If sanctification is a distinct work after repentance, and it is, then it follows that sanctification must be pursued after repentance. However, is it a necessary pursuit? Are you saved, and it is for your benefit to be sanctified? Or, do you need to be sanctified to be saved?
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”-2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
The work of repentance is vital, it removes the past sins in your life. It cleanses you, and makes you a fit vessel for sanctification; but it does not save you. It does not save you because you are still beholden to sin. Your nature is still a sinning nature. Our calling is to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and the Spirit sanctifies us when it appears in our hearts. When we have our own personal Pentecost.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”-Romans 5:1-2
If a thief pleads guilty to the judge, his conscience may be unburdened but the sentence has yet to be carried out. The only peace he finds is within himself (perhaps), but not with the judge, or the law. Confessing keeps us in a conversation with God, and grants a measure of peace to our conscience, but not victory. There can be no peace between you and the judge until the sentence has been passed or pardoned. Once the judge issues a pardon, then you have peace with yourself, with the law, and with God. This cannot happen by confession, but by repentance. Only through the total forsaking of your sin and placing your total faith on the merits of the risen Christ can you hope to find absolutions for sin. Your plea is not “I am guilty”, your plea must be: “I am guilty, Lord save me!” Only then can you be justified. Some might call this saved but the redemptive work is justification and sanctification. What’s more, when the carnal nature of sin is ruling your heart, how can you say you are saved without being sanctified? What are you saved from when the nature that caused you to commit your crimes against a holy God still reigns within? Christ didn’t need a cross to forgive you of your sins; the cross was to justify, and sanctify. Christ is salvation to the believer, and Christ comes when the Holy Ghost comes.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”- Hebrews 9:27-28
We are only saved at His appearing. He appears to God for your justification, but he appears to you for your sanctification. He appears through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This instantaneous filling of the Holy Ghost in the heart of one who has been justified by faith is salvation.
