Sanctification is declared to be a work of God's free grace. Two things
are included in this. First, that the power or influence by which it is
carried on is supernatural. Secondly, that granting this influence to any
sinner, to one sinner rather than another, and to one more than to another, is
a matter of favour. No one has personally, or in himself, on the ground of
anything he has done, the right to claim this divine influence as a just
recompense, or as a matter of justice.-- Charles Hodge
§ 1. Its Nature.
SANCTIFICATION in the Westminster Catechism is said to be "the work of
God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of
God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin and live unto
righteousness."
Agreeably to this definition, justification differs from
sanctification, (1.) In that the former is a transient act, the latter a
progressive work. (2.) Justification is a forensic act, God acting as judge,
declaring justice satisfied so far as the believing sinner is concerned,
whereas sanctification is an effect due to the divine efficiency. (3.)
Justification changes, or declares to be changed, the relation of the sinner
to the justice of God; sanctification involves a change of character. (4.) The
former, therefore, is objective, the latter subjective. (5.) The former is
founded on what Christ has done for us; the latter is the effect of what He
does in us. (6.) Justification is complete and the same in all, while
sanctification is progressive, and is more complete in some than in others.
Sanctification is declared to be a work of God's free grace. Two things
are included in this. First, that the power or influence by which it is
carried on is supernatural. Secondly, that granting this influence to any
sinner, to one sinner rather than another, and to one more than to another, is
a matter of favour. No one has personally, or in himself, on the ground of
anything he has done, the right to claim this divine influence as a just
recompense, or as a matter of justice.
Charles Hodge - Soteriology - Part 3 - Chapter 18 - Sanctification
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