Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

gradually removed. It is often represented in the Bible as the crucifying of the old man,
and is thus connected with the death of Christ on the cross. The old man is human
nature in so far as it is controlled by sin, Rom. 6:6; Gal. 5:24. In the context of the
passage of Galatians Paul contrasts the works of the flesh and the works of the Spirit,
and then says: “And they who are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the
passions and the lusts thereof.” This means that in their case the Spirit has gained
predominance.
b. The quickening of the new man, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. While the
former part of sanctification is negative in character, this is positive. It is that act of God
whereby the holy disposition of the soul is strengthened, holy exercises are increased,
and thus a new course of life engendered and promoted. The old structure of sin is
gradually torn down, and a new structure of God is reared in its stead. These two parts
of sanctification are not successive but contemporaneous. Thank God, the gradual
erection of the new building need not wait until the old one is completely demolished.
If it had to wait for that, it could never begin in this life. With the gradual dissolution of
the old the new makes its appearance. It is like the airing of a house filled with
pestiferous odors. As the old air is drawn out, the new rushes in. This positive side of
sanctification is often called “a being raised together with Christ,” Rom. 6:4,5; Col. 2:12;
3:1,2. The new life to which it leads is called “a life unto God,” Rom. 6:11; Gal. 2:19.
3. IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE MAN: BODY AND SOUL; INTELLECT, AFFECTIONS AND WILL. This
follows from the nature of the case, because sanctification takes place in the inner life of
man, in the heart, and this cannot be changed without changing the whole organism of
man. If the inner man is changed, there is bound to be change also in the periphery of
life. Moreover, Scripture clearly and explicitly teaches that it affects both body and soul,
I Thess. 5:23; II Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:12; I Cor. 6:15,20. The body comes into consideration
here as the organ or instrument of the sinful soul, through which the sinful inclinations
and habits and passions express themselves. The sanctification of the body takes place
especially in the crisis of death and in the resurrection of the dead. Finally, it also
appears from Scripture that sanctification affects all the powers or faculties of the soul:
the understanding, Jer. 31:34; John 6:45; — the will, Ezek. 36:25-27; Phil. 2:13; — the
passions, Gal. 5:24; — and the conscience, Tit. 1:15; Heb. 9:14.
4. IT IS A WORK OF GOD IN WHICH BELIEVERS CO-OPERATE. When it is said that man
takes part in the work of sanctification, this does not mean that man is an independent
agent in the work, so as to make it partly the work of God and partly the work of man;
but merely, that God effects the work in part through the instrumentality of man as a
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