Christianity 101:
20 Basic Christian Beliefs—Chapter 15
What Are Sanctification and Perseverance?
I. Sanctification: The Gospel and the appropriate response of repentance and faith are not only what
saves someone’s soul, it is also what progressively sanctifies them throughout their earthly lives
a. Sanctification Is a Process:
i. What is Sanctification?
1. Sanctification is a progressive work of both God and man that makes Christians
more and more free from sin and more and more like Christ in their actual lives.
God and his children cooperate in this work, both playing distinct roles. And
while Christians can expect to progress in their sanctification, they will never
achieve perfection until Christ returns.1
ii. What does Paul mean when he says Christians are “set free from sin” (Rom. 6:18)
and must consider themselves “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus … for sin
will have no dominion over them” (Rom. 6:11, 14)?
1. This initial break from the power of sin means that Christians are no longer ruled
or dominated by sin and no longer love to sin.2
2. It also means that as Believers are sin nature is dead because it was nailed to the
cross with Jesus and died with Him. What we now experience is the remnants or
memories of our old self which still remain in our “flesh”. But we must realize
that we are not “spiritually schizophrenic”…having both a sin nature and a
redeemed nature…we now have only a redeemed nature.
iii. Because we know that we will continue to sin in this life, does it mean that it doesn’t
matter whether or not a believer continues to be sanctified?
1. Paul addresses this issue at length in the 6th chapter of his letter to the Romans.
His rhetorical exchange that begins the chapter he demolishes anyone argument
that believers should not be striving for holiness, “What shall we say then? Are we
to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we
who died to sin still live in it?” (Rom. 6:1-2)
2. Although we will never be completely free from sin in this life, we should still
expect to see a regular increase in our sanctification. Paul says that we “are being
transformed … from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor. 3:18). He also says,
“forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on
toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.
3:13–14). The picture is of a lifelong, continuous process. The Bible isn’t specific
on what amount of increase in sanctification we should expect in this life. It also
doesn’t tell us specifically what that increase will look like or what specific sins
we will no longer struggle with. In fact, sometimes we will experience great
freedom from one sin followed by deep struggle with another.3
1
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem; Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 99.
2
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem; Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 99.
3
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem; Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 100.
3. Yet, in all of this, Christians should never give up their struggle. They should
never say that any one sin has defeated them. They should never say they cannot
change. Instead, in the midst of the struggle, they should cling to the promises of
God, like the one found in Romans 6:14: “Sin will have no dominion over you.”4
b. God’s Role in Sanctification:
i. What is God’s role in the believer’s sanctification? And what Bible verse would you
use to support your answer?
1. Sanctification is primarily the work of God. Paul indicates this when he prays in 1
Thessalonians 5:23, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely.”
The author of Hebrews affirms this when he writes, “May the God of peace …
equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that
which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and
ever” (Heb. 13:20–21).5
2. God equips his children through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is
the one who works within us to change and sanctify us, giving us greater holiness
in life. That is why Peter speaks of the “sanctification of the Spirit” in 1 Peter 1:2,
and why Paul speaks of the “sanctification by the Spirit” in 2 Thessalonians 2:13.
It is the Holy Spirit who produces in us the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22–23),
those character traits which are part of greater and greater sanctification. As we
grow in sanctification, we “walk by the Spirit” and are “led by the Spirit” (Gal.
5:16–18), that is, we are more and more responsive to the desires and promptings
of the Holy Spirit in our life and character. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of
holiness; therefore, he produces holiness within us.6
c. Our Role in Sanctification:
i. What is the believer’s role in their sanctification?
1. Sanctification must come from God and the outworking of His Holy Spirit. But
there is a tension between God’s role and mans. My favorite passage on this is
from the 2nd chapter of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, “12 So then, my beloved,
just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more
in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God
who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Phil.
2:12-13) On the one hand Paul tells us to work out our salvation (progressive
sanctification) with fear and trembling and on the other hand he declares that in
the end it is God who does the work in us, both providing the will/desire and the
work/ability to be progressively sanctified.
2. We are both passively and actively involved in sanctification. Through repentance
and faith we are told to present ourselves “to God as those who have been brought
from death to life” (Rom. 6:13). This is our passive involvement. But we are also
told in Romans 8:13 to “put to death the deeds of the body” (that is, sin), which
implies an active role on our part. Although Paul clearly says we are only able to
4
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem; Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 100.
5
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem; Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 100-01.
6
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem; Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 101.
do so by the power “of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:13), we are nevertheless told that we
have an active role.7
II. Perseverance: The Scriptures are clear that God is sovereign in salvation and as such, once you are
truly saved, you will always be truly saved. Or as Dr. Grudem puts it “All who are truly Christians will
be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives.8”
a. What If the Sanctification Process Ends?
i. Can someone’s progressive sanctification process come to an end?
1. The short answer is no.
2. But, if we mean by “end” that the sanctification process slows for a season or
even potentially seems to take a step backward for a season, then the answer
would be yes. But the truth is once God sets us on the path to glory, we will see
an ongoing transformation of our exterior to match our new redeemed interior.
b. The Promise of Jesus:
i. If someone was concerned that they had “lost” their salvation, which promises of
Jesus would you take them to in Scripture?
1. “38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him
who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given
Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My
Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal
life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:38-40)
2. “27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give
eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of
My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one
is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)
c. The Promise of the Holy Spirit:
i. What is the promise of the Holy Spirit?
1. Further evidence that God keeps Christians safe for eternity is the seal that he
places upon us. The seal is the Holy Spirit within us. Paul, in Ephesians 1:13–14,
writes that when we first believed in Jesus, we “were sealed with the promised
Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of
it, to the praise of his glory.” The inheritance promised by God includes all the
further blessings of eternal life and a great reward in heaven with him. The seal,
or guarantee, of that promise is God’s very presence—the Holy Spirit—present in
every Christian.9
2. See also: 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 4:30
7
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem; Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 101.
8
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem; Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 102.
9
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem; Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 103-04.
d. The Promise in Perseverance:
i. What did Dr. Grudem mean when he said “While those who are truly Christians
will persevere to the end, only those who persevere to the end are truly
Christians10”?
1. In John 8:31, Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”
That is, one evidence of genuine faith is continuing to believe and obey what
Jesus said and commanded.11
2. The promise in perseverance is that those who continue in faith until the end of
their life are true Christians. As we stated earlier, this does not mean these people
will live perfect lives. True Christians may have deep struggles with sin at
different times in their life. But what it does mean is that those struggles will
actually be struggles. True Christians will fight against sin through repentance and
faith. The promise in perseverance serves as a warning to those who aren’t truly
Christians because it gives them reason to believe that if they do fall or have
fallen away from the faith, it is a strong indication that they were never true
believers in the first place.12
e.
10
Assurance of Perseverance:
i. What are factors that assure us of our salvation and perseverance?
1. Our present trust in Christ for salvation is one assurance of true conversion. This
is the teaching of the most famous verse in the Bible: “For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish
but have eternal life” (John 3:16).13
2. Evidence of an ongoing work of God in your life also provides assurance. This
ongoing work will include the subjective testimony of the Holy Spirit in your
heart, letting you know you are one of God’s children (1 John 4:13). It will also
include the work of the Holy Spirit leading you in obedience to God’s will (Rom.
8:14). And it will be shown by a life of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,” and “self-control” (Gal. 5:22–23). While
these won’t always be perfectly evident, a survey of your life should show
evidence of growth in these areas.14
3. In addition, there should be evidence of a continuing, present relationship with
Jesus Christ. For, “whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his
commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word,
in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in
him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he
walked” (1 John 2:4–6). A perfect life is not necessary, but a true Christian’s life
will continue to show a general pattern of obedience to Christ’s commands and an
imitation of his life.15
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 104.
11
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 104.
12
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 104.
13
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 105.
14
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 105.
15
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 105-06.
a. This ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within us will be seen over a long
period of time in our lives. That is, true Christians will grow in their
sanctification. Peter tells us that one way to “make our calling and election
sure” (2 Peter 1:10) is to increase our virtue, knowledge, self-control,
steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (2 Peter 1:5–8).
Peter says if these qualities increase in our life, we “will never fall” (2
Peter 1:10). If you sense these qualities lacking, do not simply try to
replicate them in your life to bolster your assurance, but instead repent of
their lack in your life and ask the Lord to give you growth in these areas.16
f.
Persevering through the Process:
i. What are the dangers associated with either being sanctified quickly for a season or
being sanctified slowly for a season?
1. Sanctification is a lifelong process. If you are a believer in Jesus, at times it will
seem as if the process is going at a faster rate than you ever thought possible. It’s
at these times that you will need to guard against pride and self-righteousness
(thinking yourself better than you are and taking credit for your goodness that is
really a gift of grace).17
2. At other times, you will wonder if there is any life inside you at all. It’s at these
times that you may wonder if you are even truly a Christian. When the doubts
begin to fill your thoughts, pray the prayer found in Mark 9:24: “I believe; help
my unbelief!”18
III. Questions for Review and Application:
a. How is sanctification different from justification19?
b. What is our role in sanctification? What is God’s role? What are some specific ways in
which you could contribute more to your sanctification in the coming week 20?
c. List some passages of Scripture that support the doctrine of perseverance. As you reflect on
those passages, how do they make you feel? Why do they make you feel that way21?
16
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 106.
17
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 106.
18
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 106.
19
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 107.
20
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 107.
21
Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (ed. Elliot Grudem;
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), 107.
Appendix: The Biblical Doctrine of Perseverance
Dr. LARRY PETTEGREW, TH.D.
I. Defined: “Perseverance means that God will enable the believer to remain in the faith through the
remainder of his or her life. It also means that the believer needs to demonstrate salvation through
becoming more like Christ” (Erickson, 996).
II. The Old Testament: The OT does not develop a doctrine of perseverance, but does occasionally teach
that God preserves His children (Psalm 37:24; 37:28; 32:40)
III. The New Covenant teaches the perseverance of the saints:
a. Jesus taught that believers in Him immediately possess eternal life (John 3:15-16; 3:36; 4:14;
6:40; 1 John 5:11-13)
i. If eternal life could be forfeited or lost then it would not be eternal.
b. True believers will never come into judgment (John 3:18; John 6:39-40; 10:27-29; Hebrews
7:24-25; Romans 8:29-30)
c. Christ’s love preserves us: Cf. D. Edmond Hiebert, “Romans 8:28-29 and the Assurance of the
Believer,” Bib Sac (April-June, 1991, 170-183).
i. Romans 8:28-29—And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom
He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that
He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
1. The Comprehensive Action—v. 29
a. Personal relative pronoun, “whom,” and the triple use of the demonstrative
pronoun, “these,” in v. 30, underlines the truth that God’s plan relates to
individuals, not merely to the experiences they undergo.
b. The two verbs rendered “foreknew” and “predestined” indicate that God’s
plan for the redeemed began in eternity past and reaches into eternity
future.
c. Note previous study: God foreknew a person. And word carries with it
more than just intellectual knowledge—also an active and affectionate
desire to bless.
d. Predestine—to mark out or determine the boundaries, to appoint. Used of
persons, it means to set out or determine the goal or destiny of those
foreknown.
2. The Christ-centered Goal
a. “To become conformed to the image of His Son”
b. Greatness of God’s love:
i. All that comes into their lives, God uses to further this goal.
ii. “Firstborn among many brothers”—Involves both His
distinctiveness from and identity with the vast redeemed family of
God.
NOTE: This passage presents a ‘golden chain’ of salvation that strongly affirms the security of
the Christian’s salvation. There are a series of aorist verbs that signify past action— “foreknew,”
“predestined,” “called,” “justified,” and “glorified.” These occurrences are so sure and certain
that they can be spoken of as if they have already happened. If a person is foreknown and
predestined by God it is absolutely certain that he or she will be glorified.
c. Nothing in heaven or earth can separate believers from Christ’s love
(Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Corinthians 1:8)
d. The Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of the believer is a deposit or guarantee (2 Corinthians
1:22; Ephesians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 John 5:18; Jude 24)
e. The Christian has a role in perseverance
i. Perseverance is ultimately the work of God, yet the Christian has a role to play as well.
1. He must not be overly confidant to the point of neglect (1 Corinthians 10:12)
2. He must be alert and stand firm (1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:24)
3. He must work out his salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13)
4. He must endure (Hebrews 10:36)
5. He must finish the course and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7)
6. He must remain faithful (2 Timothy 2:12-13; Revelation 2:10)
7. He must keep on believing (John 3:16 uses a present participle: ongoing action).
8. He must produce fruit (John 15:2)
9. He must abide in the teaching of Scripture (2 John 9)
ii. True believers may backslide or fall into sin for a season but this falling away is not
permanent.
1. For example: Peter denied the Lord
iii. Some fall away from the faith permanently because they were never truly converted.
1. Judas (John 6:70; 13:10-11)
2. False teachers (1 John 2:19, 22-23; Jude 1:4)
“In sum, several NT writers assert that some who profess Christ renounce their profession and
actively oppose the faith. They do so because they possessed no more than a superficial belief.
These did not fall from grace, because they never were in a state of grace. Apostasy from Christ
and the Gospel is a certain sign that the people involved never belonged to Christ” (Demarest,
458).
iv. The Book of Hebrews warns Christians not to apostatize from their faith.
1. The most debated passage is—Hebrews 6:4-6
2. The various interpretation of this passage are:
a. True believers can permanently fall away from the faith
b. The apostasy described her is hypothetical
i. The writer is describing what would be the case if a true believer
would fall away, but in reality God makes sure that no true
believers permanently fall away.
c. The people who are warned in this passage are not truly saved.
d. The Jewish people addressed in Hebrews are contemplating going back to
Old Covenant worship.
3. The best view seems to be the Jewish professing Christians who were considering
going back into Judaism. (Dr. Pettegrew’s view)
a. The description of these people implies some hope that they had really
become Christians.
i. They have been enlightened, tasted of the heavenly gift, been made
partakers of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God, tasted
the powers of the age to come (new covenant power that will be in
full existence in the Millennium)
b. But there was developing within the Jewish Christian communities some
pressure to return to orthodox Judaism with its sacrificial system.
c. If that were to happen, the old covenant sacrificial system in the church
age would be making the atoning work of Christ on the cross insignificant.
d. In verse 6 the Greek participle translated “since” is probably temporal
rather than causal—so you could translate it “while,” or “as long as”
e. One of the author’s arguments against returning to the old covenant is
found in 8:7-13
f. If the Jewish professing Christian returned to the old covenant worship,
and persisted in it, he probably was not a genuine Christian in the first
place.
4. Constructively, then, the teaching on security and the apostatizing warnings
combine:
a. To provide the believer with assurance.
b. To motivate the believer to strive after godliness.
“The writers of the New Testament wrote their books to people—ones who had attached themselves to
the church by a profession of faith. They were not so naive as to presume that all who would come into
contact with their letters were regenerate individuals. However, they did not question or disparage the
professed faith of their readers. The apostles addressed the church according to its profession and in this
manner included tests, exhortations, and admonitions to depend solely upon grace, and warnings against
apostasy by which the readers could measure their own profession and ascertain their status” (Ardel
Caneday, “Reciprocal Vital Union and the Perseverance of the Saints in Johannine Literature,”
Unpublished post-grad seminar paper, GTS, March 1977, pp. 1-2).
“The practical implication of our understanding of the doctrine of perseverance is that believers can rest
secure in the assurance that their salvation is permanent; nothing can separate them from the love of
God….On the other hand, however, our understanding of the doctrine of perseverance allows no room
for indolence or laxity” (Erickson, 1007).