Volume 2 Issue 2 April 1996
by Vernon Teagarden
“second blessing” or “work of grace” (the first being conversion) that occurs sometime in
the life of the believer after conversion. Does the New Testament teach that sanctification
is a “second” work of grace?
Sanctify, comes from the Greek word “hagiazo,” and is defined as, “...the setting apart
of the believer for God, Acts 20:32...the separation of the believer from the world in
behavior by the Father through the Word, John 17:17,19...Since every believer is sanctified
in Christ Jesus, 1 Corinthians 1:2..., a common N.T. designation of all believers is ‘saints,’
hagioi, i.e., ‘sanctified’ or ‘holy ones.’ Thus, sainthood, or sanctification, is not an
attainment, it is the state into which God, in grace calls sinful men, and in which they begin
their course as Christians, Colossians 3:12; Hebrews 3:1” (An Expository Dictionary of
New Testament Words, W.E. Vine, Vol. III, p. 318).
Sanctification, comes from the Greek word “hagiasmos,” and is defined as, “separation
to God, 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2;...the course of life befitting
those so separated, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7; Romans 6:19, 22; 1 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews
12:14...” (W.E. Vine, op cit., p., 317).
Scripturally, sanctification can be viewed from two perspectives:
(1) A completed past action, at which time one is separated unto God. For example, the
Corinthians were sanctified at the time of their “washing,” and “justification” (1 Corinthians
6:11). “Washed,” “sanctified,” and “justified,” all refer to their conversion to Christ.
Before their conversion they walked in the way of the unrighteous (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10),
separated from God.
(2) A process that continues with a view to service. Christians are to “walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ephesians 4:1). In other words, the Christian is to
conduct his life in a manner that demonstrates he has been separated unto God (1
Thessalonians 4:1-7; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 3:18).
In view of these things, we conclude that the New Testament does not teach that
sanctification is a “second work” of grace. One is called out of the world by the Gospel of
Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:14), i.e., sanctified, separated or set apart for service unto God.
One thus separated is to maintain that state of sanctification by walking according to God’s
will.
