What is the concept of entire sanctification?

Definition and Overview

Entire sanctification refers to a state in which a believer, by divine grace, experiences a complete setting apart from sinfulness and a deeper conformity to the character of God. This process is often seen as an advanced work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian, whereby the heart is cleansed from patterns of disobedience, and love for God and others is perfected. It does not negate the fact that temptations persist in a believer’s life; rather, it emphasizes the grace-enabled capacity to live in obedience and purity of heart.

Biblical Foundations

Scripture presents sanctification as the will of God for each believer. Paul writes, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). In this verse, “completely” implies a holistic sanctification of spirit, soul, and body.

Likewise, Jesus prays for His followers: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The emphasis here is that believers are set apart for God’s purposes through His Word. Complete sanctification thus involves immersing oneself in God’s truth, resulting in a life increasingly free from the domination of sin.

Progressive and Instantaneous Dimensions

Some passages highlight an ongoing transformation. Paul mentions that believers are “being transformed into His image with intensifying glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). This suggests a continual process.

Yet Scripture also depicts moments of profound cleansing and renewal. For example, 1 John 1:7 assures us that “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” The verb tense points to a real and ongoing cleansing. Entire sanctification recognizes both dimensions: it is progressive in day-to-day life and can also be experienced as a decisive work of God’s grace that profoundly impacts the believer’s heart.

Holiness and Love

Genuine sanctification aligns with God’s holiness. Peter’s exhortation, “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16), underscores the calling to reflect God’s moral purity. This holiness is intricately bound to love—“Love one another deeply, from a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). Entire sanctification focuses on the believer’s capacity, through the Holy Spirit, to love God fully and love others selflessly.

Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the active agent of sanctification. Galatians 5:16 counsels, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” As believers yield to the Holy Spirit, He purifies hearts and empowers them to resist sin. Romans 8:13–14 teaches that those who “put to death the deeds of the body” by the Spirit are the children of God. Entire sanctification magnifies the Spirit’s transformative power, ensuring He is the source of both the desire and the ability to live according to God’s holy standards.

Practical Outworking

Entire sanctification does not suggest flawless performance or the impossibility of temptation. Rather, it emphasizes a consistent heart orientation toward God’s will. This includes:

• Ongoing repentance: A willingness to turn quickly to God when one stumbles.

• Devotion to Scripture: “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). Immersion in His Word shapes a believer’s mind toward holiness.

• Fervent prayer: The believer engages in deep communion with God, inviting His refining presence.

• Acts of service and love: Self-sacrifice and love for others provide practical expressions of a sanctified heart.

Historical Perspectives

Throughout Church history, numerous voices have stressed a deeper spiritual life that moves beyond mere external observance. Early Christian teachers wrote of a complete dedication of self to God’s will, a position reaffirmed by many theologians who see the believer’s transformation as both the immediate work of grace and a lifetime journey.

Objections and Clarifications

Some question whether believers can truly reach a condition of entire sanctification in this life. The biblical witness, however, affirms that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). The possibility of continued maturity and deeper surrender is presented as attainable—though it remains contingent upon a faith-filled, grace-dependent walk.

In addition, the idea of entire sanctification is sometimes confused with absolute perfection, in which an individual can never again fall into sin. However, the biblical teaching shows believers will always live in reliance on God’s sustaining grace. The emphasis lies on a heart made perfect in love, not an inability to ever err.

Relationship to Justification

Justification is the declaration of righteousness granted through faith in Christ, whereas sanctification concerns the believer’s ongoing transformation into Christ’s likeness. Entire sanctification presupposes justification and regeneration. After being justified, believers embark on the journey of growing in holiness. Entire sanctification speaks to the richness and depth of that journey—a fuller realization of God’s sanctifying power.

Christ as the Model and Means

Jesus Christ’s life exemplifies what it means to be set apart for God’s glory. Believers unite with Christ in His death and resurrection: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death… so we too may walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Hence, entire sanctification is ultimately rooted in the finished work of Christ, who provides not only an example but the actual power and atonement necessary for forgiveness, cleansing, and spiritual vitality.

Importance for the Christian Life

Entire sanctification inspires believers to pursue holiness out of gratitude and worship. This pursuit does not lead to pride; instead, it nurtures humility, for it is fully dependent upon God’s enabling grace. It also shapes how believers interact with the world: when hearts are transformed, the believer’s witness becomes more authentic, and acts of service flow more naturally.

Key Scriptures for Further Study

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23 – The prayer for total sanctification.

• John 17:17 – God’s truth as the source of sanctification.

• 1 Peter 1:16 – The call to holiness.

• Romans 8:13–14 – Life in the Spirit leads to victory over sin.

• 2 Corinthians 7:1 – The ongoing call to cleanse ourselves from defilement.

• Ephesians 5:25–27 – Christ’s sanctifying work for His Church.

Conclusion

Entire sanctification represents a profound promise that believers can, through the power of God’s grace, experience freedom from sin’s control and grow into mature love for God and others. Grounded biblically, it encompasses both a progressive journey and the possibility of an intensified moment of cleansing. Through the Holy Spirit, who applies Christ’s redemptive work, the believer strives toward this calling in daily life.