Bible glossary

What Does ‘Sanctification’ Mean in the Bible?

Sanctification is the lifelong process of being made holy, set apart for God and gradually changed to become more like Jesus.

To sanctify is to set apart as holy, dedicated to God. In the Bible, sanctification has two sides. In one sense believers are already set apart the moment they belong to Christ, made holy by His once-for-all sacrifice. In another sense it is an ongoing work: the slow, real reshaping of a person's character over a lifetime.

This growth is not self-improvement by willpower. It is the Spirit of God working within, using Scripture, prayer, community, and even hardship to make us more loving, truthful, and free. It is usually gradual, with setbacks, and God is patient through all of it.

Key verses

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
John 17:17

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Hebrews 10:10