In the New Testament, sanctification is both what God does and has done for believers and the way of life to which He calls them. Paul calls it God’s will that believers abstain from sexual immorality and live in holiness, while the God of peace Himself sanctifies believers; the Corinthians are called washed, sanctified, and justified, and Hebrews 12:14 says to pursue peace with everyone and holiness.
What Does the Bible Say About This?
- Paul writes: God’s will is your sanctification—that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust, and that no one wrong or take advantage of a brother; God has not called us to impurity but to holiness (1 Thess. 4:3–7).
- He prays that the God of peace Himself will sanctify believers completely and preserve their spirit, soul, and body blameless; the One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it (1 Thess. 5:23–24).
- The Corinthians are told that some of them were like this, but they were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11).
- The author of Hebrews urges believers to pursue peace with everyone and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).
- Paul urges believers to present their members as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes; he calls holiness the fruit of being set free from sin, and eternal life its outcome (Rom. 6:19–22). Jesus prays that the Father will sanctify the disciples by the truth—His Word (John 17:17).
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the Scripture texts are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
6 Scripture passages · Father’s Blessing Bible
1 Thessalonians 4:3–7
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should wrong or take advantage of his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such things, as we also told you before and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but to holiness.
1 Thessalonians 5:23–24
23 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. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Hebrews 12:14
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Romans 6:19–22
19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you offered your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness, leading to lawless deeds , so now offer your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to holy deeds . 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then? Such deeds, of which you are now ashamed, for their end is death. 22 But now, having been set free from sin and having become servants of God, you have your fruit leading to holiness, and the end is eternal life.
John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth.
