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Abundant Life in the Son: A Study of Salvation

The process by which we become more like Christ is called
sanctification. It becomes possible through the new birth or conversion
experience. It develops as we yield to the Spirit and allow our new
nature to control our lives. In this chapter, we will see how the process
takes place. We will also learn how to become like Christ and what we
can do to allow this new nature to be the hero who helps us to win in
the struggle against sin.

The Nature of Sanctification

Believers are involved in three “deaths.” First, we are the victims of
condemnation because of our death in sin (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13).
Sin has corrupted us and brought us to the condition of spiritual death
or separation from God. Second, we are involved in death for sin in
justification. Since Christ endured for us upon the cross the sentence
for our sin, we are counted as having endured it in Him. What He did
for us is considered as having been done by us (2 Corinthians 5:14;
Galatians 2:20). As a result, we are considered legally free from the
penalty of sin if we believe in and accept what He did for us. And finally,
we must experience death to sin (Romans 6:11). What is true for us
must be made real in us. Death to the penalty of sin must be followed
by death to the power of sin. This “death” is brought about by the power
of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (Romans 8:13).

Sanctification involves putting off the old self and putting on the
new (Ephesians 4:22, 24). The old self is the corrupt nature that every
one of us has when he or she is born into this world. The new self is
the new nature that is born in a
person at regeneration. When
Paul speaks of getting rid of this
Sanctification involves old self, he does not mean that

putting off the old self the old self is destroyed; rather,
he means that it is replaced by
and putting on the new. the new self. And when he

speaks of putting on the new
self, he means that the born-
again person should begin to exercise the graces of the new self:
“clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness
and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances

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