THE ULTIMATE SANCTIFICATION
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV)
Every true born-again believer in Christ has been forgiven, justified, washed, sanctified, made holy or set apart from sin and the world unto God through “the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb. 10:10 NKJV).
At the new birth, you were plucked out of the sinful and corrupt stock or root of Adam, washed and then spiritually engrafted into the divine and holy stock or root of Christ Jesus (Rom. 11:17).
Having become one spirit with Christ, you are now holy; “because as He is, so are we in this world.” and “if the root is holy, so are the branches.” (1 John 4:17, Rom. 11:16 NKJV).
This is positional or instantaneous sanctification!
Although the believers have been sanctified, made holy or set apart from sin unto God instantly at the new birth, yet we are still being sanctified, changed or transformed progressively or increasingly into Christ-likeness in our thinking, lifestyle, character or conduct by the Holy Spirit as we renew our minds with the truths of God’s Word (Rom. 12:2, 2 Cor. 3:18, John 17:17, Eph. 5:26).
The day by day process of growing, maturing, developing, or conforming into the likeness of Christ in your thinking and lifestyle is called the “Progressive or Practical Sanctification.”
This process is continuous, progressive and life-long!
There is no saint living or dead who has experienced the ultimate sanctification or the glorification of the saints.
This will only take place at the second coming of Christ when our corruptible, weak, vile or lowly body is changed and transformed in a moment to be conformed to the resurrected and glorious body of Jesus Christ.
The Ultimate Sanctification is what the saints of all ages are still waiting for.
Apostle Paul explains this truth in his epistles.
Philippians 3:
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (NKJV).
1 Thessalonians 4:
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. (NKJV).
The ultimate sanctification is the complete sanctification of the believer’s spirit, soul and body. It is experiencing in full the full redemption Christ purchased for us.
This is Paul’s prayer for the saints.
1 Thessalonians 5:
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV).
Presently, it is only the believer’s born-again spirit that has experienced full redemption.
This is why Paul refers to our glorification as the redemption of our body.
Romans 8:
23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (NKJV).
This is why Peter also describes it as the end of our faith – the salvation of our souls.
1 Peter 1:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith–the salvation of your souls. (NKJV).
Moreover, the ultimate sanctification refers to the believers’ complete transformation into the image of Christ at His full revelation, that is, at His second coming.
1 John 3
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
(NKJV).
Colossians 3
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (NKJV).
Hallelujah!
Beloved, at the new birth, you were changed and transformed into the image of Christ in your spirit (Positional sanctification).
Afterwards, as you continue to behold the image of Christ in the mirror of God’s Word, you are being changed or transformed increasingly into the image of Christ in your soul – mind, will and emotions (Progressive sanctification).
Ultimately, you will be completely transformed into the image of Christ in your body at the second coming of Christ (Ultimate sanctification or glorification).
While in this fallen world, the believers are only spiritually united or joined with Christ. Paul testifies that “while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:6 NKJV).
But at His second coming, we shall be physically and eternally united with Christ (1 Thess. 4:16-18).
This is the glorification of the saints, our ultimate sanctification!
While in this sinful and polluted world, your born-again spirit has been set apart from sin, the world and its pollution, but not your soul and your body.
But at the coming of Christ, if you are still alive, you will be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet to be joined together with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed–
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(NKJV).
But if you are no longer physically alive, don’t worry; you will be the first to rise and be joined together with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (NKJV).
By this means, the believers will be physically and eternally separated from sins and sinners, and from the world and all its injustice, corruption or pollution unto God.
This is the ultimate sanctification!
Friend, while you are waiting for the ultimate sanctification or glorification what should you do?
Purify yourself by the renewing of your mind with the truths of God’s Word.
1 John 3:
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (NKJV).
Moreover, the Scripture exhorts you to be zealous for good works and eagerly wait for Christ!
Titus 2:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. (NKJV).
Hebrews 9:
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (NKJV).
Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, I am so glad to know that I will soon be fully transformed and conformed to the image of Christ at His second coming. While I wait in this fallen, sinful and polluted world, Dear Holy Spirit, help and teach me to daily purify myself, deny myself, be zealous for good works and eagerly wait for my Lord’s return, in Jesus’ name. Amen.