What Is Sanctification?

🎥 Baptist Bold: Ask a Pastor

📅 Episode 3 – Thursday: Doctrine Day
Question: “What Is Sanctification?”

🎬 Intro Script:

Welcome to Baptist Bold: Ask a Pastor—where truth isn’t filtered, and the Bible has the final word. I’m Pastor Joshua Tapp from True Words Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Let’s get into today’s question…

📖 Answer:

Sanctification is a Bible term that’s often misunderstood. Some confuse it with salvation. Others think it means you’ve got to clean up your life to stay saved.

Let’s clear it up with Scripture—and no confusion.

1. Sanctification Begins the Moment You’re Saved

📖 Hebrews 10:10 — “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are sanctified—set apart by God, made holy positionally. That happens immediately and eternally.

📖 1 Corinthians 6:11 — “…but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified…”

That’s not a process. That’s past tense, just like justification. It’s done.

2. Sanctification Is Eternal for Every Believer

This isn’t something you can lose. If you’ve believed the Gospel, you are sanctified forever—because it’s based on Christ, not your performance.

📖 Hebrews 10:14 — “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

You’re not slowly earning favor with God. You’ve already been set apart in Christ.

3. There Is Also Daily, Practical Sanctification

Though you’re sanctified eternally, God wants to clean you up in your daily walk. This is where you grow, obey, and become more useful in service.

📖 1 Thessalonians 4:3 — “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication…”

This has nothing to do with salvation—it’s about fellowship and fruitfulness.

4. Sanctification Is Not a Requirement for Salvation

Let’s be clear: you don’t have to turn from sin or live holy to be saved. That’s works. That’s false doctrine.

📖 Titus 3:5 — “Not by works of righteousness which we have done…”

You’re saved the moment you believe the Gospel. Period. After that, God begins working on you—but that has nothing to do with keeping you saved.

5. Final Sanctification Happens at Glorification

One day, when Jesus returns, every believer will be fully sanctified—body, soul, and spirit.

📖 1 Thessalonians 5:23 — “…sanctify you wholly…”
📖 1 John 3:2 — “…we shall be like him…”

That’s the finish line—when sin is gone for good.

🎯 Bottom Line:

Sanctification happens in three parts:

Eternal (at salvation—you’re set apart forever)
Practical (in your daily walk as a believer)
Final (at glorification, when you’re made perfect)

But salvation is not sanctification. You are not saved by living clean—you are saved by faith in Christ alone. Once you’re saved, God begins the cleanup work.

🎬 Outro Script:

Got more questions? Drop them below and hit subscribe for daily bold Bible answers. I’m Pastor Joshua Tapp—see you next time on Baptist Bold: Ask a Pastor.