Sanctification is not automatic. We enter into sanctification by the Believers Faith placed and maintained exclusively in Christ [Who He Is] and the Cross of Calvary where the victory was won [what He has done] (Hebrews 11:6). This is called the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus -
Romans 8:2. This allows the Holy Spirit to baptize the Believer into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, so that the life of Christ is manifested through the power of the Holy Spirit in the Believers life [it is His life that brings the victory - not ours]
Matthew 5:8,
John 1:12,
John 14:21,
Romans 6:3-5,
Galatians 2:20-21,
2 Corinthians 4:11
The Lord has given us everything we need regarding life and living - and we receive these great and Precious Promises THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM [what Christ did at the Cross].
2 Peter 1:1-4
VERY - VERY IMPORTANT: The Believer must stay in His death, burial, and resurrection and are, therefore, victorious (It is Jesus Christ life that brings victory - not ours). That is the only way we are triumphant in Christ (
II Cor. 2:14). And that is the only way He can work in us both to will (change our desires), and to do (give us the power of the Holy Spirit) (
Phil. 2:13)
This is the only way we receive the life of Jesus Christ to manifest in our lives so that we receive all the benefits of this Resurrection life (
Luke 9:23).
There are two kinds of peace with God the Father:
1. Justifying Peace - This is Peace with God, a legal standing (
Romans 5:1, 8:7;
Ephesians 2:14-15).
2. Sanctifying Peace - This is the Peace of God in the heart (
Romans 8:6, 14:19, 15:13;
Galatians 1:3;
1 Thessalonians 5:23).
The first is the result of a legal standing. The second is the result of the Work of the Holy Spirit. The first is static, never fluctuates, the second changes almost from hour to hour. The first, every Christian has, the second, every Christian may have.
Sanctifying peace allows the Holy Spirit to deliver the Believer into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, so that the life of Christ is manifested and lived through the Believer by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a living sacrifice that is pleasing and acceptable to God (
Matthew 5:8;
John 14:21;
Romans 8:2, 13;
2 Corinthians 4:11;
Galatians 2:20-21).
The majority of Christians know nothing about the Cross of Christ for sanctification. Justification delivers us from the penalty of sin, while sanctification delivers us from the power of sin. The Cross of Christ is as necessary for sanctification as it is for salvation (
1 Cor. 1:18).
We submit to God by the Plan He has provided, which is the Cross. We resist the Devil by strictly looking to Christ, and what He has done for us at the Cross, where Satan was totally defeated (
Colossians 2:14-15).