Gospel Gal

Sanctification

Westminster Shorter Catechism
Question 35

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Q: What is sanctification? A: Sanctification is **the work of God's free grace,1 whereby we are **renewed in the whole man after the image of God,2 and are **enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.3 2 Thessalonians 2:13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and of the truth. Ephesians 4:23-24. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Romans 6:4, 6, 14. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. . . knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. . . For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 8:4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

I would argue that "monergistic" is the appropriate term to describe Sanctification. If you're in agreement with the catechism, which specifically states whose work sanctification is,

then we know and agree that sanctification is the work of *One: monergism. The rest of the answer to Q. 35 shows the *effect of sanctification, not the cause. God's work (monergistic) necessarily produces the effect noted in the answer to Q. 35.

If you make the effect the cause, that is synergism, and robs God of the glory He gets for sanctifying His people. Read the verbs in the answer to Q. 35.

The wording the Divines used here is very intentional. "Renewed" and "enabled" are in the passive voice. Those are things worked in us *by God to produce our dying to self and living to righteousness.

The catechism *does not say, "Sanctification is the work of God's free grace *plus your effort...." It says Sanctification is a work of God's free grace that produces certain results in His people.

There is no doubt that our justification and sanctification will produce good fruit. That is inevitable. As the Heidelberg Catechism states, "It is impossible that those grafted into Christ by true faith should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness." (A. 64)

If you would like to learn more on this topic, listen to and read R. Scott Clark on Heidelblog. https://heidelblog.net/2016/07/sanctification-is-a-work-of-gods-grace-resources-on-sanctification/?fbclid=IwAR2w95xa2Bx9VVYEtZLvDXXFyb95ApuYv9OznE8GZYqppV1Y3zJ-Emw3bgU

The comforting truth is that those whom God justifies, He also sanctifies. With Paul, we can rest assured. "I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:6