Sanctification - Part 1

This will be the first of three posts for Chapter 2 (Sanctification) from J. C. Ryle's Holiness. In this post, we'll look at "the true nature of sanctification." Before we start, though, Ryle in his intro to this chapter, states that "there are three things required in the salvation of every man - justification, regeneration, and sanctification... if you lack any one of these three things, you are not truly a Christian."

(1) "Sanctification... is the invariable result of that vital union with Christ which true faith gives to a Christian." (see John 15:5). Ryle makes it clear here that, apart from Jesus, there can be no sanctification. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches, and there can be no life without Him.

(2) "Santification... is the outcome and inseparable consequence of regeneration." Ryle makes mention of the epistle of 1 John, which says "he that is born of God doth not commit sin - doeth righteousness - loveth the brethren - keepeth himself - and overcometh the world" (see 1 John 2:29; 3:9-14; 5:4-18). In short, as Ryle says, "where there is no sanctification there is no regeneration, and where there is no holy life there is no new birth."

(3) "Sanctification... is the only certain evidence of that indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is essential to salvation." In short, the Spirit does not lie still and idle when it is within a man. It works, and produces fruit, such as those mentioned in Gal. 5:22-23. Ryle says, "the Spirit is compared to the wind, and, like the wind, he cannot be seen by our bodily eyes. But just as we know there is wind by the effect it produces on the waves, and trees, and smoke, so we may know the Spirit is in a man by the effects He produces in the man's conduct."

(4) "Sanctification... is the only sure mark of God's election." Verily, only God knows the names written down in the Book of Life, but the elect may be known by their holy conduct and living. He who boasts that he is one of the chosen children of God, and yet continually lives a life of sin contrary to God's Word is lying to himself.

(5) "Sanctification... is a thing that will always be seen." As it is said in Luke 6:44, "Every tree is known by its fruit." Sanctification cannot be hid. Ryle says that, "Like Moses, when he came down from the Mount, he (the believer) may not be conscious that his face shines."

(6) "Sanctification... is a thing for which every believer is responsible." In other words, we are accountable to God to live holy lives. If we are not holy it is our own fault. We are expected to use the grace we've been given and not, as Ryle says, "to go to sleep."

(7) "Sanctification... is a thing which admits of growth and degrees." In other words, sanctification is a gradual process. A man may be more sanctified at one stage in life than in another (2 Pet. 3:18; 1 Thess. 4:1). "God's holiest saints agree...that they see more and know more, and feel more, and do more, and repent more, and believe more, ans they get on in spiritual life, and in porportion to the closeness of their walk with God. In short, they grow in grace..."

(8) "Sanctification... is a thing which depends greatly on a diligent use of scriptural means." In other words, this consists in diligently reading and studying the Bible, regularly partaking of the Lord's Supper, and hearing the word read and preached, which includes regular church attendance. God uses these means to impart to us grace and sanctification. We cannot get on without them.

(9) "Sanctification... is a thing which does not prevent a man having a great deal of inward conflict." Rather, spiritual warfare, and the struggle within is evidence of sanctification, for when you become a Christian, there are two natures within you, one old man, and the new man. (see Gal. 5:17). An inward struggle is a healthy symptom that you are alive in Christ, and not dead in sin.

(10) "Sanctification... is a thing which cannot justify a man, and yet it pleases God." Works cannot save you, yet without works, a manifest fruit of righteousness, the faith that saves you is dead. Ryle says, "... the Bible distinctly teaches that the holy actions of a sanctified man, although imperfect, are pleasing in the sight of God." See Heb. 13:6; Col. 3:20; 1 John 3:22, for just a few Scripture passages to support this. "...So is our Father in heaven pleased with the poor performances of His believing children."

(11) "Sanctification... is a thing which will be found absolutely necessary as a witness to our charcter in the great day of judgment." As Ryle points out, "it will be utterly useless to plead that we believed in Christ unless our faith has had some sanctifying effect and been seen in our lives." (see John 5:29; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:13)

(12) Sanctification... is absolutely necessary in order to train and prepare us for heaven." Heaven is a perfectly holy place. Ryle says that, "when an eagle is happy in an iron cage, when a sheep is happy in the water, when in owl is happy in the blaze of noonday sun, when a fish is happy on dry land - then, and not till then, will I admit that the unsanctified man could be happy in heaven."

- Scribe