Sanctification - the Different Views
A Sermon on the Different Views of Sanctification
Originally preached May 7, 1954
Scripture
Sermon Description
Every Christian still battles with sin. But how should Christians approach this issue? The doctrine of sanctification is filled with hope, and in this sermon on the different views of sanctification, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones guides the listener through the different views of this doctrine. Sanctification means to be set apart for God and His service, to be made holy. Though it doesn’t remove sin, it is the process by which the Holy Spirit removes the pollution of that sin and shifts desires from disobedience to God-honoring behavior. How long does sanctification take, and when in a person’s spiritual journey does it take place? Dr. Lloyd-Jones walks through the various perspectives and aids the believer in reaching a biblical understanding of the answers. Some Christians have asked, “Why does it matter to study a doctrine that doesn’t determine where someone will spend eternity?” Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains it is the Christian duty to search for the truth in all areas of life and study. Without knowing the truth, believers can become vulnerable to believing false doctrine and fall prey to heresies. Studying truth helps believers to avoid this, and it aids in growing them closer to Christ. Praise God that He does not abandon His children after saving them, but rather actively molds them into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
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Sanctification means to set apart for God and his service. It refers to both inanimate objects and people.
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Sanctification has two meanings:
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To set apart for God's service. This is a positional meaning and refers to being separated from the world.
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To make holy. This refers to an internal purification and change to become more like Christ. This is the common meaning.
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There are three main views of how sanctification happens:
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Perfectionist views: These teach some form of perfectionism in this life, whether through eradication of sin, perfect love, or not committing willful sin. They believe sanctification can be received in a moment.
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Counteraction: This view says sin remains but is counteracted by abiding in Christ. Sanctification starts as an experience and continues as a process of abiding.
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Progressive sanctification: This view says sanctification starts at regeneration and continues progressively throughout life until glorification. It is not received in a moment but is a lifelong process.
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We should examine these views dispassionately and with charity to determine the biblical view. We can learn from various views even if we don't fully accept them.
Great Biblical Doctrines
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.