Sanctification according to Adolf Schlatter

Though I do not agree with some of the statements, he is correct (IMO) that Justification and Sanctification are inseparable; I do not, however, see them as the same.


Sometimes it is missed that when God saves and implants the new nature, He does not do any partial work; there is no partially sanctified folks. God's salvation is complete - that includes both justification and sanctification. Yet, the believer is still residing in a sin filled and sin conditioned form; though not of the world the believer is still in the world.

Some would view the work of cleansing and anointing as sanctification; such is incorrect. Sanctification is the final declaration following and as a result of the performance of the cleansing and anointing.

Consider the OT example shows that before the priests were "sanctified" there were ceremonial washings and anointment(s)that had to be done; these where finished before the sanctification. Such washings and anointing were not in themselves sanctification, but were in preparation and to the purpose of sanctification. These are examples of what takes place in the very core of the believer.

The believer is to be holy, just as holy as God. The true believer also fully understands that no matter how much washing and anointing takes place, no Godly perfection can be attained through human effort. No matter how much or often the priest in the OT washed and was anointed that priest was in fact still full of sin and deceit. The sanctification is mysterious in this matter.

Any true believer knows and is ashamed of how extremely wretched and unworthy they are both before and after salvation. They are in awe and humbled that the God of all creation would consider them worthy of any favor. Yet, God has given the believer a "new nature;" they are "in Christ Jesus a new creature." Within that "new creature" is God's perfect conduit of holiness (sanctification) in which He establishes the benchmark of purposed cleansing and anointing.

Just as the temple (and all that pertained to it) called people to be holy, God through sanctification makes that same call for we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Because God is holy, the believer is called to "be holy," yet any measure of man effort is worthless in attaining the holiness of God, therefore in salvation is also complete sanctification.

That is the mystery of sanctification. That very mystery, that spurs the believer to confess, repent, seek cleansing, earnestly desire the sincere Word and work of the Holy Spirit, all the while knowing perfection is never fully attained, is that very mystery that such perfection is already attained because the believer has that conduit of confidence in what God has begun is never incomplete.

Just as the OT priests were washed, anointed and clothed in holiness yet sin filled, so is the believer justified, anointed with the Holy Spirit and clothed in sanctification to the full glory and praise of the grace of God.