Sanctification Unpacked: It Is Not Progressive

     You can grow in your sanctification, but you cannot grow into it.  It is not a gradual process in which you are sanctified, and sinning, while parts of you are becoming more sanctified.  It is an instantaneous work, it is not progressive.  The work of God that sanctifies is just as instantaneous as the work that forgives.  

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”- Acts 2:2-4 

Here we read the Holy Spirit given to the early church on the day of Pentecost.  The promise from Joel that in the last days God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh.  It is the first fruit of the blessing of sanctification.  The first fruits of a crop represent the balance of the crop and so it is with the giving of the Holy Ghost.  This is confirmed to us later in Acts chapter ten and nineteen when we would be given similar accounts of the swift and sudden outpouring of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of the believers who had repented.    

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that nor of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9

The work and working of God must come to us, because we cannot go to Him. A drowning man cannot build a boat, someone must come to save him.  Christ must pull us out of the depths of sin before it’s too late.  This work, action, gift of salvation, is properly called in scripture: sanctification.  By grace the gift is given, and by faith it is received; this transaction is immediate and not established on the ability of man.  

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:17-18

To say it is not progressive is not to imply that once sanctified you have nothing more to gain.  The Israelites possessed the land of Canaan, but they still had fighting to do.  Peter was filled with the Spirit but still had prejudices to overcome (see Acts chapter ten).  You grow in grace, but you don't grow into grace.  In order to graft a tree the branch is cut, joined and bound to produce the union.  This happens at once, but the result of that union is growth.  So it is with the plan of salvation.  You are cut by the Word, exposed in repentance, joined to Christ  in sanctification, and bound to Him by the Holy Spirit.  The product of that union is growth and fruit.  It is an important distinction because when you preach that you must gradually grow into sanctification you are preaching an impossibility.  You are challenging people to do the work that God has prepared for them, and to live for God without the power of God to perform it.  You are asking detached branches to rise up, and attach themselves to the tree.  It cannot be.  God wants to pick you up and join you into the fellowship of Holiness with His Son Jesus.