality to be in Christ but not in his church by visible commitment, a growth-stunting irregularity to be formally committed but not integrated by practical involvement, and a growth-stunting immorality to be present in the body but harboring un-Christlike attitudes toward fellow members.