◄ What Does 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Mean? ►

Full maturity and the complete sanctification of each and every believer (spirit, soul, and body) is Paul's earnest desire for all Christians. Some incorrectly consider that we can reach sinless perfection in this life, but this is unbiblical, for our old sin nature which resides within this mortal body, lusts against our new life in Christ. This will continue until we discard this fallen, earthy, mortal frame and are taken to be with the Lord forever: "For the mortal must take on immortality and the corruptible must take on the incorruptible."

We often use the terms; justification, sanctification, and glorification to explain a believer's initial salvation (justification), ongoing maturity as we walk with the Lord in our lives on earth (sanctification), and the wonderful eternal state in heaven, when we see Jesus and will be like Him (glorification).

But these terms can also be explained using the three tenses of sanctification. 

1. We are positionally sanctified the moment that we place our faith in the Lord. This is our initial salvation, when we are set apart for the Lord.

2. For the rest of our lives, we are being progressively sanctified as we mature in the faith, grow in grace, and submit to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within our lives.

3. Our complete and final sanctification will only be attained when we take up our eternal position in heaven when, through death or the Rapture, we will reach full and perfect sanctification. This is when the God of peace Himself sanctifies us entirely.

What a glorious promise! May we walk worthy of our calling and look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our salvation. May we look forward to that day, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, when our whole spirit and soul and body will be preserved complete and without blame, sanctified entirely by God Himself.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am positionally sanctified in Christ and am being progressively sanctified, as I grow in grace in the power of the Spirit. I look forward to the day when the God of Peace will sanctify me entirely. May my spirit, soul, and body, be preserved complete and without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I ask this not for me only, but for all Your children. In Jesus' name, AMEN.