sanctification

Sanctification is a theological term describing the process by which individuals are made holy or set apart for God within Christian faith. It typically encompasses both the initial act of being sanctified at conversion and the ongoing transformation of character and conduct in the believer, often contrasted with justification, which concerns a courtroom declaration of righteousness. In many traditions, sanctification is understood as the work of the Holy Spirit in cooperation with human freedom and discipline.

Across Christian traditions, sanctification includes different emphases. In Catholicism, it is achieved through grace received in the Church and sacraments, especially baptism and the Eucharist, and through a life of prayer, virtue, and moral reform, culminating in the eschatological final purification. In Protestant theology, emphasis is usually placed on sanctification as the Spirit’s work within believers following justification, with the understanding that true holiness grows progressively while not earning salvation. Lutheran and Reformed traditions distinguish between imperfect, ongoing sanctification and the certainty of justification, while affirming that good works flow from faith. Anglican teaching often presents sanctification as a means of grace through Scripture, sacraments, and prayer, coexisting with justification.

In Eastern Orthodoxy, sanctification is linked to theosis or deification, a transformative union with God through prayer, ascetic practice, and participation in the life of the Church. Despite differences, most traditions affirm that sanctification is a lifelong process of growth in holiness, enabled by grace and practiced through disciplines such as prayer, Scripture study, worship, confession, and service.