The Seven Steps of Divine Sanctification

 

The Seven Steps of Divine Sanctification

Luke 15:8 Or what woman, having ten denarii, if she loses one, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search diligently until she finds it?

Hebrews 13:12 Therefore, in order to sanctify the people by his blood, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate.

John 1:12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Then you will be able to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but even as our outward man is perishing, our inward man is being renewed day by day.

Romans 8:29 For those whom God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Philippians 3:21 Who will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body, according to the power that enables him to subject all things to himself.

 

Stage of Sanctification	Meaning	Basis	Effect	Example	Application	Related Scriptures
1. Seeking Sanctification (Initial)	God seeks man by the shining of the Spirit, leading to repentance and return to Him	Illumination and conviction of the Holy Spirit	Causes repentance and turning back to God	The prodigal son returning to the father	Accept the Spirit’s shining, repent and return to God	1 Pet. 1:2; Luke 15:8–10, 17–21
2. Redeeming Sanctification (Positional)	Through Christ’s blood, transferring us from Adam to Christ	The blood of Christ	Cleanses and sets us apart unto God	Israelites protected by the Passover blood	Believe in Christ’s redemption and stand in it	Heb. 13:12
3. Regenerative Sanctification (Beginning in nature)	Being regenerated in spirit as the start of sanctification in nature	The seed of God’s life	Makes us a new creation, children of God in life and nature (not in Godhead)	Nicodemus conversing with Jesus about being born anew	Receive God’s life to become His children	2 Cor. 5:17; John 1:12–13
4. Renewing Sanctification (in the soul)	Continuing sanctification by renewing the soul, especially the mind	The Spirit’s operation in the soul	Renews the mind, making the soul part of the new creation	Paul’s renewed mind after conversion	Daily turn to the spirit, allowing God to renew the mind	Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23; Gal. 6:15
5. Transforming Sanctification (Daily, metabolic)	Metabolically reconstituting us with Christ’s element	The element of Christ as life	Transforms us in nature to express Christ	Paul: “outwardly wasting, inwardly renewed”	Experience Christ daily, letting Him be formed in us	2 Cor. 4:16; 1 Cor. 3:12
6. Conforming Sanctification (Forming)	Being conformed to the image of the glorified Christ	The Spirit’s transforming power	Shapes us into the image of Christ as His expression	Believers being molded into Christ’s image	Beholding the Lord to be transformed into His likeness	Rom. 8:28–29; 2 Cor. 3:18
7. Glorifying Sanctification (Ultimate)	Final sanctification in glory, redemption of the body	Christ’s power at His coming	Transfigures the body of humiliation into glory	Paul longing for “the redemption of our body”	Hope in Christ’s coming, awaiting glorification	Phil. 3:21; Rom. 8:23

 

Conclusion:

Divine sanctification is the organic work of the Spirit in believers step by step—from seeking, redemption, regeneration, renewing, transformation, and conformation, to glorification. It brings sinners into sonship, making them like God in life and nature (but not in Godhead), until they fully express Christ in glory, fulfilling God’s eternal economy.

 

*Please refer to the June 2025 Summer Training, General Topic: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (III), Chapter 7: The Founder (Captain) and Forerunner of Salvation, Leading Many Sons into Glory by Entering Within the Veil and Going Outside the Camp