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The process of spiritual formation into Christlikeness begins, Willard says, when our human
spirits "come alive to and through God." But following that initial act of regeneration comes
"the lengthy process of subduing all aspects of the self under God." Rather than occurring
through climactic, crisis experiences, this process is gradual and progressive, involving our being
"incrementally changed toward Christlikeness," [DW, 82]. And Willard is clear that the final
completion of spiritual formation "will never fully occur in this life" [DW, 41]. There is always
more room for growth. Yet Willard is profoundly optimistic that short of complete perfection,
substantial progress can be made. Persons committed to spiritual formation in Christlikeness and
the transformation of their character do indeed change. Willard says, "Now these people are not
perfect and do not live in a perfect world not yet. But they are remarkably different" [DW,
218]. S uch spiritual formation in Christlikeness
doesnt mean perfection, but it does mean we have here a person whose soul is whole: a
person who, through the internalized integrity of the law of God and the administration of
the gospel and the Spirit, has a restored soul. Such a soul effectively interfaces with God
and the full person and enables every aspect of the self to function as God intended. [DW,
220-221]
This is "sanctification." Willard understands sanctification to be "a condition of the human soul
established in imparted (not just imputed) righteousness" [DW, 224]. More specifically,
sanctification "comes about through the process of spiritual formation, through which the heart
(spirit, will) of the individual and the whole inner life take on the character of Jesus inner life"
[DW, 226]. Thus for Willard spiritual formation is the process and sanctification is the result.
(4) The Holy Spirit is the primary agent of spiritual formation, but purposeful
human action needs to be involved, cooperating with God in a synergistic relationship. Willard
is very clear that spiritual formation is a divine accomplishment in the lives of believers. It is