Believers enjoy union with Christ in His death and resurrection (Colossians 2:11–12). This union breaks the power of sin, diminishes its practice, empowers righteous living, and ensures progress in righteous living. This transfer of power from sin to Christ is “a once-for-all definitive act,”1John Murray, “Definitive Sanctification” in Collected Writings of John Murray (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1977): 2:277. and the believer simultaneously begins his progress in practical sanctification. A number of passages bear out these truths.
Some passages speak of “the new man” and/or “the old man” in order to teach that the power of sin has been definitively broken and that we are now alive unto righteousness in Christ. Imperatives follow on the basis of this transformation, and here and there are descriptions of the believer’s progressive mortification of sin and increase of practical righteousness.
First, in Romans 6, “our old self was crucified with Him” in order that “we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4, 6). On this basis, Paul commands us to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God and to live in accord with these realities (Romans 6:11–14). The believer obeys so “that the body of sin might be brought to nothing” (Romans 6:6), that is, so that the influence of sin upon the whole person might be eliminated altogether. Righteousness reigns in sin’s place (Romans 6:12–13).
Second, in Colossians 3, “you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self” (Colossians 3:9–10). Again, these truths ground Paul’s commands for the believer to mortify his vices and clothe himself with virtue (Colossians 3:5–9a, 12–17). The believer’s experience of virtue grows over time: “the new self … being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10).
Third, Ephesians 4 uses similar language: “You … were taught … to put off your old self … and to put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:21–22, 24). While Paul’s infinitives (to put off, to put on) seem to be commands at first glance, they are better understood as recalling the content of what he taught the Ephesians, namely, that they had definitively put off the old man and put on the new, providing the basis (“Therefore” in Ephesians 4:25) for the imperatives in Ephesians 4:25–32. In so doing, they would progressively “be renewed [present tense] in the spirit of [their] minds” (Ephesians 4:23).2See William W. Combs, “Does the Believer Have One Nature or Two?” in Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 9 (Fall 1997), 89–90. See also Anthony A. Hoekema, “The Reformed Perspective,” in Five … Continue reading
Other passages use different terminology to speak to this decisive transfer of power, give imperatives, and describe the process of sanctification.
First, 2 Peter 1 tells us that we have decisively “escaped from the corruption that is in the world” and have been “granted … all things that pertain to life and godliness” since we have “become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:3–4). “For this very reason,” he commands, we should “make every effort to supplement your faith” with godly qualities (2 Peter 1:5–7). As we do so, “these qualities are yours and increasing,” making us effective and fruitful “in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8).
Second, in 1 John 3, “because he has been born of God,” the child of God no longer “makes a practice of sinning”—such a sinful life is “of the devil” (1 John 3:8–9). Instead, he “practices righteousness … as he is righteous” (1 John 3:7). John’s imperative is not so much to practice righteousness as it is to assume that believers will practice righteousness and to “let no one deceive you” about the matter (1 John 3:7; cf. 3:1–10).
In summary, when we are united by faith to Christ, the power of sin is broken, and God within empowers us for Christian living. As we put our sin to death and heed the command to “be transformed” (Romans 12:2), “our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). And, lest we forget, God will one day complete our transformation. At our glorification, any remaining vestiges of sin will be altogether vanquished as we put on what is imperishable and immortal: “we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2; cf. 1 Cor 15:53). May God hasten that day.3For all of the above, I am especially indebted to Mark Snoeberger, “Advanced Issues in Pneumatology” (class notes, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, Summer 2010), 72–90.
References
| 1 | John Murray, “Definitive Sanctification” in Collected Writings of John Murray (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1977): 2:277. |
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| 2 | See William W. Combs, “Does the Believer Have One Nature or Two?” in Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 9 (Fall 1997), 89–90. See also Anthony A. Hoekema, “The Reformed Perspective,” in Five Views on Sanctification (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987), 80–81. Hoekema uses the term “explanatory infinitives,” meaning that they are infinitives that explain what was previously taught. As authors point out, this understanding of Ephesians 4 is grammatically acceptable and in keeping with Romans 6 and Colossians 3. |
| 3 | For all of the above, I am especially indebted to Mark Snoeberger, “Advanced Issues in Pneumatology” (class notes, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, Summer 2010), 72–90. |
