God's Decrees: the Benefit of Sanctification

GOD'S DECREES: THE BENEFIT OF SANCTIFICATION

SUMMARY: Sanctification is an evangelical grace of God. He first sets us apart for His own holy use, (sanctified unto life,) and then He enables us more and more to die unto sin and life unto righteousness, (sanctified unto salvation.) This righteousness and holiness that we receive is not the same as the righteousness of Christ imputed to us in Justification; instead it is the righteousness of the new man, "infused" in us, and made a part of us.

QUESTION 38: What is Sanctification?
ANSWER: Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

I. SANCTIFIED UNTO LIFE (Set apart for God's holy use experienced when we are born again.)
A. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace
B. Sanctification "Unto life" is the beginning of all other graces and benefits.

II. SANCTIFIED UNTO SALVATION (The process of becoming more and more Christlike until we die.)
A. A Renewed Man (Righteousness and Holiness are "infused in us," or made part of us when we are born again, and then more and more in sanctification.)
—In Righteousness
—In Holiness
—To walk in newness of life