SANCTIFICATION

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SANCTIFICATION

By Steven H. Miller, Th.M.

Sanctification is one of those “churchy” words we often hear tossed around during a church service. It is among the many terms used in the church that people may hear without fully understanding what they mean. The dictionary defines sanctification as “the action of making or declaring something holy.” In simplest terms, sanctification is the process of being sanctified—being made holy.

If you read 1 Peter 1:13–16, you will get a good idea of what the call to sanctification is all about. It is a call to holy living. Lest I be misunderstood, I want to make clear that once we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are redeemed and, in that sense, already sanctified. Yet there remains a call upon our lives to live in holiness. We do not do so to earn our salvation or to perform some work that makes us worthy of being sanctified. Rather, we seek to live a holy life because we love Jesus and because He calls us to do so.

In this passage, Peter quotes Leviticus 11:44–45, where God calls His people to be holy because He is holy. The passage in Leviticus also instructs them not to defile themselves. Some might say, “Well, that’s the Old Testament, and that doesn’t really matter anymore! I’m saved! We are living in the age of grace now!” I beg to differ. There are plenty of places in the New Testament that call us to holy living as well. For example, in Romans 6:1–2, the apostle Paul asks whether we should continue in sin so that grace may abound. He answers, “By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” The answer to Paul’s question is that we cannot continue treating sin as though it does not matter.

As Christians, we should not spend our lives seeing how close we can get to the line between sin and obedience. What benefit would that bring to our spiritual lives? Instead, we should strive to live holy, blameless lives and stay far from that line as we walk in sanctification through Jesus Christ. Because God is holy, we are called to follow His desires for how we live, seeking to please Him and remain in fellowship with Him.

Now, someone may say that this is a works-oriented theology. I would say it is true only in the sense that living in a way that pleases God calls for effort. But our effort is not the source of our salvation or the power behind our holiness. Jesus beckons those who are weary and burdened to come to Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28–30). Too often, we get caught up in the mindset that WE must do X, Y, and Z, trying to accomplish everything ourselves while leaving God completely out of it.

As those who belong to Christ, we can enjoy a personal relationship with God. We can come boldly to His throne in prayer, seeking His presence, help, and comfort without fear. Sometimes we become so focused on maintaining proper reverence toward God that we forget He is also our “Abba, Father”—our daddy, as it were. He invites us to come to Him, to rest in His care, and to seek His comfort in the midst of our trials and temptations. He wants that closeness with you.

So, how does this relate to sanctification? Holiness and godliness are the outward expression of our love for God. As we draw near to Him, our love for Him should increasingly be reflected in the way we live. The more we seek His will, the more we desire to please Him. The more we allow the Holy Spirit who dwells within us to do His work, the more our lives will reflect the holiness God desires. This kind of living grows out of our love for Him.

One important word to keep in mind is “let.” Throughout Scripture, we are instructed to let certain things take place within us. For example, Colossians 3:15 tells us to “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” That instruction also reminds us that we can do the opposite: we can refuse to let His peace rule in our hearts.

It is important that we develop the habit of bringing our thoughts, concerns, and worries to God rather than allowing them to draw our attention away from Jesus. Can we live a holy, sanctified life while continually listening to the lies the devil feeds into our minds? Can we claim to trust God with the big things while refusing to trust Him with the little concerns of everyday life? Such divided trust reflects the double-mindedness James warns about when he says that the double-minded person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:6–8).

We must learn to LET God have the control over our lives that He desires. We must trust that He desires good for us. If we refuse to trust Him, we are not walking as we should in a holy, sanctified life. How do I know? Hebrews 11:6 tells us:

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

To live a sanctified life, we must draw near to God every day. As this verse teaches, faith is essential to pleasing Him. We must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

I know how difficult it can be to walk in faith continually. Sometimes it feels nearly impossible. But you know what? God knows that about us. He created us, after all. One of the most loving things He has done for us is to make a way for us to come to Him honestly, even when we are afraid. We can tell Him when we are scared, when our faith feels weak, or when we do not want to do what He is asking us to do. We can seek His comfort and encouragement. He already knows how we feel, so who do we think we are hiding it from? Certainly not God.

Sanctification, then, is the process of being made holy. I believe it is an ongoing process. I used to think that God waved His hand over us once and—poof!—we were sanctified. As I have gotten older and more experienced in this Christian walk, I have come to see sanctification as something we continue to walk out in godly living. It is not how we earn salvation; it is how we live the Christian life. Some days we do well. On other days, we need to return to God, confess our sins, and begin afresh. We can choose whether to yield to Him, but there are blessings in doing so that we do not want to miss.

I am sure there are those who will disagree with me, and that is okay. I am sharing what I believe God has been teaching me lately. I could be wrong, but I do not think so.

I want to leave you with this encouragement from Scripture:

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (ESV)

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we seek Your guidance as we continue to walk the path You have set before us. Please guide and direct us as we seek to live godly, sanctified lives, and help us reach others for You through our daily living. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

©2026 Steven Miller Ministries

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