Does the Bible say sanctification is salvific?
Let’s define those two terms and then we can answer your question. The word “sanctification” means “to be set apart.” The word “salvific” means “having the intent or power to save or redeem.” As we can see, the word ‘salvific’ is related to the word ‘salvation’ so what is really being asked is, “Is one SAVED by being SANCTIFIED?” The answer to this is YES, but in order to fully understand this we need to see, from Scripture, that there are THREE ASPECTS OF SALVATION and THREE ASPECTS OF SANCTIFICATION. Let’s consider these in some detail.
1. Salvation from the PENALTY OF SIN. In John 10:9 Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be SAVED.” The moment a sinner “believes on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation” (Acts 16:31) he is saved from the penalty of his sins. In other words, the believer HAS BEEN SAVED FROM HELL (see John 3:16-17; 5:24; 10:27-29). It is Christ’s DEATH on the cross for our sins and our faith in that work that has saved us (see 1st Corinthians 1:18 and Ephesians 2:8).
2. Salvation from the POWER OF SIN. In Hebrews 7:25 we read, “But He (Jesus Christ) is able to SAVE to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” The believer who “has been saved from the penalty of his sins” still has a sinful nature and needs to be saved from it when temptation comes. It is through Christ’s risen and glorified LIFE that we can experience this “present salvation,” for He “always LIVES to make intercession for us.”
3. Salvation from the PRESENCE OF SIN. Hebrews 9:28 says, “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.” Here is the “future aspect of salvation,” when Christ will COME to take us home to heaven (see John 14:2-3 with 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17) where we will be removed from the very presence of sin. He will give us new, glorified bodies (see Romans 8:19-25 with Philippians 3:20-21) and thus we will no longer have a sinful nature. So, there will be NO SIN within or without!
1. Sanctification by the “blood of Christ” (POSITIONAL sanctification). Hebrews 10:14 declares, “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that ARE SANCTIFIED.” This verse is speaking of believers in Christ who HAVE BEEN SANCTIFIED (set apart to God) through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross (see Hebrews 13:12 with 9:13-14; 10:10). So, this “aspect of sanctification” is clearly related to the first “aspect of salvation” for both are through faith in the death of Christ.
2. Sanctification by the “Word of God” (PRACTICAL sanctification). Jesus said to the Father in John 17:17, “SANCTIFY them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” We saw in the second aspect of salvation that we are “saved daily by Jesus’ life in the glory as He prays for us.” Here we see that we are “sanctified (set apart to God) daily through the Word of God.” We need both in order to be set free from succumbing to the world and its temptations. The Word of God “sets us apart FROM THE WORLD” and it “sets us apart TO GOD.”
3. Sanctification by our “glorification” (COMPLETE sanctification). In 1st Thessalonians 5:23 we read, “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.” We saw in the third aspect of salvation that Jesus will come to take us home with new, gloried bodies and it is only then that we will be “totally and eternally SET APART TO GOD.” Our salvation and sanctification will then be COMPLETE. We will no longer need Jesus to pray for us or the Word of God to set us apart, for we will be PERFECTLY SINLESS and thus “perfectly set apart to God” for all eternity. (DO) (498.5)