Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter 13)

Survey of the Westminster Confession of Faith

Chapter 13

Of Sanctification

(Part  1)

I. They, who are once effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them: the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified; and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

As the Confession presents the logical order of the various elements of the conversion experience, sanctification follows justification and adoption. In this opening paragraph, we are told just what happens in sanctification. The writers don’t give us a precise definition of sanctification so much as they explain what sanctification means.

It is interesting to note that the Divines describe this process as the believer being “further sanctified.” Obviously, they include the previous elements in the order of salvation, namely, effectual calling, justification, and adoption, to be part of the overall work of sanctification. If sanctification is the recreation of the sinner in the image of Jesus Christ, then we can see why the other elements would be considered part of the believer’s sanctification. His recreation begins with God’s call to faith, of course.

God’s continuing work in the believer follows the creation of “a new heart and a new spirit.” From that beginning, God progressively brings to light the implications of the sinner’s union with Christ. The justified and adopted sinner learns about the way he is to walk as the Holy Spirit trains him through the Word.

Little by little, the sinful flesh gives way to the seed of the new life as it grows stronger in the believer’s heart. This paragraph clearly teaches us that our regeneration will lead to sanctification and even though our sanctification is not instant, it is certain. There is no room in this doctrine for the idea that a truly regenerated sinner can revert to a state of unbelief. Likewise, there is no room for the notion that genuine faith can fail to produce increasingly noticeable fruit in our lives.

(To be continued)