When God saves a sinner, He does not leave that person unchanged. Sanctification is the lifelong process by which the Holy Spirit conforms believers to the image of Christ. Christians are declared righteous in justification, but they are also being made holy in daily life. This involves Scripture, prayer, repentance, obedience, suffering, church life, and spiritual discipline. Sanctification is not self-improvement with religious language. It is Spirit-powered transformation. Believers still battle sin, but they no longer belong to sin. Growth may feel slow, but God is faithful to complete what He began.
