Sanctified In Regeneration

Made Saints In Regeneration (Conversion)

"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." (I Cor. 1: 2)

"And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (I Cor. 6: 11)

In the above texts "are sanctified" is a perfect participle and "were sanctified" is aorist (as is "were washed" and "were justified"). We also find "are sanctified" given in Acts 20: 32 & 26: 18. It is perfect participle in both instances and thus meaning "have been sanctified." It is thus represented as a completed action in the past with ongoing results.

It is obvious that the apostle is writing to believers and saying things about their conversion to Christ, not to some mystic sub conscious experience of which they had no conscious knowledge about. He is referring to the time when they became believers, when they received Christ as Lord and Savior. When they believed, they were simultaneously washed, sanctified, and justified, though not in that logical order. Though the apostle lists washing and sanctification before justification, he does not thereby imply that they logically occur in that order. If he is listing things in logical order, then sanctification precedes justification as the Catholics affirm. But, he does not put things in a logical order. Notice these words of the apostle:

"But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." (I Cor. 1: 30)

In this passage righteousness (justification) is listed prior to sanctification. So, if an argument is to be made on the order of listing, then one can both say that sanctification precedes and follows justification, and that would be contradictory. 

The order in the above text would be wisdom (faith knowledge), righteousness (justification), sanctification, redemption. That would be in agreement with the order elsewhere in scripture. However, redemption may be placed before and after justification and sanctification, depending upon whether we are looking at initial redemption or final redemption (of the body). In the other text, if there is an order to the list, it could be that Paul is working backward in listing the three items of washing, sanctification, and justification. In other words he is saying to the believers - "you are clean from washing, which shows that you have been sanctified, which in turn shows that you have been justified."

If we are not sanctified when regenerated, then we cannot be called "saints" when regenerated. Do believers become saints when regenerated or do they become saints later? Can we say that we are in the process of being made saints, and so not saints yet? Is it not the common view of Protestants, of Baptists, of Calvinists, of Arminians, that a person becomes a saint when he is effectually called to faith in Christ, when he is born again and regenerated? Yes it is. All future and linear sanctification is the fruit of that first sanctification which is in several respects a finished act. 

I am a proponent of progressive sanctification yet I believe that too much emphasis on this truth has caused some to neglect seeing sanctification as a past event, in some respects a completed action. 

In the addresses to believers the biblical writers used statements that said indicatively - "you are holy." But, there are also verses that exhort holy brethren to "be sanctified" and "be holy." Thus, being sanctified has a past, present, and future aspect to it. Sanctification begins with regeneration and conversion, but it follows justification, and both follow union with Christ by faith. 

In the new testament there are 117 references to "the saints." Christians are called saints. But, when did they become saints? Are they in the process of becoming saints? We are made saints in regeneration. We are not in a process of being made saints, though saints do increase in holiness. Saints need, of course, to become more saintly in their lives, so that their external life corresponds to their inner life. 

From Got Questions web page we have these good words on the subject (here - emphasis mine):

"The word “saint” comes from the Greek word hagios, which means “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious." It is almost always used in the plural, “saints.” "…Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem" (Acts 9:13). "Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda" (Acts 9:32). "And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons…“ (Acts 26:10). There is only one instance of the singular use, and that is "Greet every saint in Christ Jesus…" (Philippians 4:21). In Scripture there are 67 uses of the plural “saints” compared to only one use of the singular word “saint.” Even in that one instance, a plurality of saints is in view: “…every saint…” (Philippians 4:21). 

 

The idea of the word “saints” is a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom. There are three references referring to godly character of saints: "that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints…" (Romans 16:2). "For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). "But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints" (Ephesians 5:3). 

 

Therefore, scripturally speaking, the “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, the church. All Christians are considered saints. All Christians are saints—and at the same time are called to be saints. First Corinthians 1:2 states it clearly: “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy…” The words “sanctified” and “holy” come from the same Greek root as the word that is commonly translated “saints.” Christians are saints by virtue of their connection with Jesus Christ. Christians are called to be saints, to increasingly allow their daily life to more closely match their position in Christ. This is the biblical description and calling of the saints. 

 

How does the Roman Catholic understanding of “saints” compare with the biblical teaching? Not very well. In Roman Catholic theology, the saints are in heaven. In the Bible, the saints are on earth. In Roman Catholic teaching, a person does not become a saint unless he/she is “beatified” or “canonized” by the Pope or prominent bishop. In the Bible, everyone who has received Jesus Christ by faith is a saint. In Roman Catholic practice, the saints are revered, prayed to, and in some instances, worshiped. In the Bible, saints are called to revere, worship, and pray to God alone." 

Said C.H. Spurgeon:

"Sanctification begins in regeneration." (From: Spurgeon's Morning by Morning for July 4) 

Said Louis Berkhof:

"At the same time regeneration is the beginning of sanctification. The work of renewal, begun in the former, is continued in the latter, Phil. 1:6." (Systematic Theology Chapter X "Sanctification") 

John Gill in his Body of Divinity on Sanctification wrote:

"The foundation of "sanctification" is laid in "regeneration"; as it is a holy principle, it is first formed in that; the new creature, or new man, is created in righteousness and true holiness; and it appears in "effectual calling", which is an "holy calling"; and is to be seen in conversion, which is a turning of men "from their iniquities": and that holiness which is begun in regeneration, and is manifest in effectual calling and conversion, is carried on in sanctification, which is a gradual and progressive work, and issues and is finished in glorification; so that it may, with propriety, be distinguished from regeneration, effectual calling, and conversion, and be separately treated of."

"But in regeneration and sanctification, the Lord circumcises the heart, or regenerates and sanctifies it, "to love the Lord with all the heart and with all the soul!" that is, sincerely and cordially."

Sanctification, even though linear and progressive, yet is put forth in scripture as a finished work in most instances, especially as it relates to being regenerated and converted.

If sanctification begins in regeneration, and if regeneration precedes justification, then sanctification precedes justification and thus those Calvinists who support the propositions 1) regeneration precedes justification and 2) sanctification follows justification contradict themselves. 

"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (I Peter 1: 15-16)

Yes, be holy in all your conduct, but such an exhortation does not imply that believers are not already holy, already sanctified. Paul also refers to believers as already being holy, calling them "holy brethren." (I Thess. 5: 27; Heb. 3: 1) Peter says to believers - "You are a holy nation." (I Peter 2: 9)

Those who have believed in Christ and have been united with him are forever sanctified by the blood of Christ. Said the apostle:

"Jesus, that he might sanctify the people with his blood, suffered without the gate." (Hebrews 13:12) 

We are sanctified by the application of the blood when we are united to Christ and justified by the imputation of his righteousness. 

I affirm, consistently, as other Calvinists and Reformers, that sanctification and justification both follow union with Christ by faith, and that justification is logically prior to sanctification, which sanctification first occurs in regeneration.