The Heart of Prayer
The Sanctification Gap: Navigating the Tension of the Spiritual Life
In the journey of the Christian faith, there exists a profound tension between the theological ideal and the current human reality. This tension is often described as the “sanctification gap.” Sanctification, the process of being set apart and made holy by God, is initiated by the work of Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Scripture presents a high standard: the call to be holy as God is holy. When an individual trusts in Christ, they are described as new creatures who have laid aside the old self to put on a new self, being conformed into the image of Christ.
Romans 8:29 (NASB)
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
Despite this definitive spiritual reality, the daily experience of the believer often reveals a different narrative. While the believer is free from the mastery of sin, they are not yet free from its influence. Habits of the flesh persist, and the willingness to do good is frequently met with a failure in execution. This gap between who a person is in Christ and how they behave on a Tuesday afternoon can lead to a sense of spiritual dissatisfaction. Frequently, the response to this gap is to adopt a facade of holiness, hiding the messy reality of the soul. However, a false self cannot truly love or be loved, nor can it experience the transformative power of God. Addressing this gap requires an understanding of how God interacts with the believer in the midst of their imperfection.
The Pneumatological Reality of Transformation
God is neither surprised nor ambushed by the sanctification gap. He is present in the “messy middle” of the human experience, offering Himself not only through creation and Scripture but through the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In some theological traditions, there is a risk of functional binitarianism, where the Holy Spirit is eclipsed by a high view of the Bible. While Scripture is the inspired and profitable Word of God, it is the means to an end, not the end itself. Knowledge of the Bible alone can lead to intellectual arrogance; it is the Holy Spirit who serves as the active agent of transformation.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NASB)
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation– having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of [God’s own] possession, to the praise of His glory.
This presence of the Spirit is described as a “pledge” or a down payment of a future inheritance, ensuring that the work God began will be brought to completion. The study of the Spirit, or pneumatology, reveals that the believer lives in a constant spiritual reality where the Spirit provides the power to close the sanctification gap. Transformation is not something done to the believer in a passive sense, nor is it something the believer achieves through solo effort. It is a cooperative work—a “walking by the Spirit”—where the human will aligns with the divine initiative.
Galatians 5:16 (NASB)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
The Three Dispositions of the Human Will
To understand the process of transformation, one must examine the role of the human will, which is the seat of desires, intentions, and motivations. There are three primary expressions of the will in relation to God. The first is the “will-less” state. In its most extreme form, this describes the spiritually dead heart that is unable to please God. However, even believers can slide into a form of will-lessness through discouragement, trauma, or the passage of time. When a heart becomes shut off to the convictions of the Spirit, it is possible to grieve or even quench the Spirit’s influence, leading to a state of spiritual stagnation.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NASB)
Do not quench the Spirit;
The second extreme is the “willful” state. This is the attempt to bridge the sanctification gap through sheer human effort and moralism. The willful person relies on self-discipline and religious performance to achieve holiness, effectively trying to be their own sanctifier. This approach is ultimately exhausting and ineffective because it operates in the flesh rather than by grace. It is a form of spiritual foolishness to begin a journey in the Spirit and then attempt to reach the destination through human striving.
Galatians 3:3 (NASB)
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
The third and healthy disposition is the “willing” state. Unlike the will-less person who is indifferent or the willful person who is controlling, the willing person is open and receptive. Willingness is the act of presenting oneself to God, ready to follow His lead. This is the Christological model of the spiritual life, exemplified by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane when He submitted His human desires to the Father’s purpose.
Luke 22:42 (NASB)
saying, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.’
The Rhythm of Presentation: A Prayer of Intention
Closing the sanctification gap requires a daily rhythm of presenting the will to God. This process can be understood through four movements of the heart. First is the act of presentation, where the believer offers their entire being as a living sacrifice, acknowledging that they belong to God. This is an active engagement of the will toward the Creator at the start of each day.
Romans 12:1 (NASB)
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship.
Second is the movement of dying to self. This involves a conscious decision to center the day on Christ rather than personal ambition or ego. Third is the practice of moral inventory. As the believer opens their heart to God, the Spirit often shines a light on “the junk”—anxiety, anger, or lack of faith. Rather than hiding these flaws, the willing heart embraces them as the very places where God wants to work. Anxiety, for instance, is not merely a burden but a signal that reveals where trust in God is lacking.
Psalms 139:23-24 (NASB)
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Finally, there is the movement of opening to the Spirit. This is the act of “raising the sails” to catch the wind of the Spirit’s movement. It is a posture of waiting and watching for how God will lead throughout the day. This cooperative “dance” between the believer and the Lord ensures that the momentum of the spiritual life is self-perpetuating, driven by divine grace rather than human anxiety. As the believer remains rooted and built up in Him, they find that the destination of holiness is not a burden to be achieved, but a promise being fulfilled by the one who is faithful.
Colossians 2:6-7 (NASB)
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk in Him, having been firmly rooted [and now] being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, [and] overflowing with gratitude.