What is Sanctification?
- Boundless Team
- Mar 12
- 6 min read
Tier 2: Growing Believers
Sanctification is God’s lifelong work in believers—setting us apart as His and shaping us to become more like Jesus through the Holy Spirit. It begins at salvation and continues as we follow Christ daily, not by instant perfection but by steady transformation.
Today (March 9): Pastoral Staff Meeting at 9:00 AM.
If you've been walking with Jesus for any amount of time, whether you're new to faith or you've been in church your whole life here in Memphis, you've probably noticed something: becoming more like Christ doesn't happen overnight.
You don't wake up the day after accepting Jesus and suddenly have all your old habits, thoughts, and struggles completely gone. (If only, right?)
That's because salvation is just the beginning. What comes next is something equally powerful and way more personal: sanctification.
What Does "Sanctification" Actually Mean?
Let's start with the word itself. "Sanctification" comes from a root word that means "to set apart for special use or purpose." It's about being made holy, not in a stuffy, religious way, but in a deeply meaningful, God-designed way.
Definition Block: Holiness
Holiness means being set apart to God and shaped into His character—living in a way that reflects Jesus in heart, attitude, and action. It’s not “better-than” behavior; it’s Spirit-empowered surrender (1 Peter 1:15–16).
According to the Assemblies of God's 16 Fundamental Truths (which we hold to here at FA Memphis), sanctification is both positional and progressive. That means two things happen:
1. You're instantly set apart the moment you're saved. When you give your life to Christ, you're cleansed by His blood and declared holy in God's eyes. You're no longer identified by your past or your sin, you're identified as God's child. That's positional sanctification, and it happens in a moment.
2. You're continually transformed over time. Progressive sanctification is the lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit works in you day by day, year by year, helping you grow in holiness, love, character, and spiritual maturity.
Stages of Sanctification (A Simple Overview)
Stage of Sanctification | Description | Bible Reference |
Positional (Instant) | At salvation, you are set apart as God’s and counted righteous in Christ. | 1 Corinthians 6:11 |
Progressive (Ongoing) | The Holy Spirit keeps shaping your character, choices, and desires over time. | 1 Thessalonians 4:3 |
Complete (Future/Final) | When Jesus returns and we are with Him, sanctification is finished—fully like Christ. | 1 John 3:2 |
It's a Process, Not a One-Time Event
Here's the thing: sanctification isn't about perfection in this life. It's about direction.
You're not expected to have it all together. You're expected to keep moving forward, keep surrendering, and keep cooperating with what the Holy Spirit is doing in your heart.
Think of it like this: when you move into a new house (maybe somewhere in Cordova or out in Shelby County), you don't renovate everything on day one. You start with one room, then another. You peel back the old wallpaper, fix what's broken, and slowly make it feel like home.
That's what the Holy Spirit does in your life. He lovingly works through the rooms of your heart, your thoughts, your habits, your relationships, your desires, and helps you become the person God created you to be.
The Holy Spirit Is Your Partner in This
You can't sanctify yourself. (Trust me, a lot of us have tried.)
Real, lasting change doesn't come from sheer willpower or religious performance. It comes from yielding to the Holy Spirit. He's the one who empowers you to put sin to death, to grow in love, and to develop the fruit of the Spirit in your everyday life.
As Assemblies of God believers, we believe deeply in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, a distinct, empowering experience that equips you for ministry and spiritual growth. If you've been baptized in the Spirit, you know that supernatural partnership. If you haven't yet, it's something we'd love to talk with you about.
What Does Sanctification Look Like in Real Life?
Okay, so it's a process. But what does it actually look like when you're living it out in Memphis, working a 9-to-5, raising kids, dealing with traffic on 385, and trying to follow Jesus at the same time?
Here are a few practical signs that sanctification is happening in your life:
1. Your desires start to shift.
What you used to crave doesn't satisfy you the way it once did. You start wanting more of God, more time in prayer, more time in the Word, more connection with other believers.
2. You notice sin more clearly.
Sanctification makes you more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's voice. Things you used to brush off now bother your conscience. That's not condemnation, that's growth.
3. You develop a greater love for others.
You find yourself being more patient with your kids, more forgiving with your spouse, more compassionate toward the person who cut you off on Poplar Avenue. Love grows naturally when the Spirit is at work.
4. You experience more peace and less anxiety.
Sanctification doesn't remove hard circumstances, but it does change how you respond to them. You learn to trust God more deeply, even when life in the 901 gets chaotic.
5. You're drawn to community and accountability.
Growth rarely happens in isolation. You start craving authentic relationships with other believers who can encourage you, challenge you, and walk with you.
Sanctification Is About Relationship, Not Rules
Let me be clear: sanctification isn't about trying harder to be "good enough" for God. You're already loved. You're already accepted. You're already His.
Sanctification is about drawing closer to Jesus and letting His life flow through you. It's relational, not transactional.
Yes, there are biblical standards and holy living matters. But those things flow out of your love relationship with Christ, not as a way to earn it.
The Assemblies of God has always emphasized holy living, and that's rooted in Scripture. But holiness isn't legalism. Holiness is being like Jesus, full of grace, truth, love, and power.
How Can You Cooperate with the Sanctification Process?
So what's your part in all this? How do you "work with" the Holy Spirit as He sanctifies you?
Here are a few practical steps:
Spend time in the Word.
The Bible is how God renews your mind. The more you read it, the more you'll start thinking like Jesus.
If you want help building a simple rhythm, our Daily Walk resources are a great place to start.
Prioritize prayer.
Prayer isn't a religious duty, it's a conversation with the God who loves you. Talk to Him throughout your day. Be honest. Be real.
Stay connected to your church family.
Whether you're here in person at 8650 Walnut Grove Road or joining us online through Boundless, you need community. We weren't meant to grow alone.
Confess and repent quickly.
When the Spirit convicts you, don't ignore it. Agree with God, turn away from sin, and receive His grace. That's how you keep moving forward.
Practice the spiritual disciplines.
Fasting, worship, service, generosity, these aren't about earning favor. They're about positioning yourself to receive more of God.
A Word of Encouragement for the Journey
If you're reading this and feeling discouraged because you're not where you think you should be spiritually, hear this: God isn't disappointed in you.
He sees your heart. He knows your struggles. And He's patient, kind, and committed to finishing the work He started in you (Philippians 1:6).
Sanctification is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be setbacks. There will be seasons where you feel like you're taking two steps forward and one step back. That's okay. That's normal. That's part of the process.
What matters is that you don't give up. Keep showing up. Keep surrendering. Keep letting the Holy Spirit do His work.
You're not alone in this. You've got a church family here in Memphis who's cheering you on, and you've got a God who's never letting go.
FA Memphis Series: so we can make sure we know that these are being posted to Boundless Online Church (www.boundlessonlinechurch.org) Boundless Online Church is an online outreach ministry of FA Memphis Church, here in Cordova, TN.
Let's Walk This Out Together
Sanctification isn't something you do alone, and it's not something you figure out overnight. It's a journey, and we'd love to walk it with you.
Need prayers? Text us day or night at 1-901-213-7341. (Note: This line is for prayer and pastoral support, not emergency services. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent help, please call 911.)
If you're in the Memphis area: Join us in person on Sundays—Sunday Classes at 9:30 AM and Worship at 10:30 AM. We’d love to meet you, pray with you, and help you take your next step in faith.
If you're connecting online: Check out Boundless Online Church at www.boundlessonlinechurch.org: a global community where you can grow in faith, connect with others, and experience the same life-changing presence of God no matter where you are.
Want to go deeper?
If you're in Memphis or the 901, we would love to welcome you in person: 🌐 www.famemphis.org
If you're outside our area or unable to attend locally, join us online: 🌐 www.boundlessonlinechurch.org
If you need prayer or someone to talk to, you are not alone. 📞 Call or Text: (901) 213-7341
We are here for you.
You're not perfect. But you're loved. And God's not finished with you yet.
Let's keep growing together.
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