Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 75
Question 75
What is sanctification?
Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Ephesians 1:44For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
1 Corinthians 6:1111And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
2 Thessalonians 2:1313But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
Romans 6:4-64We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.
6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
Ephesians 4:23-2423to be renewed in the spirit of your minds;
24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Acts 11:1818When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
1 John 3:99Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Jude 1:2020But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Hebrews 6:11-1211We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Ephesians 3:16-1916I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth
19of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Colossians 1:10-1110so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
Romans 6:44We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:1414For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Galatians 5:2424Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Source and edition
Westminster Larger Catechism. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
Unlicense. Source transcription.
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