The work of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to lead holy lives, dedicated to the service of God and conformed to his likeness.
The Spirit of holiness is promised
Matthew 3:11 parallel Luke 3:16 “fire” implies the Holy Spirit's work of purification and judgment.
I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Sanctification is a special work of the Holy Spirit
Romans 15:16 See also 1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 5:5; 1 Peter 1:2
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit requires believers to be sanctified
2 Thessalonians 2:13 Sanctification is a necessary part of being a Christian. See also 1 Corinthians 6:18–19
But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
The Holy Spirit enables believers to be sanctified
Romans 8:4 See also Romans 8:13; Ephesians 5:18
so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit produces sanctification
Galatians 5:22–23 See also Romans 14:17; 2 Timothy 1:7
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The process of sanctification
The Holy Spirit makes believers more like Jesus Christ
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit helps mortify sinful human nature
Romans 8:13 See also Galatians 5:17
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
The Holy Spirit is opposed to natural desires
Galatians 5:16–17 See also Romans 8:5–9; Jude 1:19
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
Examples of people sanctified by the Holy Spirit
Joshua: Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9; Luke 2:25 Simeon; Acts 6:3, Acts 6:5; Acts 11:24 Barnabas; 2 Corinthians 6:6 Paul and his companions
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.