Sanctification
READ
Have you ever looked at your spiritual life and felt discouraged by how far you still have to go? Take heart—the journey of sanctification is one of the most hope-filled promises of the gospel, and it reveals God's patient goodness in powerful ways.
Let’s take a moment to read 2 Corinthians 3:17-18:
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory,are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
REFLECT
In today’s passage, Paul gives us a breathtaking picture of this transformation process. Unlike justification (which happens in a moment) or glorification (which awaits us in eternity), sanctification occupies the "middle space" of our Christian experience—the ongoing work of becoming more like Jesus day by day.
The verse begins with "we all"—a beautiful reminder that sanctification isn't just for super-Christians or spiritual elites. Every believer with an "unveiled face" participates in this process. The veil Paul references connects to his earlier discussion of Moses, whose face was veiled after experiencing God's glory. Under the new covenant, that veil is removed for all believers—we have direct access to behold God's glory in the face of Christ.
Notice what drives our transformation: contemplating or beholding the Lord's glory. Sanctification isn't primarily about trying harder or following rules more diligently. It starts with gaze—fixing our attention on Jesus himself. We become like what we worship and admire. As we focus on Christ through Scripture, prayer, worship, and community, His character gradually becomes ours.
The transformation itself is described as "from glory to glory" or "with ever-increasing glory." This suggests both progress and process. Sanctification doesn't happen overnight; it unfolds in stages, with each revelation of Christ producing a corresponding change in us. Some days the change feels imperceptible, but over time, the trajectory is unmistakable—more patience, more kindness, more self-control, more love.
Crucially, Paul adds that this transformation "comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." We aren't changing ourselves through sheer willpower; the Holy Spirit is actively working this metamorphosis in us. Our role is cooperation, not self-renovation. Like a butterfly in a chrysalis, we submit to a transformation we could never accomplish on our own.
The goodness of God shines in sanctification's pace and process. Unlike instant transformation, which would bypass our participation and learning, God invites us into partnership. He respects our personhood even as He reshapes our character. He doesn't force change but nurtures it, allowing us to experience the joy of progress and the growth that comes through struggle.
This progressive transformation offers tremendous hope when we feel discouraged by our ongoing struggles with sin. Sanctification means God isn't finished with us yet. The imperfections we battle today are precisely the places where God is currently at work. Our awareness of sin often increases as we grow spiritually—not because we're regressing but because our spiritual sensitivity is heightening.
The end goal of sanctification is nothing less than Christ-likeness—being transformed into "his image." God's goodness is displayed in His determination to restore in us the divine image marred by sin. He doesn't merely save us from something but for something—to become the truest version of our humanity as reflections of Jesus himself.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
Looking back over your spiritual journey, what specific aspects of Christ's character do you see more clearly formed in you now compared to earlier in your faith?
Where do you currently feel most discouraged about your spiritual progress, and how does the truth of ongoing sanctification bring hope to that area?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Holy Spirit, thank you for your patient work of transformation in my life. Help me to fix my gaze more consistently on Jesus rather than on my failures or struggles. I surrender today to your sanctifying work, trusting that you who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion. Amen.