All believers have been positionally set apart by the Holy Spirit of God. Positional sanctification refers to the objective fact that God takes a sinner and makes him or her His unique child. He sets believers apart as His special people. The use of the term “sanctification” here focuses on the unique work of the Holy Spirit whereby we obey the gospel by faith in order that we might be sprinkled by the blood of Christ.

Positional holiness refers to our standing before God as a peculiar people. This aspect of our sanctification is really the foundation of what is often called progressive or practical sanctification.

Sanctification has the purpose of developing Christlike character in us by producing obedience throughout our lives. This is what Peter had in mind by the phrase “for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” This would take us back to Exodus 13:2 and 24:3–8, where the sprinkling represents consecration for service. The sprinkling refers to the Old Testament application of blood to expiate sin. The design of the Old Testament sacrifices was not simply that blood was to be shed, but it was also to be applied.

The power to live a life of obedience to Christ springs out of the realization of the work the Lord Jesus Christ has already accomplished. The power to live for Christ flows out of our position in Christ, and it is to produce a life lived for the glory of God, even in the midst of opposition all around us.