Theological Glossary
Six Christian traditions define Sanctification below — each in its own words, paraphrased from its official documents. These are attributed positions, not assertions of fact.
The Catholic Church teaches that sanctification is the believer's ongoing growth in holiness through grace, by which the justified person becomes more like Christ. It holds that this growth requires cooperation with grace, expressed in prayer, the sacraments, and acts of charity and penance.
Source: CCC 1992; 2013–2016 ↗
The Orthodox Church teaches sanctification as theosis — the believer's ever-deepening participation in the divine life by grace, becoming 'partakers of the divine nature.' It holds that this transformation is the very purpose of salvation and unfolds through the sacraments, prayer, and ascetic struggle.
Source: The Orthodox Faith, Vol. IV ↗
Lutherans teach that the justified believer, renewed by the Holy Spirit, necessarily produces good works — but that these works do not justify or merit salvation. They hold that sanctification is the fruit of faith, flowing from gratitude, while the Christian remains simultaneously saint and sinner in this life.
The Reformed tradition teaches that sanctification is the Spirit's work of renewing the whole person after God's image, enabling the believer to die to sin and live to righteousness. It holds that this work is real but imperfect in this life, with remaining corruption warring against the Spirit until glorification.
Baptists teach that sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes and enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the indwelling Holy Spirit. They hold that growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.
Source: BFM 2000, IV.C ↗
Methodists teach sanctification as the Spirit's ongoing work of perfecting the believer in love — the Wesleyan hope of 'Christian perfection,' a heart fully devoted to God. They hold that entire sanctification may be experienced as a distinct work of grace after the new birth, though growth continues for a lifetime.
Source: UMC What We Believe ↗
See how the traditions compare on related topics: