What is positional sanctification?

Answer

To sanctify means to set apart as holy, which is what occurs to sinners who are saved from sin by the grace of God through the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The three “phases” of salvation are positional sanctification, progressive sanctification, and final sanctification. At the moment of salvation, we are sanctified or set apart positionally; that is, we are saved from the ultimate penalty of sin. Then begins progressive sanctification, the process whereby we are saved from the practice and power of sin. And after this physical life is over, we will be sanctified finally; that is, we will be saved from the presence of sin.

Positional sanctification is a one-time act of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of unbelievers whom He has chosen for salvation from sin. At the moment of salvation, believers understand and acknowledge their sinful state, their inability to save themselves through any works of their own, their need of a savior, their acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as sin’s payment, and their faith in Jesus’ resurrection. At that moment, believers are brought out of darkness into the light. Our position before God has been changed forever. No longer dead in trespasses, we are made alive together with Christ «even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) », (Ephesians 2:5). Our position changes in that we are made citizens of a whole new kingdom: “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” «who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: », (Colossians 1:13)

Positional sanctification also alters our status as sinners deserving of God’s wrath to the status of beloved children of the Father and perfect in His sight. Our new status means we are part of the body of Christ «Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. », (1 Corinthians 12:27); God’s special possession «But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: », (1 Peter 2:9); new creations «Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. », (2 Corinthians 5:17); dead to sin «God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? », (Romans 6:2); and possessors of the divine nature «whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. », (2 Peter 1:4). Because salvation is an act of the Spirit, the believer’s new status cannot change, be lost, or be given back. We cannot “un-save” ourselves, nor can we alter our status before God through any of our works or the lack thereof. We are kept in the status of beloved for the rest of our lives and throughout eternity. Positional sanctification is the work of God whereby He sets us apart and considers us holy in His sight: “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” «and hGod raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Positional sanctification is not dependent on our feelings or whims; it is a fact of salvation, even though our actions on earth do not always align with our position in heaven.

Positional sanctification inevitably leads to progressive sanctification, with good works as the inevitable result. Those who are born again will naturally begin to act according to their new nature in Christ, and the result will be increasing holiness in personal living (1 Peter 1:15-16). The positionally sanctified will be progressively sanctified by the same Holy Spirit who regenerated us in the first place. The works that God has foreordained for us will be accomplished through His power, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Once we have been positionally sanctified, the process of progressive sanctification begins. Progressive sanctification is the lifelong process of becoming more Christlike as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and yield to His control (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Once we are positionally sanctified, the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to progressively sanctify us, “Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth” (John 17:17), so that in the end, our practical holiness aligns with our positional holiness when we see Christ face to face in glory. “Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).Now we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)