Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 35

What is sanctification?

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

What is sanctification?

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

  1. a. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

    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. 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

  3. c. Romans 6:4; Romans 6:6

    Romans 6:4

    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.

    6:4 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.

    Romans 6:6

    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.

    6:6 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

Diff style

Changes in The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 38

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

No change, but in spelling and punctuation.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), 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), 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.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), 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.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), 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 (modernized) (1647), 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.

The Baptist Catechism (1695), 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.

Related (3)

Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

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 Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.

Question 77

Wherein do justification and sanctification differ?

Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification, yet they differ, in that God in justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ; in sanctification his Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof; in the former, sin is pardoned; in the other, it is subdued: the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never fall into condemnation; the other is neither equal in all, nor in this life perfect in any, but growing up to perfection.

Question 78

Whence ariseth the imperfection of sanctification in believers?

The imperfection of sanctification in believers ariseth from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit; whereby they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many sins, are hindered in all their spiritual services, and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God.

Commentaries (9)

  • Joseph Alleine, 1672, A Most Familiar Explanation of the Assemblies Shorter Catechism

    What is Sanctification? Sanctification is the work of Gods free grace? whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the Image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto…

    Joseph Alleine’s text
  • Thomas Lye, 1672, The Assemblies Shorter Catechism Drawn out into Distinct Propositions

    What is Sanctification? Sanctification is the work of Gods free-grace, whereby, we are renewed in the whole man, after the Image of God, and are enabled, more and more to die unto…

    Thomas Lye’s text
  • Thomas Vincent, 1673, An Explicatory Catechism

    What is Sanctification? Sanctification is the work of Gods free Grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole Man, after the Image of God, and are enabled more and more to dye unto…

    Thomas Vincent’s text
  • 1675, An Explicatory Catechism

    What is Sanctification? Sanctification is the work of Gods free-grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the Image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto…

    Its text
  • John Flavel, 1692, An Exposition of the Assembly’s Catechism

    What is Sanctification? Sanctifitation 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…

    John Flavel’s text
  • Thomas Watson, 1692, A Body of Practical Divinity

    1 THESS. 4.3. For this is the Will of God, even your Sanctification. The Notion of the word Sanctification, signifies to consecrate and set apart to an holy use. Thus they are…

    Thomas Watson’s text
  • Matthew Henry, 1703, A Scripture Catechism

    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…

    Matthew Henry’s text
  • Alexander Whyte, 1883, A Commentary on the Shorter Catechism

    The word sanctification, with its cognates saint, sanctuary, and such like, occurs a great number of times, and in a great variety of senses, in the Holy Scriptures. The word,…

    Alexander Whyte’s text
  • Benjamin Beddome, 1752, A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

    On The Baptist Catechism (1695), Question 38, which adapts this question

    Are all that are justified sanctified? Yes. For Christ is made both righteousness and Sanctification, Is sanctification more than an external reformation? Yes. Ye make clean the…

    Benjamin Beddome’s text