Progressive Sanctification

The popular idea that Christians are gradually “getting cleaner” or inching their way toward holiness over time—often called progressive sanctification—is not biblical.

According to 1 Corinthians 6:11, “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Paul didn't use the past tense by mistake. Your cleansing is a done deal thanks to what Jesus Christ did for us.

Similarly, Hebrews 10:10 states, “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Not little by little. Not eventually. Once, and for all time. To suggest otherwise is to put a paintbrush back in the hand of the believer, as if Jesus left the masterpiece half-finished.

He perfected us forever (Hebrews 10:14), and if we could ever mess that up, that wouldn't be true. The truth is, sanctification—being set apart for God—is not a project in process; it’s a position already secured in Christ.

Spiritual growth is real (Romans 12:2), yes, but it flows from knowing we’re already clean (2 Peter 1:9), not from trying to get cleaner. Jesus didn’t only do half the job.

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