True Sanctification Is a Lifework

Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It does not come from a happy turn of feeling, but results from constantly dying to sin and constantly living for Christ. We will overcome not by occasional efforts, but by persevering discipline and hard conflict. As long as Satan reigns, we will have self to subdue and persistent sins to overcome. As long as life lasts, there will be no point that we can reach and then say, “I have fully arrived.” Sanctification results from lifelong obedience.ULe 205.3

None of the apostles or prophets ever claimed to be without sin. Men who have lived nearest to God, who would sacrifice life itself rather than knowingly commit a wrong act, have confessed the sinfulness of their nature. They have claimed no righteousness of their own but have trusted completely in Christ’s righteousness.ULe 205.4

The more clearly we recognize the purity of Christ’s character, the more clearly we will see how very sinful sin is. We will be continually confessing our sins and humbling our hearts before Him. At every step forward our repentance will deepen. We will confess, “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) nothing good dwells.” “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 7:18; Galatians 6:14.) May no human lips dishonor God by saying, “I am sinless; I am holy.” Sanctified lips will never give voice to such boastful, untrue words.ULe 205.5

Those who feel inclined to claim great holiness should look into the mirror of God’s law. As they understand its work as a revealer of the thoughts and motives of the heart, they will not boast of sinlessness. “If we say that we have no sin,” John wrote, “we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8, 10, 9.)ULe 205.6

Some people profess to be holy and claim a right to the promises of God while they refuse to obey His commandments. But this is presumption. We will show that we have true love for God when we obey all His commandments. “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” “He who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him.” (1 John 2:4; 3:24).ULe 205.7

John did not teach that we earn salvation by obedience, but obedience is the fruit of faith and love. “You know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him” (1 John 3:5, 6). If we abide in Christ, our feelings, our thoughts, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God. The sanctified heart is in harmony with the teachings of God’s law.ULe 206.1