Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 75

What is sanctification?

Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirita applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them,b renewed in their whole man after the image of God;c having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts,d and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened,e as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.f

What is sanctification?

Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God has, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirita applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them,b renewed in their whole man after the image of God;c having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts,d and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened,e as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.f

  1. a. Ephesians 1:4; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13

    Ephesians 1:4

    1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

    1:4 For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

    1 Corinthians 6:11

    6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

    6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

    2 Thessalonians 2:13

    2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

    2:13 But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Romans 6:4–6

    Romans 6:4–6

    6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

    6:4 We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. 6:5 For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  3. c. Ephesians 4:23–24

    Ephesians 4:23–24

    4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

    4:23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  4. d. Acts 11:18; 1 John 3:9

    Acts 11:18

    11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

    11:18 When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

    1 John 3:9

    3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

    3:9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God's seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  5. e. Jude 20; Hebrews 6:11–12; Ephesians 3:16–19; Colossians 1:10–11

    Jude 1:20

    1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

    1:20 But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

    Hebrews 6:11–12

    6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

    6:11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 6:12 Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

    Ephesians 3:16–19

    3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

    3:16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 3:17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 3:18 will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 3:19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

    Colossians 1:10–11

    1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

    1:10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  6. f. Romans 6:4, 6, 14; Galatians 5:24

    Romans 6:4; Romans 6:6; Romans 6:14

    6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

    6:4 We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 6:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

    Galatians 5:24

    5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

    5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Related (2)

The Baptist Catechism (1695), parallel to this question

Question 38

What is sanctification?

Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 35

What is sanctification?

Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

Commentaries (9)