Can We Be Perfectly Sanctified in Christ (Updated)

Some born-again Christians believe that mankind can be “fully sanctified” or have “perfect unity” with the Trinity on this side of the grave. It is my view that we will not achieve that goal until Heaven. 

Salvation is an event in the life of the Christian when one accepts Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9-10). Sanctification, on the other hand, is a life-long process (sometimes better referred to as “progressive sanctification”) of learning who God is and what He expects of us as we prepare to spend eternity with Him. Mankind does not have the capacity to be “perfectly sanctified” as long as any sin remains in the believer’s life. 

The Danger in Believing One is Fully Sanctified 

Salvation and sanctification are amazing gifts from God, through Christ and the Holy Spirit. The danger in assuming one can reach an endpoint in sanctification in this life includes: 

• The sin of pride can take over one’s life, looking down on those who are not “fully sanctified”. 
• The belief that one no longer commits sin, regardless of their thoughts or actions, and,
• A danger that our relationship with God is so close that theology rooted in the Bible can be ignored over one’s “feelings” about who God is and what He expects of us.