Is It Possible for a Christian to Receive Salvation but Never Experience Sanctification?

NATHAN W. BINGHAM: We're here at Ligonier's 2021 National Conference and I'm joined by Dr. John MacArthur. Dr. MacArthur, is it possible for a Christian to receive salvation, but never experience sanctification?

DR. JOHN MACARTHUR:  No, because salvation is even referred to as sanctification. It's where sanctification begins. Look, the whole point is you're a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation, old things pass away and new things come."

So there is a newness of heart. That's what regeneration is. The question would be answered by an obvious contrast. Can you be a sinner and not sin? No, because sinners sin. Can you be a saint and not produce righteous works? No, no. And that's something I've written about for years, The Gospel according to Jesus, The Gospel according to the Apostles, The Gospel according to Paul. All of that deals with the issue of believing that you can be saved and unsanctified, even to the point where you would deny that you believed in Christ and you're still okay.

No. It is a transformation of nature. It is re regeneration. It is being born into the life of God. So, it's not possible to be a believer without manifesting that. 1 John 4, "Those who are in Christ, those who are Christ, do not continue in sin." If they do continue in sin, John says they belong to the devil. Not God.