DOES THE BIBLE TEACH "PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION"?

DOES THE BIBLE TEACH "PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION"?
I Corinthians 6:11

Don Fortner



As it is commonly taught by men, the Word of God certainly does not teach "progressive sanctification". However, let me be clearly understood. This is what I mean and what is commonly taught by the term "progressive sanctification". It is the teaching that...The believer's old nature becomes less sinful and he becomes more holy by degrees.. .Believers, by their devotion and obedience to God become more holy, more acceptable to God, and thus earn greater degrees of reward in heaven by their works of sanctification.. Believers become more and more holy, until they are ripe for heaven and their sanctification ultimately buds forth in perfect glorification.

The Bible does not teach that doctrine! Flesh is flesh. It cannot be sanctified. The old man is not sent to a hospital to be cured, but to the cross to be crucified. The notion of progressive sanctification in the sense described above, (progressively increasing holiness), is contrary both to the Word of God and the experience of all believers (Rom. 7:14-25; Psa. 73:1-22). In the Bible, men who knew God never talked about their increasing holiness, but about their overwhelming sense of sin. Someone once said, "We are a people with two natures, one that is holy and seeks after righteousness, and one that is corrupt. and seeks after sin. These two natures are not equal in power. The divine nature rules and reigns, but the evil nature will not bow nor serve.

Yet, the Bible does teach that sanctification in the believer is a present, continual work of grace (1 Thess. 1:3-7; 5:23-24). Believers do grow in grace (II Pet. 3:18). If regeneration, the new birth may be compared to a wedding, our wedding to Christ, sanctification is the marriage itself. Sanctification is life in Christ arid living with "Christ in you." Wherever it exists there is a growing, increasing consecration to Christ, conformity to Christ, confidence in Christ, and communion with Christ.

This sanctification is the work of God's free grace alone (I Thess. 5:23-24). Our works have nothing more to do with the accomplishment of sanctification than they do of justification. The Believer's works of righteousness are the result, not the cause of sanctification.



Don Fortner is pastor of
Grace Baptist Church
Danville, KY