The Doctrine of Holiness

Hb 12.14Follow peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Mister

Conversion is the product of a moment, sanctification is the result of

a life

Explanation and Biblical Basis

We addressed, over the course of previous classes, the various acts of God that
they occur at the beginning of our Christian life. Let them be:

The Call of the Gospel (Effective Call) - Through the

which God speaks to us. To all those whom God has predestined for life, and only
these, it is he served, at the time determined and accepted by him, to call effectively
by your word and by your Spirit, taking them through Jesus Christ out of that state of
sin and death in which they are by nature, and transposing them to grace and
salvation. This he does by enlightening their understandings spiritually in order
to understand the things of God for salvation, taking away their
stone hearts and giving them flesh hearts, renewing their wills and
determining them by your omnipotence for what is good and attracting them
effectively to Jesus Christ, but in such a way that they come very freely, being
for this, arranged by your grace.

Ref. João 15:16; At. 13:48; Rom. 8:28-30 e 11:7; Ef. 1:5,10; I Tess. 5:9; 11 Tess.
2:13-14; IICor.3:3,6; Tiago 1:18; I Cor. 2:12; Rom. 5:2; II Tim. 1:9-10; At. 26:18; I
Cor. 2:10.

II–A Regeneration (New Birth)–Through which God us

grants new life. This happens when God converts a sinner and the
transfers to the state of grace, it frees him from his natural slavery to sin
and, only by His grace, enables him to want and do with all freedom what is
spiritually good, but in such a way that, because of corruption, still
in existing beings, the sinner does not do good perfectly, nor does he desire only what
it is good, but also what is bad.

Ref. Col.1: 13; John 8:34, 36; Phil. 2:13; Rom. 6:18, 22; Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:15, 21-23;
I John 1:8, 10.

III–Justification–By which God gives us the legal right to

to be before Him. Those whom God calls effectively, also freely
justify. This justification does not consist in God infusing justice into them, but in
forgive their sins and consider and accept their people as righteous.
God does not justify them on account of anything operated in them or done by them,
but only considering the work of Christ; not counting it as righteousness
the faith itself, the act of believing or any other act of evangelical obedience, but
imputing to them the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, when they receive Him and are
we firm in him by faith, which are not of themselves, but is the gift of God.

Ref. Rom. 8:30 and 3:24, 27-28; II Cor. 5:19, 21; Titus 3:5-7; Eph. 1:7; Jer. 23:6; John
1:12 e 6:44-45; At. 10:43-44; Fil. 1:20; Ef. 2:8.

IV–Adoption–By which God makes us members of His family.

All who are justified are served by God, in His only Son Jesus Christ and
through him, to make participants of the grace of adoption. By this grace they are received
in the number of the children of God and enjoy their freedom and privileges; they have upon them
their name, receive the Spirit of adoption, have confident access to the throne
by grace and are enabled, to cry 'Abba, Father'; they are treated with compassion,
protected, provided for, and corrected by him, like by a father; never, however,
abandoned, but sealed for the day of redemption, and inherit the promises,
as heirs of eternal salvation.

Ref. Ef. 1:5; Gal. 4:4-5; Rom. 8:17; João 1: 12; Jer. 14:9; II Cor. 6:18; Apoc. 3:12;
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'

Lam. 3:31-32; Ef. 4:30; Heb. 6:12; I Ped. 1: 3-4; Heb. 1: 14.

After studying these doctrines, according to the understanding of the order

salvation (order of salvation) Rom 8:30 "and those whom he predestined, these also"
he called; and those whom he called, he also justified; and those whom he justified, he
"these also glorified". We will now proceed to study the subsequent doctrine,
what we call 'Sanctification'.

1–The Biblical Doctrine of Sanctification

Sanctification is a progressive work, that is, it lasts throughout the

the life of the believer on Earth. It is also a work in which God and man
they cooperate, each one, however, playing distinct roles. To this
growing learning/growth we give o name of sanctification.
In summary, sanctification could be summarized as follows:

A progressive work by God and man that makes us each

more free from sin and similar to Christ in our present life.

Pay attention to the fact that sanctification is an ordinance, something in

we must engage ourselves as a tender sign of obedience to God:

1 Peter 1:16 "for it is written: you shall be holy, for I am holy"

As can be seen, those who are effectively called and regenerated, having
created in himself a new heart and a new spirit, are, furthermore, sanctified
real and personally, by the virtue of the death and resurrection of Christ, by his
word and by your Spirit, which dwells in them; the dominion of the body of sin is
in them all destroyed, their various desires are more and more
weakened and mortified, and they are more and more vivified and strengthened in
all saving graces, for the practice of true holiness, without which
no one will see God.

Ref. I Cor. 1:30; At. 20:32; Fil. 3:10; Rom. 6:5-6; João 17:17, 19; Ef. 5-26; II Tess.
2:13; Rom. 6:6, 14; Gal. 5:24; Col., 1:10-11; Ef. 3:16-19; II Cor. 7:1; Col. 1:28, e
4:12; Heb. 12:14.

2–The Difference Between Justification and Sanctification

However, one should not confuse sanctification with justification, for,

We have here two completely distinct works, if we consider:

Justification Sanctification

Legal position Internal condition

Once and for all Continues throughout life
Completely the work of God We cooperate
Perfect in this life Not perfect in this life
The same in all Christians Larger in some than in others

In general, therefore, we can define sanctification as separation.

for God (understanding that best defines the doctrine, than separation of
sin), the imputation of Christ as our holiness, purification of moral evil, and
conformity to the image of Christ.

3–Why must Man sanctify himself?

3.1 – Due to the fall

And the Lord God gave him this command: You may eat from any tree in the garden
freely, but you shall not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil;
for on the day that you eat from it, you will surely die” Gn 2:16-17

God had commanded man (both Adam and Eve) not to

comes from the tree of knowledge, however, in disobedience to God (Gn
3.1-7), the woman (Eve), listening to the lies spoken by Satan (the old
snake), not only ate from the fruit but also gave it to her husband, coming
both to sin.

Note that the reason for God's wrath was not, in fact, the
tasting the forbidden fruit, and yes, the fact that man imagined that he
I could find satisfaction in anything other than in God. And
this attempt to find satisfaction outside of God that we call 'original sin'.

In this way, to demonstrate His goodness and all His sufficiency, He us

prometheus, still about the weight of the sentence passed on Adam; that he would send us
a man who would be satisfied only in Him, thus crushing the head of the
snake.

Jesus said to them: My food is to do the will of Him

that sent me and to accomplish his work" John 4:34

3.2 - Due to the effects of the fall

And the woman said: I will greatly multiply your pains in childbirth;
in the midst of pain you will give birth to children; your desire will be for your husband, and he will
will rule

And Adam said: Since you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the
tree that will command you not to eat, cursed is the land because of you; in toil
you will obtain from it the sustenance during the days of your life. It will also produce thorns.
and the thorns, and you will eat the grass of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat your
bread, until you return to the ground, for out of it you were formed; for you are dust and to dust
you will return” Gn 3.17-19

Notice that not only humans were sentenced because of

of sin, but also the earth. All creation found itself completely depraved.
because of the inappropriate desire of the first human beings. And man, for
because of this, he was expelled from the presence of God.

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors together
anguishes until now. And not only she, but also we who have the firstfruits
of the Spirit, we also groan inwardly, waiting for adoption
children, the redemption of our body” Romans 8:22-23

3.3 Because of God's Promises

In His infinite mercy, God, after having expelled man from His
presence (Gen 3:23-24), provided means to not completely lose the ties
with humanity now fallen, not being complicit with sin, but
making alliances with the man who would not allow all of the same to be
relegated to a life completely devoid of God. A fact that would make life
human impossible.

The way used by God was to sanctify some men, and from them
bless the rest of the lost humanity. To this process of promises and
We call hopes alliances.
In this way, the Covenants that the Lord God made with man were the
following:

1–Edenic Alliance

Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of
Eden to cultivate and keep. And the Lord God gave him this command: From all
You may freely eat from the tree of the garden, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
you shall not eat; for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die" Gn
2.15-17

2–Adamic Covenant

And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers.
Seed; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel" Gn 3:15

3–Noetic Alliance

Yes, I establish my covenant with you; it shall no longer be destroyed.

all the flesh through the waters of the flood; and there will be no more flood to destroy the
earth. And God said: This is the sign of the covenant that I make between myself and you and all
living being that is with you, for perpetual generations: I have my bow
placed in the clouds, and it will be a sign of a pact between me and the earth. And
It will happen that, when I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the
clouds, then I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living being
living being of all flesh; and the waters will no longer become a flood to
destroy all flesh.” Gn 9.11-15

4–Abrahamic Alliance

Now, the Lord said to Abram: Go out from your land, from your relatives, and from
house of your father, to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great
nation; I will bless you, and I will exalt your name; and you, be a
Blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you.
curse; in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" Gn 12:1-3

5–Mosaic Alliance

Now, therefore, if you will diligently listen to my voice and keep my

then you will be my peculiar possession among all the peoples,
for mine is all the earth; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a nation
Santa. These are the words you shall speak to the children of Israel.” Ex 19-5-6

6–Palestinian Alliance

When all these things come upon you, the blessing or the curse,
that I have set before you, and you will remember them among all the nations to which the
The Lord your God has cast you out, and you return to the Lord your God, and
you will obey his voice according to everything I command you today, you and your children,
With all your heart and with all your soul, the Lord your God will bring you back.
from your captivity, and will have compassion on you, and will gather you again from among
all the peoples among whom the Lord your God has scattered you
30.1-3

7–Davidic Covenant

Your house, however, and your kingdom will be established forever before
your throne will be established forever” 2 Samuel 7:16

8–The New Covenant

For God so loved the world that He gave His Son

only begotten, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have life
eternal" John 3:16

3.4 To Inherit Eternal Life

In the fullness of time, it pleased God to finally send us His

Son and fulfill in him your supreme purpose. All other alliances
they served as a preparation for the new and eternal covenant in the blood of
Christ.

Paulo proves this to us when he says, 'Let no one, therefore, judge you by'
to eat, or by drinking, or because of festival days, or of the new moon, or of
Saturdays, which are shadows of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
2.16-17

The other alliances only served to show us how far apart we are.
we were of God and how He loved us reconciling us: "What shall we say
Then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not. However, I did not know sin.
otherwise by the law; for I would not have known covetousness, if the law had not
You shall not covet. But sin, taking the opportunity, by the commandment
operated in me all kinds of lust; for where there is no law
sin is dead. And once I lived without the law; but as soon as it came
commandment, revived sin, and I died; and the commandment that was meant for
life, I thought it was meant for death. Because sin, taking occasion,
For the commandment deceived me, and through it killed me. - Romans 7:7-11

Yet, even though Jesus poured out His blood for us, to
do not justify us. This does not exempt us from a life of holiness, as it is written:

So what? Shall we sin because we are no longer under the law, and
Sin under grace? Certainly not!” Romans 6:15

Point 3 can be summarized as follows:

In Eden, man did not need After the fall, the man needs to
to sanctify because: sanctify why:

It was perfect (but about to be able to He became imperfect Gn 3.22

sin) Gn 2.17
It was eternal Gn 1.31 It became mortal Gn2.19

He was in the presence of God Gn 3.18 He was deprived of the presence of God Gn
3.24
He was fully served from the Gn Garden. It came to depend on you Gn 3.17
2.29
Your body was infallible Gn 2:25 He became depraved Gn 3.10
God was seeking him (Genesis 3:8) The man began to seek him Gn 4.26

Nature was perfect Genesis 1:31 Nature has become imperfect

3.18
All the animals obeyed him The animals have become predators.
2.20 11.6
The Fruit of the Spirit reigned Galatians 5:22 The Works of the Flesh Galatians 5:19-21
23
God loved man Gn 1.27 God is angry with man Romans 1:18

It was fully filled Ps 23.1 It became miserably empty.

1.21-27

You need to be holy! But how does sanctification take place?

4–The Three Stages of Sanctification

4.1–Sanctification has its beginning defined in Regeneration

Birth) – A defined moral change occurs in our life at the moment of
regeneration, because Paul talks about 'the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit'
Saint" (Tt 3.5). Once born again we cannot continue to sin like
a habit or as a standard of living (I John 3:9), because of the power of the new life
the spiritual in us prevents us from surrendering a a life of
sins.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, so that

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not. We who died to sin,

how will we still live in it?” (Rom 6:1-2). This moral change (renewal of
Our mind (Romans 12:1-2) is the first stage of sanctification. As children of God
reborn through the sacrifice of Christ and in union with Him, we must present;
as a result of this new birth, our bodies as a sacrifice
living, holy (sanctification) and pleasing to God.
It is not an easy task, sanctification is a constant struggle between the works.
of our flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:17). However, in this struggle, we do not have the
what to fear, therefore, as Paul assures us: 'But you were washed, but
but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and
in the Spirit of our God” 1 Corinthians 6:11.

Our mission is to ensure that our body, as well as our

wishes are subject to the powerful will of God in our lives.
Lute!

4.2–Sanctification increases throughout life–Paul says that throughout

the Christian life "we all [...] are transformed, from glory to glory, in Him
own image" (II Cor 3:18). Gradually we become more and more
similar to Christ, as we advance in the Christian life.

Therefore, he says: "Brothers, as for me, I do not think that I have attained it;"
but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind, and
pressing on toward what is ahead, I pursue the goal for the prize of
"the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:13-14); in other words,
although Paul had not yet attained perfection, he continued towards
to achieve all the purposes for which Christ saved him (v 9-12).

Paul instructs the Colossians not to lie to one another,

seeing that they were putting on "the new man who is being renewed for the full
knowledge, according to the image of the one who created it” (Col 3:10), showing
as sanctification certainly involves increasing the likeness of God
in our thoughts, words, and actions. And this, throughout life.

4.3–Sanctification will be completed in death (in our soul) and

when the Lord returns (in our body) - Because of sin that
remains in our hearts, even though we have become Christians (Rm
6.12-13; I Jo 1.18), our sanctification will never be completed in this life. But,
once we die and are with the Lord, then our sanctification
It is completed in this sense, because our soul is freed from sin that
lives in us. The author of Hebrews says that when we arrive at the presence of
God to worship, we have arrived "at the spirits of the perfected just" (Hb
12.23). However, it should be made very clear that when the resurrection
we will rise again in 'Glorified Body'.

Meanwhile, when we consider that sanctification involves the person

everything, including our body (2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:23), then we understand that
it will not be fully completed before the Lord returns and
let us resurrect.

The following table summarizes just some of the aspects of who is

sanctified and who is not:
Sanctified Not sanctified

It is washed and regenerated Tt 3.5 It's like a pig in the pen II Pe

2.22
Do not continue in sin (this you Continue sinning At 5.1-2
Becomes an accident) I Jo 3.9
Presents the Fruit of the Spirit Gl The works of the flesh are manifest Galatians 5:19
5.22-23 21
Take pleasure in the Word of God There is no pleasure in the Word of God
1.1-2 John 8:43
Take pleasure in prayer (remains of There is no pleasure in prayer (they are
foot) I Co 10.12 always falling into temptation) Mt 26:41
Sin shall not have dominion over you Romans 6:14 I am a slave to sin Romans 7:14
Doesn't provide anything for meat Rm Satisfies the flesh (desires) Romans 1:32
13.13
He is alive to God Romans 6:11 He is dead to God John 5:40
It is gradually transformed into the Change the glory of God Romans 1:23
your own image II Corinthians 3:18
Grows with the height of It does not develop communion Heb 5:12
Christ Eph 4:13
Do not lie and do not steal Eph 4:25 Mind John 8:44

5–God and man cooperate in Sanctification.

God acts in our sanctification and we do too, all with the same
purpose. We are not saying that we have equal roles in sanctification or that
both performances are the same, but simply that we cooperate with God
a way that is consistent with our condition as God's creatures.

5.1 - The role of God in Sanctification - Since sanctification is

mainly a work of God, Paul's prayer becomes appropriate: "The
May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely” (I Thessalonians 5:23). A specific role of
God the Father in sanctification is His process of disciplining us as His children.
12.5-11). Paul tells the Philippians that 'it is God who works in you both to will'
"how to carry it out, according to your good will" (Philippians 2:13), showing thus
a little of the way God sanctifies them - both causing them to will His
will how giving them power for do
the.
The role of God the Son, Jesus Christ, in sanctification is, first, that he
He conquered our sanctification for us. Therefore, Paul could say that God made
that Christ became "wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (I Co
1.30). Jesus is also our example, because we seek to sanctify ourselves 'looking
firmly for the Author and Consumer of faith, leaving you an example for
"following in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).
But it is exactly the Holy Spirit God who works within us to
to transform and sanctify us, granting us greater holiness in life. It is the Holy Spirit
who produces in us the 'fruit of the Spirit' (Gal 5:22), the traits of character that generate
an ever-increasing sanctification. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Holiness and produces
holiness within us.

5.2–Our role in Sanctification–The role we play in

sanctification is so passive, by which we depend on God to sanctify us,
as an act, through which we strive to obey God and take the steps that
they will enhance our sanctification. We are passive to the extent that God acts
in us for sanctification and active to the extent that we act, in God, for our
sanctification.
The N.T does not suggest any shortcuts by which we can grow in
sanctification, but simply encourages us repeatedly to dedicate ourselves to
ancient and established formula for reading the Bible and meditation (Ps 1:2; Mt 4:4,
17.17), prayer (Eph 6:18; Phil 4:6), worship (Eph 5:18-20), testimony (Matt 28:19-20),
Christian fellowship (Heb 10:24-25) and self-discipline or self-control (Gal 5:23, Tit)
1.8)

6–Sanctification affects the person as a whole.

Sanctification affects:

6.1–Intellect–The sanctification of our intellect will involve growth

in wisdom and knowledge as we take every thought captive to the
"obedience to Christ" (II Cor 10:5), thus noting that our thoughts
more and more are the thoughts that God himself grants us through his
Word.

6.2–Emotions–In sanctification we will gradually perceive in our

lives emotions such as 'love, peace, joy, patience' (Gal 5:22). We will perceive
that we no longer love the world, as well as the things that are in the world. But that
we love the Lord more and more.

6.3–Will–Our ability to make decisions, for God is the one who

He works in us "the will and the doing, according to His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). Our
will be the will of the Father.

6.4–spirit–We must purify ourselves 'from all impurity, both of the flesh
as of the spirit, perfecting our holiness in the fear of God” (II Co
7.1); Paul says that the concern for the things of the Lord means paying attention to
how to be holy 'both in body and in spirit' (I Cor 7:34).

6.5 –Our physical body – "May the same God of peace sanctify you in
everything; and your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless
irreproachable at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Furthermore, Paul
encourage the Corinthians: 'Let us purify ourselves from all impurity, both of the flesh and of the spirit.'
spirit, perfecting our holiness in the fear of God” (II Co 7.1; I Co 7.34).

7 Because we we must to obey a God in

holiness?

7.1–Because it is a sign that we love Him (God). John 14:15; I John

5.3

7.2–Because this way we keep our conscience clear before God.

Rm 13.5; I
Tm1.4;IITm1.3

7.3 - For thus we will be useful for honor. II Timothy 2:20

21

7.4–Because in this way we will win the unbelievers with our testimony.
Pe 3.1-2
1516

7.5 - Why we want to receive the Lord's blessings upon our lives
e ministries.I Pe 3.9-
12

7.6–Why do we want to avoid the discipline of the Lord? Because we have fear.
At 5.11; 9.31; II Co 5.11; Ef 4.30

7.7 - Why we strive for our reward. Mt 6.19-21; Lc 19.17-19; I Co

3.12-15

7.8 - Why we want to be closer to the Lord. Mt 5.8; Jo 14.21; I

John 1:6

7.9 – Why do we want peace and joy in our lives. Philippians 4:9; Hebrews 12:1-2

7.10 - Why we want to do the will of God. Phil 4:8, Psalm 40:8.

8 - Why we should seek Sanctification.

8.1 - To experience the supernatural of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9

8.2 - To achieve eternal life. Rom 6:22

8.3 – To experience the good, perfect, and pleasing will of God.
Romans 12:1-2

8.4 - To demonstrate our love. I John 2:4

8.5–To live with Him in heaven. 1 John 2:28

May we always have this solemn warning of Christ in our

hearts

Continue the unjust doing injustice, continue the unclean still being
Let the wicked continue to be wicked; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness; and let the holy continue to be holy.

Revelation 22:11