Day 48: Scripture and Sanctification
The Doctrine of Scripture: Days 29-56
Scripture
"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17 ESV
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." Psalm 119:9 ESV
"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17 ESV
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." Psalm 119:9 ESV
Confessional Summary
The Westminster Confession of Faith teaches that the means of grace of Word, sacraments, and prayer are "effectual to believers for their salvation" (WCF 25.3). God uses what He has appointed. The Westminster Larger Catechism identifies the Word as the primary means by which the Spirit "works and continues" faith in the elect, "whereby they are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls" (WLC 155). Sanctification happens where God speaks.
The Heidelberg Catechism roots sanctification in gratitude. After explaining justification by faith alone, it asks, "Why then must we still do good works?" The answer: Because Christ, "having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit to be His image, so that with our whole life we may show ourselves thankful to God" (HC 86). Obedience flows from what God has done, not from what we must earn.
The Reformed confessions place sanctification squarely under the rule of Scripture. God sets His people apart by truth, and that truth is His Word.
The Westminster Confession of Faith teaches that the means of grace of Word, sacraments, and prayer are "effectual to believers for their salvation" (WCF 25.3). God uses what He has appointed. The Westminster Larger Catechism identifies the Word as the primary means by which the Spirit "works and continues" faith in the elect, "whereby they are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls" (WLC 155). Sanctification happens where God speaks.
The Heidelberg Catechism roots sanctification in gratitude. After explaining justification by faith alone, it asks, "Why then must we still do good works?" The answer: Because Christ, "having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit to be His image, so that with our whole life we may show ourselves thankful to God" (HC 86). Obedience flows from what God has done, not from what we must earn.
The Reformed confessions place sanctification squarely under the rule of Scripture. God sets His people apart by truth, and that truth is His Word.
Reflection
Jesus prays for His disciples in John 17, and His request is specific. He does not ask the Father to make them more sincere or more committed. He prays, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." Holiness comes by God's appointed means, and that means is His Word.
Psalm 119:9 presses the practical question every believer should ask: "How can a young man keep his way pure?" The answer is not “try harder” or “feel more deeply.” The answer is Scripture. Guard your way according to God's Word. The Word names the sin you excuse. It corrects paths you thought were acceptable. It presses you toward what God loves and pulls you back from what He hates.
Sanctification is not self-improvement dressed in religious language. It is God at work through truth. You do not drift into holiness. You are formed by what you hear, believe, and obey. Neglecting Scripture always produces shallow faith. Without the Word, you are left to your own sense of what is right, and that sense is corrupted. The Word cuts through preference and confronts you with God's will.
Jesus prays for His disciples in John 17, and His request is specific. He does not ask the Father to make them more sincere or more committed. He prays, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." Holiness comes by God's appointed means, and that means is His Word.
Psalm 119:9 presses the practical question every believer should ask: "How can a young man keep his way pure?" The answer is not “try harder” or “feel more deeply.” The answer is Scripture. Guard your way according to God's Word. The Word names the sin you excuse. It corrects paths you thought were acceptable. It presses you toward what God loves and pulls you back from what He hates.
Sanctification is not self-improvement dressed in religious language. It is God at work through truth. You do not drift into holiness. You are formed by what you hear, believe, and obey. Neglecting Scripture always produces shallow faith. Without the Word, you are left to your own sense of what is right, and that sense is corrupted. The Word cuts through preference and confronts you with God's will.
Application
Do not come to Scripture looking for confirmation. Come ready to be corrected. When the Word confronts you, do not soften it or ignore it. Receive correction as mercy. God wounds so He can heal. He humbles to restore.
Let the Word have the final say over your desires, your excuses, and your definitions of what is acceptable. The measure of spiritual maturity is not how much you know, but how quickly you obey what you already know.
Prayer
Lord, sanctify me in the truth. Give me a heart that welcomes Your Word and a will that follows it. Correct what is crooked in me. Strengthen what is weak. Make my life fit for Your pleasure. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Do not come to Scripture looking for confirmation. Come ready to be corrected. When the Word confronts you, do not soften it or ignore it. Receive correction as mercy. God wounds so He can heal. He humbles to restore.
Let the Word have the final say over your desires, your excuses, and your definitions of what is acceptable. The measure of spiritual maturity is not how much you know, but how quickly you obey what you already know.
Prayer
Lord, sanctify me in the truth. Give me a heart that welcomes Your Word and a will that follows it. Correct what is crooked in me. Strengthen what is weak. Make my life fit for Your pleasure. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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2026
January
Day 1: Our Chief End, All of Life for God's GloryDay 2: The Doctrine of God, The God Who IsDay 3: God Is, The Living God Who Truly ExistsDay 4: God Speaks First, Knowing the Living GodDay 5: The Only True God, No RivalsDay 6: God is Spirit, Not Like UsDay 7: God Is Self-Existent, “I AM”Day 8: God Is Not Divided, His Perfections Do Not CompeteDay 9: God Is Holy, Not Safe, Not CommonDay 10: God Is Love, Not Indifferent, Not SentimentalDay 11: God Is Just, The Judge of All the EarthDay 12: God Is Merciful, He Delights to PardonDay 13: God Is Sovereign, None Can Stay His HandDay 14: God Is Wise, Never Confused, Never LateDay 15: God Is Good, He Does GoodDay 16: God Is True, He Cannot LieDay 17: God Is Eternal, Before All, After AllDay 18: God Is Unchanging, Your AnchorDay 19: God Is Omniscient, Fully Known by God, Fully Loved in ChristDay 20: God Is Omnipresent, Never AbsentDay 21: God Is Omnipotent, God Is AbleDay 22: The Trinity, One God in Three PersonsDay 23: The Father, Source, Sender, and AdopterDay 24: The Son Eternal God Redeeming LordDay 25: The Spirit, Lord, and Giver of LifeDay 26: God’s Grace and Decree: Salvation Begins with GodDay 27: Providence: The Fatherly Hand Over All ThingsDay 28: Worship, The Proper End of the Doctrine of GodDay 29: The Doctrine of Scripture, The God Who SpeaksDay 30: Revelation; General and SpecialDay 31: The Authority of Scripture
February
Day 32: Inspiration, God-Breathed and Given by the SpiritDay 33: The Authority of Scripture, The Line You Do Not CrossDay 34: Self-Authenticating Scripture, Recognizing the Word of GodDay 35: The Role of the Holy Spirit, Illumination Not InnovationDay 36: Inerrancy and Truthfulness, Truth Has a NameDay 37: The Sufficiency of Scripture, God’s Word is EnoughDay 38: The Clarity of Scripture, An Open DoorDay 39: The Canon of Scripture, A Settled WordDay 40: The Unity of Scripture, One Story, One SaviorDay 41: Preservation of Scripture, The Word Kept PureDay 42: Translation and Accessibility, The Word Made PlainDay 43: Scripture and Tradition, The Final Court of AppealDay 44: Scripture and the ChurchDay 45: Scripture and Worship, God Sets the TermsDay 46: Scripture and Preaching, God Speaks Through MeansDay 47: Scripture and ObedienceDay 48: Scripture and SanctificationDay 49: Scripture and Comfort, God Speaks PeaceDay 50: Scripture and Assurance, God Speaks CertaintyTaking a Pause