Progressive sanctification
Historic orthodoxy
The Reformed teaching that believers grow in holiness gradually throughout life, by the Spirit through ordinary means, without reaching sinless perfection before death.
Also called: Reformed view of sanctification
What it means
Progressive sanctification holds that every true believer is being changed, but that the change is gradual and incomplete in this life. There is no single experience after conversion that lifts a Christian to a higher plane. Instead the Spirit works steadily through the Word preached and read, prayer, the Lord's Supper, and the fellowship and discipline of the church.
This view takes seriously both God's power and the believer's ongoing struggle. Remaining sin is real, and the Christian must fight it daily. But the fight is not hopeless, because the believer has been united to Christ and the Spirit dwells within. Effort and grace are not rivals: we work because God works in us.
The Westminster and 1689 confessions teach this view, describing sanctification as throughout the whole person yet imperfect in this life, with a continual war between flesh and Spirit in which the regenerate part overcomes.
In Scripture
Believers are to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The flesh and the Spirit are opposed to each other in the believer's life.
Paul says he has not yet been made perfect but presses on toward the goal.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves.
God will carry on to completion the good work he began, until the day of Christ.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 13.2-3; LBCF 1689 13.2-3
On this site: Sanctification
Related terms
SanctificationHistoric orthodoxy
The lifelong work of God's grace by which believers are made more holy, dying to sin and living to righteousness.
Means of graceHistoric orthodoxy
The ordinary ways God has appointed to give and strengthen faith in His people, chiefly the Word, the sacraments, and prayer.
Entire sanctificationA view held among orthodox Christians
The Wesleyan teaching that believers can, by a second work of grace, be freed from the inward bent to sin and filled with perfect love in this life.
Keswick theologyA view held among orthodox Christians
A teaching on holiness, named after conventions held at Keswick, England, which calls believers to a crisis of surrender that brings them into a higher, victorious Christian life.
Perseverance of the saintsHistoric orthodoxy
The teaching that all whom God has truly saved will be kept by his power and will continue in faith and holiness to the end.