We've heard of 'Justified by Faith', but 'Sanctified by Faith'?

In his book on sanctification, You Can Change (Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press, 2008), Tim Chester has an interesting section which he entitled ‘Sanctified by Faith’. Below is an excerpt which hopefully captures the gist of what he is saying:

Sometimes people say conversion is all God’s work, but sanctification is a co-operation between us and God. Neither statement is entirely true. Conversion is all God’s work, but we have a responsibility to respond with faith and repentance. It turns out faith and repentance are also God’s work in us, his gift to us. God opens blind eyes; God grants repentance (Mark 8:18-30; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6; 2 Timothy 2:25). That’s why conversion is entirely an act of God’s grace. But, at God’s initiative and with God’s help, we’re involved. And it’s the same with sanctification. Sanctification is God’s work. But we are not passive. We have to respond with faith and repentance. Again it turns out that faith and repentance are God’s work in us. So salvation from start to finish is God’s work, in which we are active participants through faith and repentance by the grace of God. We work hard, but then say with Paul, ‘It was not I, but the grace of God that was with me’ (1 Corinthians 15:10, ESV). ‘Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose’ (Philippians 2:12-13) (p.62-63).

Tim then goes on to explain the differences between justification and sanctification, going very much with Reformed Theology’s definitions and distinctions. Yet, quoting John Calvin, he says that while justification and sanctification should be distinguished, they shouldn’t be separated. And the reason is because of our union with Christ by faith. We are justified because we’re united to Christ. But that union with Christ also brings about a change of life. Tim goes on to conclude:

What both justification and sanctification have in common is that they place through faith in Christ. ‘The Bible teaches that we are sanctified by faith [here he quotes Anthony Hoekema]’. By faith we find God more desirable than anything sin offers. By faith we continue to be united to Christ, the source of our new life. By faith we embrace the new identity that is ours by grace. By faith we follow the desires of the Spirit. Sometimes the Reformed and evangelical traditions treat sanctification as a human achievement made in response to the divine act of justification. We’re justified by faith in Christ’s work, but, it’s supposed, we’re sanctified by our own efforts or even by law-keeping. Our emphasis on sanctification by faith is, I believe, more faithful both to the Reformed tradition and to the Bible. We begin the Christian life through faith and repentance, and we continue the Christian life through faith and repentance (p.64).


I like what Tim has written here. Though he might have slightly overstated the case a little with his statement ‘Sometimes the Reformed and evangelical traditions treat sanctification as a human achievement made in response to the divine act of justification’ (or perhaps it’s just a style of writing), I think he has a point there. More often than not, in pastoral situations, we often find ourselves presenting sanctification that way – sanctification as thanksgiving, duty, obligation, fear of final judgement etc. With the end result that we end up emphasising on our human response in sanctification, at the expense of God’s grace, at the expense of faith that it is God who will change us. Rather, if we start emphasising sanctification by faith (just as much as it is justification by faith), not only do we lay a much firmer foundation for our sanctification, but we anchor our human response in that much surer foundation as well. In that sense, sanctification by faith could really be said to be submitting ourselves to be ‘led by the Spirit’ – not passiveness and inactivity on our part, but rather action and response that is in step with the Spirit’s leading. And when one allows the Spirit to lead in sanctification, rather than law or any form of disciplinary regime, one always finds sanctification a much more joyous and enjoyable process. Maybe we need to start preaching more of ‘sanctified by faith’!

But Tim’s section has triggered me and led me to another conclusion – how right Calvin is when it comes to the ‘application of salvation’ in one’s life. Instead of following some strict ordo salutis (order of salvation) like regeneration -> repentance -> faith -> justification -> sanctification -> glorification; Calvin instead sees justification and sanctification as the double ‘distinguishable but inseparable’ benefits of faith-union with Christ, which the Spirit has brought us into through the Word held out to us. We can’t have one without the other; we can’t have justification without sanctification or sanctification without justification, because Christ is not divided. And if it is through faith that one is brought into this union, then it is by faith that we receive both these double benefits – it is by faith we are justified, and it is by that same faith we are sanctified. Another reason why Calvin is such a delight to read – he seems to get it right all (or at least most) of the time!