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positive side of sanctification is often called “a being raised together with Christ,” Rom. 6:4, 5; Col. 2:12; 3:1, 2.
The new life to which it leads is called “a life unto God,” Rom. 6:11; Gal. 2:19.

3. It affects the whole man: body and soul; intellect, affections and will. This follows from the nature of the
case, because sanctification takes place in the inner life of man, in the heart, and this cannot be changed
without changing the whole organism of man. If the inner man is changed, there is bound to be change also in
the periphery of life. Moreover, Scripture clearly and explicitly teaches that it affects both body and soul, 1
Thess. 5:23; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:12; 1 Cor. 6:15, 20. The body comes into consideration here as the organ or
instrument of the sinful soul, through which the sinful inclinations and habits and passions express themselves.
The sanctification of the body takes place especially in the crisis of death and in the resurrection of the dead.
Finally, it also appears from Scripture that sanctification affects all the powers or faculties of the soul: the
understanding, Jer. 31:34; John 6:45;—the will, Ezek. 36:25–27; Phil. 2:13;—the passions, Gal. 5:24;—and the
conscience, Tit. 1:15; Heb. 9:14.

4. It is a work of God in which believers co-operate. When it is said that man takes part in the work of
sanctification, this does not mean that man is an independent agent in the work, so as to make it partly the work
of God and partly the work of man; but merely, that God effects the work in part through the instrumentality of
man as a rational being, by requiring of him prayerful and intelligent co-operation with the Spirit. That man must
co-operate with the Spirit of God follows: (a) from the repeated warnings against evils and temptations, which
clearly imply that man must be active in avoiding the pitfalls of life, Rom. 12:9, 16, 17; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Gal. 5:16–
23; and (b) from the constant exhortations to holy living. These imply that the believer must be diligent in the
employment of the means at his command for the moral and spiritual improvement of his life, Micah 6:8; John
15:2, 8, 16; Rom. 8:12, 13; 12:1, 2, 17; Gal. 6:7, 8, 15.

5.4 Let’s Practice…

1. What is the goal of human life?

2 – 4. List three of the motives for obedience to God in the Christian Life:

5. What do we know about the relationship between religion and ethics?

6. What is the practical purpose that ethics serves?

7. What doctrine is key to understanding Biblical Ethics?

8-9. What are the two parts of this doctrine?

5.5 Let’s Personalize this Lesson…

Activity: Biblical Ethics involves patterning your life after Jesus Christ’s life. It means reacting
to things as He would; answering questions as He would; handling temptation as He would;
enduring hardship and suffering as He would. What areas in your life are not quite like
Christ’s? Look hard and carefully. List them here and then ask God to give you victory in those
areas --- to be more like Christ. Ask yourself in every situation: “What would Jesus do?”

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