The Crucible of Sanctification: Death as the Gateway to Renewal

Abstract

Christian salvation is a three-phase process: 1) justification – becoming a child of God through confessing Christ as Lord, 2) sanctification – spiritual renewal, growth, and transformation into Christlikeness, and 3) glorification—the replacement of our physical bodies with eternal, incorruptible ones at the promised resurrection. God’s will for Christians is to focus on the second phase—sanctification. This involves confronting our sins and flaws, which Jesus carried on the cross. By accepting, learning about and confronting our individual flaws and sins, we can, with God’s help, neutralize them one at a time and cultivate a godly character. This process is described as “taking off” the “old self” and putting on the “new self.” Confronting our sins and shortcomings is imperative, yet it is an excruciatingly painful exercise that many avoid, to their spiritual, social, and emotional detriment.

Article

The early Christians, justified by faith, hoped for their glorification—their transformation into Christlikeness, promised at the resurrection when Jesus’ Kingdom is established. This hope sustained them through persecution and continues to inspire us today, offering solace in our struggles as we await the resurrection.

However, God’s salvation plan includes more than justification and glorification.

God calls His children to pursue sanctification, which begins when we “die to sin.” Just as Christ’s resurrection followed His death, our spiritual rebirth starts by putting off our “old self” (Eph 4:22).

Jesus introduced the call to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him, making it clear that following Him requires a form of death: “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for My sake will find it” (Matt 16:24-25).

This may seem confusing, given that Jesus came so we “may have life, and have it to the full.” So, why does He call us to die?

The death of our old selves is essential for our Christ-like selves to emerge. Paul echoes this call, urging us to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Rom 12:1), followed by a transformation through the “renewing of your mind.” This death leads to renewal and rebirth.

Paul, in Ephesians, urges believers to “put off your old self” and “put on the new self” designed in God’s image (Eph 4:22-24).

Sanctification is central to God’s plan, requiring intentional effort. Those who cling to sin and destructive habits resist God’s will and risk stepping outside His redemptive plan.

Why, then, do so many Christians leave this life still carrying the ungodly patters and counterproductive behaviors they came to Christ with?

We assume that everyone who claims to be Christian has faith and believes. However, true evidence for faith goes beyond merely affirming doctrinal statements. Jesus makes it clear: Christians are not those who simply cry “Lord, Lord,” but those who do “the will of my Father” (Matt 7:21). The true evidence of faith is demonstrated by how we live, not just by what we proclaim.

As young Christians, we began our new life journey with great enthusiasm and a sincere desire to obey God. However, over time, our sincere zeal often fades due to the pressures, pleasures, perplexities, pessimism, and distractions of daily life (Jesus alludes to this in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23).

Another cause of stalled sanctification is our reluctance to confront our sinful nature.

To overcome sinful habits, we must confront our flawed values, thoughts, and behaviors. This is an excruciating process as it can dismantle our self-esteem and challenge the pride of our untamed egos. We thus avoid this necessary step.

How then do we overcome our internal obstacles and embark on the renewal journey?

Unfortunately, there is no simple “3-easy-steps-to-sanctification” formula. However, there are biblical, time-tested principles that guide us towards sanctification.

To overcome our inner obstacles, we must subdue our ego, with genuine faith as the antidote. True faith humbles us, dismantling our self-deceptive pride and allowing us to see our sins and weaknesses more clearly.

When unchecked, ego becomes our greatest enemy, damaging relationships with God and others. It blinds us to our faults, hinders admitting mistakes, and blocks the humility needed for growth, stifling maturity. A common example of ego at work is found in family dynamics. For example, when a wife points out her husband’s mistake, his wounded ego may make him defensive or lead him to shift blame, damaging the relationship.

The Holy Spirit helps subdue our ego by reminding us that our true worth is based on God’s image engraved on our souls, not human approval. When ego seeks to project faultlessness or strength, it reveals inner weakness and insecurity.

To begin the renewal journey, we must cultivate a thirst for sanctification, a yearning that fuels perseverance through challenges and flows naturally from our love for God. This desire motivates deep self-examination, the transformation of vices into virtues, and the replacement of bad habits with good ones, all guided by God’s penetrating Word (Heb 4:12) as expounded by the Holy Spirit.

However, we cannot take this thirst for granted. Its hold on our will can weaken as competing loves vie for our hearts. We must regularly remind ourselves of our first love for God and the priceless value of sanctification, along with the lasting benefits it brings.

Sanctification sounds difficult, even impossible. How do we endure?

Indeed. It’s often called “the race of endurance.” We enter through a narrow door, bowing in humility. The path is hard to navigate, but the excruciating pain of confronting our sins, borne by Christ, is part of the journey.

Yet, there is encouragement. Along the way, we glimpse cheering crowds in the stands, urging us to keep going. These are the ones who have already finished the race and know the joy of crossing the finish line. With their encouragement, we find the strength to keep running.

What can we expect at the finish line?

As we near the finish line, we begin to notice positive changes both internally and externally. Our worldviews, attitudes, demeanors, habits, and speeches all reflect this transformation. Our loved ones notice, appreciate, and compliment us, and our lives become more fulfilling as our relationships deepen and our job performances improves. The sweet aroma of victory over our inner struggles is truly delightful.

Looking back at the narrow door and the painful journey, we remind ourselves, “It was all worth it.”