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“Sanctification” vs “Conformation”

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netchaplain

netchaplain

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Considering the significance in the meaning of the above terms, I believe it would good to note the difference between them. Sanctification is a single work and is synonymous with holiness, which is to identify someone or something that belongs to God, which He has set apart for His pleasure. Conformation is an ongoing work of the forming of someone or something.

The potential misunderstanding when confusing the two is in how they are related to salvation. The occurrence of receiving salvation is a single act which does not admit in degrees, i.e. no believer is more or less saved than any other believer, and it has no variations in quality or quantity. One is either regenerated or not, which answers to why “sanctified” is always in the past tense in Scripture. Believers “are sanctified” because God has sanctified them at rebirth.

Conformation (not to confuse with confirmation) is the progressive work of God concerning the walk and faith of the believer, which are primarily purposed to manifest Himself through the believer. The most significant error that can be made if confusing these two terms is when conceiving that salvation (redemption) is an incomplete work within the believer, as though there are other factors besides the Cross-work of Christ to effect salvation.

All who are saved are sanctified, and this will inevitably be revealed in their manner of life as God continues to “conform” them, which “are change into the same image from glory to glory” (2Cor 3:18), “to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29).
 
netchaplain said:
Considering the significance in the meaning of the above terms, I believe it would good to note the difference between them. Sanctification is a single work and is synonymous with holiness, which is to identify someone or something that belongs to God, which He has set apart for His pleasure. Conformation is an ongoing work of the forming of someone or something.

The potential misunderstanding when confusing the two is in how they are related to salvation. The occurrence of receiving salvation is a single act which does not admit in degrees, i.e. no believer is more or less saved than any other believer, and it has no variations in quality or quantity. One is either regenerated or not, which answers to why “sanctified” is always in the past tense in Scripture. Believers “are sanctified” because God has sanctified them at rebirth.

Conformation (not to confuse with confirmation) is the progressive work of God concerning the walk and faith of the believer, which are primarily purposed to manifest Himself through the believer. The most significant error that can be made if confusing these two terms is when conceiving that salvation (redemption) is an incomplete work within the believer, as though there are other factors besides the Cross-work of Christ to effect salvation.

All who are saved are sanctified, and this will inevitably be revealed in their manner of life as God continues to “conform” them, which “are change into the same image from glory to glory” (2Cor 3:18), “to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29).
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Maybe I'm not getting it but is there a topic you are trying to introduce for debate? If so, what is your position and what is the scripture that you wish to present in support of your position?
 
WIP said:
Maybe I'm not getting it but is there a topic you are trying to introduce for debate? If so, what is your position and what is the scripture that you wish to present in support of your position?
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The topic is the title, unless I'm not understanding you clearly, and my position or opinion concerning it is stated in the article. I not sure what else to say.
 
I kind of understand your intention though, in which at times we all would like what God wants to show us to be more clear and easier to understand.
 
"10 by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
"14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
(Hebrews 10:10,14 NIV)

Sanctification is, both, a one-time event, and an ongoing process. Which seems to be an impossibility, which is why I think some Bibles interpret vs. 14 as "those who are sanctified" (NASB) to make it more consistent with the past tense of verse 10 before it. But the tense in verse 14 really is the present tense which "represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time." (https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/heb/10/1/t_conc_1143014). As opposed to verse 10 where the tense of 'sanctified' is in the perfect tense meaning it "describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated." (https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/heb/10/1/t_conc_1143010).

Biblical sanctification is the setting apart of people and things to the service to God. In the first covenant the Levites, and various pots and pans, and utensils were 'set apart' from the common, being cleansed and appointed to special consecrated use in the worship of God. Like the Levites, and these various utensils, we also have been 'set apart', cleansed, sanctified for the special purpose of sacred service to God and his people. And like that priesthood and utensils we, too, are to stay clean and undefiled and fit for use in the worship and service of God.

Sanctification for the believer is like mom's set of dishes reserved for special occasions. Perhaps the family once ate chili dogs and hash off those dishes but then they were 'set apart', consecrated for the special purpose of only serving up sacred meals at sacred times in the household. Somewhere at a point of time they were officially set apart, sanctified for an honorable purpose. The problem is, the kids keep using them to eat burritos and hot dogs. Sanctification also means learning to not defile those already sanctified things so that they are only used for the special purpose for which they were set apart to serve.

In the household of God we are those sanctified bowls and cups that the Master of the household has set apart for sacred worship to him. Even though that sanctification is a completed truth, we have the responsibility to keep ourselves sanctified and not defile ourselves by fulfilling common, ignoble tasks with the vessels of honor we have been ordained by God to be. Thus the nature of the completed action of sanctification (vs.10), and the ongoing sanctification (vs.14) represented in the verses above.
 
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The reason why I believe sanctification is a one-time application is because it does not need to be supplied more than once, after which application provides all that's ever needed to remain sanctified, same as all which concerns holiness, righteousness, redemption, etc., which are all provided by the Father through Christ, which is revealed in the saint by the observances of the outward lifestyle.

Hebrews 10:10, 14 - "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all: For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified."


John Gill –
" In him it is as the cause, in them as the effect; in Him as its fountain, in them as the stream; in Him it is complete, in them it is imperfect for the present: and they have it by virtue of union to Him . . . ; wisdom may stand in general for the wise scheme of justification, as it is laid in Christ; "sanctification" may intend the holiness of his nature; "righteousness" the obedience of his life; and "redemption" his sufferings and death, by which it is obtained.

“But then justification and sanctification are not to be confounded; they are two distinct things, and have their proper uses and effects; sanctification in the saints does not justify, or justification sanctify; the one respects the power and being of sin, the other the guilt of it. Moreover, Christ is the sanctification of his people "meritoriously"; through the shedding of his blood, whereby he has sanctified them, that is, expiated their sins, and made full atonement for them.”

http://www.christianity.com/bible/comments/1corinthians/gill/1corinthians1.htm
 
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netchaplain said:
The reason why I believe sanctification is a one-time application is because it does not need to be supplied more than once, after which application provides all that's ever needed to remain sanctified, same as all which concerns holiness, righteousness, redemption, etc., which are all provided by the Father through Christ, which is revealed in the saint by the observances of the outward lifestyle.
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The official 'setting apart as holy' is indeed a one-time event as Hebrews 10:10 says. But it is also an ongoing process in which we become more and more 'set apart' and holy in our actual daily living. Which is what I think Hebrews 10:14 is talking about. We are, both, sanctified, and becoming sanctified. We are indeed being conformed to the image of Christ in a process of sanctification, being more and more set apart for God's noble, sacred, and holy purposes.

"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29 NASB)

So, let us all set apart as holy that which God has set apart as holy. IOW, let's stop eating chili dogs off these dishes we have been ordained to be in the Temple of God which God has set apart for sacred, not common or profane use.
 
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Jethro Bodine said:
The official 'setting apart as holy' is indeed a one-time event as Hebrews 10:10 says. But it is also an ongoing process in which we become more and more 'set apart' and holy in our actual daily living. Which is what I think Hebrews 10:14 is talking about. We are, both, sanctified, and becoming sanctified. We are indeed being conformed to the image of Christ in a process of sanctification, being more and more set apart for God's noble, sacred, and holy purposes.

"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29 NASB)

So, let us all set apart as holy that which God has set apart as holy. IOW, let's stop eating chili dogs off these dishes we have been ordained to be in the Temple of God which God has set apart for sacred, not common or profane use.
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Like your reply here. As often it is, there are many views that differ between saints concerning Scripture, and for this one I see it that it is the conforming that changes and reveals the increase of our walk in sanctification, because I understand sanctification as a permanent single position in Christ which cannot vary, as I believe are of all of the Biblical usages. Sanctification produces conformation, which continually changes.

I wanted to edit Heb 10:14 above because I did not want to use the NKJV for that passage, as I believe it is not consistent with v 10. I wanted to use Young's Literal Translation: "in the which will we are having been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once." The YLT here is consistent with the KJV.

Though attempting to be technically-correct concerning a nonessential doctrine (teachings not related to receiving salvation) is not necessary, It is encouraging to dig deeper in the Word.

God's Blessings to You!
 
Hebrews 10:10, 14 - "In the which will we are having been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once; For by one offering he hath perfected to the end those sanctified” (YLT).

John Gill –
"In him it is as the cause, in them as the effect; in Him as its fountain, in them as the stream; in Him it is complete, in them it is imperfect for the present: and they have it by virtue of union to Him . . . ; wisdom may stand in general for the wise scheme of justification, as it is laid in Christ; "sanctification" may intend the holiness of his nature; "righteousness" the obedience of his life; and "redemption" his sufferings and death, by which it is obtained.

“But then justification and sanctification are not to be confounded; they are two distinct things, and have their proper uses and effects; sanctification in the saints does not justify, or justification sanctify; the one respects the power and being of sin, the other the guilt of it. Moreover, Christ is the sanctification of his people "meritoriously"; through the shedding of his blood, whereby he has sanctified them, that is, expiated their sins, and made full atonement for them.”
http://www.christianity.com/bible/comments/1corinthians/gill/1corinthians1.htm
 
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