HOW DOES SANCTIFICATION WORK? - DAVID POWLISON

 

David Powlison’s How Does Sanctification Work? rejects one-size-fits-all views of Christian growth. Sanctification, he argues, is personal, relational, and multifaceted which means God meets each believer uniquely through His Word, Spirit, promises, and people. Powlison contrasts “unbalancing” truth for personal ministry with “rebalancing” truth in theology. Remembering justification is essential but not the sole path to growth. Real change happens as God applies different truths in different seasons of life, showing sanctification as both deeply human and divinely guided.

It would not be an overstatement to say that within Reformed circles, the cornerstone of our salvation—justification by faith, is faithfully proclaimed in nearly every corporate worship service. I deeply appreciate this emphasis because it humbles us and anchors our identity in Christ’s finished work. However, when it comes to progressive sanctification, many Reformed brothers seem to remain tethered almost exclusively to that cornerstone. We dwell on it so much that our understanding of spiritual growth can become one-dimensional. As the author insightfully observes, “Justification by faith in the sacrifice of Christ certainly is a cornerstone of our salvation. But is remembering that always the crucial ingredient in how we are progressively changed and sanctified? The Bible’s answer to this pastoral and practical question is sometimes yes, often no.” This strikes me as profoundly important. While remembering Christ’s death is always good and necessary, Scripture invites us to go further. We must also proclaim and meditate on God’s electing, pursuing love for His people, and His sovereign purposes that work all things together for our good. I agree to the argument that There is no single key; sanctification is complex and personal, guided by God’s many means of grace. God uses varied means, Scripture, prayer, community, suffering to shape each believer differently.

I am deeply drawn to this insight: “The task in any ministry moment is to choose, emphasize, and ‘unbalance’ truth for the sake of relevant application to particular persons and situations.” The author’s point about the varied meanings of the cross is especially compelling. Each dimension of Christ’s work carries a sanctifying power. I agree that presenting all of them at once may not be effective, because each truth speaks differently depending on the person and the moment. For me, the truth that most strengthens me right now is this: the powers of darkness and death were defeated at the cross. That reality speaks directly into my present experience. Anxiety and depression often feel like encroaching darkness, threatening to overwhelm. But the cross declares that this darkness has been decisively overcome. Christ’s victory is not abstract—it is personal, powerful, and present. Among the many meanings of the cross, this one stands out because it meets me where I am. But I recognize that others may be drawn to different aspect perhaps God’s forgiving mercy, His reconciling love, or His suffering solidarity. Their relevance will differ, and that’s precisely why I resonate so deeply with the author’s call to “unbalance” truth for the sake of pastoral application. It is not about diminishing any part of the gospel, but about wisely applying the right truth to the right heart at the right time.

I am also deeply drawn to the idea of “rebalancing.” In my previous reflection, I came to appreciate how, in practical ministry, we often focus on one truth at a time to meet a specific need. This intentional focus, what the author calls “unbalancing” is not a flaw but a pastoral strategy. It allows us to apply the right truth to the right heart in the right moment. But theological reflection, as the author explains, serves a different purpose. It helps us rebalance by stepping back to see the whole picture of God’s truth. This is profoundly insightful to me. It reminds me that faithful ministry requires both the precision of pastoral application and the breadth of theological vision. We unbalance in the moment, but we rebalance in reflection so that our ministry remains both relevant and rooted.

I am struck by how the author describes justification by faith as both comforting and disturbing. That’s a perspective I had not considered before, and it is deeply insightful. Justification comforts those who are burdened by the sting of their failures because it reminds us that we are accepted not because of our performance, but because of Christ’s finished work. At the same time, it disturbs those who are comfortable and self-satisfied in their successes because it dismantles pride and exposes our need for grace, even at our best. This dual effect is powerful. It means that remembering justification daily is not just a theological habit but it is a means of personal sanctification. It humbles the proud, lifts the broken, and reorients our hearts toward Christ. Later in the discussion, the author offers deeply comforting words: “In the midst of painful circumstances, don’t lose heart, because every blessing (including justification) works unto your sanctification, your faith, your obedience, and your hope.” That truth anchors me. It reminds me that even in suffering, God is not absent. He is actively working through every blessing, including the gift of justification, to shape us into the likeness of Christ.