This word was preached to me by
my Grandmother very early on in life, I heard the word and knew that it had
meaning, but as a young person I had no idea what sanctification meant or what
it entailed. I really wish someone had taken the time to define it for me then.
Webster’s
Dictionary of the American Language defines Sanctification this way:
1. The act of making holy. In an
evangelical sense, the act of God's grace by which the affections of men are
purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to
God.
God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the
truth. 2 Thessalonians 2, 1 Peter 1.
2. The act of consecrating or of
setting apart for a sacred purpose; consecration.
*Sanctification is a biblical
doctrine that is emphasized a great deal in Christian teaching. Yet despite its
importance, it is often perceived as a religious notion too complex to
comprehend. Though sanctification may at first seem to be a foreign concept, it
is one of the greatest things that has and is happening to every believer in
Jesus Christ. Let’s take a look at the basic biblical doctrine of
sanctification and discuss the key role it plays in a Christian's spiritual
growth.
Sanctification comes from the
verb sanctify. Sanctify originates from the Greek word hagiazo, which means to be "separate" or to be "set
apart." In the Bible, sanctification generally relates to a sovereign act
of God whereby He "sets apart" a person, place, or thing in order
that His purposes may be accomplished. In the book of Exodus, God sanctifies a
place of worship.
Exodus 29:43 (NKJV)
43
And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be
sanctified by My glory.
Even a day can be sanctified as
seen where the seventh day is "set apart" as a holy day of rest.
Genesis 2:3 (NKJV)
3
Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested
from all His work which God had created and made.
Hebrews 10:14 (NKJV)
14
For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
It is important to differentiate
between justification and sanctification. Justification is another word for
salvation. Jesus gave his life on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. His
blood washes away our sins and frees us from an eternity of suffering and
condemnation. Believers are saved because of what Christ has already done. We
can do nothing to earn salvation, it is the gift given to every child of God
regardless of race, age, maturity, or merit. Sanctification occurs as a result
of salvation. At the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit enters our life. We
are no longer held hostage by death, but are free to live the life God desires
for us. We are thus sanctified simply because of our standing as lost souls
saved by grace.
Sanctification does not stop
with salvation, but rather it is a progressive process that continues in a
Christian's life. Unlike the things and places that are sanctified by God in
the Bible, people have the capacity to sin. Even though we have been "set
apart" as God's children, we continue to behave in ways that are contrary.
As Christians, we realize shortly after we have been saved that there is a new
inner battle being waged within us - a battle between our old sin-lead nature
and new Spirit-lead nature. Paul in Galatians best describes this inner
struggle.
Galatians 5:17 (NKJV)
17
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and
these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you
wish.
Like Paul, our heart's desire is
to please and obey God, but our flesh is weak, making sin difficult to resist.
Yet, it is in our continual struggle with sin and obedience to God where
sanctification does its work.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is
faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to
bear it.
This is the working process of
sanctification in the life of every believer. Though the process is personal
for each individual, the end goal is to prevent sin and produce spiritual
growth. Note that sanctification has nothing to do with living in sinless
perfection. We will never be sinless in the flesh throughout this life. In
fact, the Bible warns against such false teachings.
1 John 1:8 (NKJV)
8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us.
Sanctification is not about
trying to be sinless in order to earn the favor of God. Rather, sanctification
is for our own benefit. God instructs us to pursue sanctification so that through
it we may be blessed.
Sanctification is one of the
most challenging aspects of the Christian walk. Our natural tendency is to
embrace sin, yet God in His divine wisdom has chosen to give us the
responsibility of working out our own sanctification.
2 Timothy 2:21 (NKJV)
21
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for
honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
But how do we pursue
sanctification? How are we personally responsible? Lovingly, God has sent His
Holy Spirit and His written Word, the Bible, to guide us. Though every person's
sanctification is unique and personal, there are common disciplines in the
pursuit of sanctification that are unchanging.
Prayer is of utmost importance.
When we are suffering or facing temptation, our mind and body are weak. Satan
knows this and tries to take advantage of us. When we pray, we are in spiritual
union with God. Not only will prayer comfort us in our hardship, but it will
also give us the strength to overcome sin. Through prayer, we are also more
sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
God has also given us the
written Word - the Bible. The Bible is not merely a history book, but its words
have the power to sanctify us. When Satan tempted Jesus in Matthew 4; Jesus
used the Word of God to overcome temptation.
Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)
4
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
God's Word also has the power to
transform our mind, convict, and bring to light the darkness that may be hidden
within our hearts. It is the instrument which God uses to develop us in knowledge,
faith, and personal holiness; all of which are essential elements of
sanctification.
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Whether by studying, or
listening to bible teaching, the sanctifying work of God's Word is enormous to
a believer who recognizes its truth and power.
Believers are also sanctified in
worship. True fervent worship is what God desires from His people. When our
worship is genuine, it transforms our hearts and brings us into close union
with God.
John 4:23 (NKJV)
23
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the
Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
Additionally, before Jesus
ascended into heaven he tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for a gift God
will send (see: Acts 1). This is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
is our ultimate helper and sanctifier. When we yield to His leading, He has the
power to help us resist sin and make positive change.
Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)
16
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh.
When we sin and ignore the Holy
Spirit's leading, we break fellowship with Him, thereby cutting off the
life-changing power. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 instructs us: "Do not quench the
Spirit."
Sanctification is both a matter
of position and progression. We are sanctified because Jesus Christ has saved
us and yet sanctification continues to work within to transform us unto the
likeness of Christ. Sanctification is the responsibility of every believer in
Christ. When we choose to pursue sanctification in our life, positive growth
occurs. The pursuit of it involves the surrender of the body and the will to
the leading of the Holy Spirit. It takes time and is a working progress that
cannot be hurried. Like a newborn baby that gradually matures into adulthood,
so is the work of sanctification in the life of a believer. The work of
sanctification will ultimately be completed in every believer's life when Jesus
Christ returns.*
Paul puts it best in his epistle
to the Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV)
23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole
spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
May you find the river of living
water flowing out from your innermost being, filling you with God’s wonder and
love for others. This is the sanctification
process where we are all changed by the flow of the river of Christ's life that flows
through us.
May we all be in that river flow!
May we all be in that river flow!
Stephen Barnett
God is good all the time—all the
time God is good!
Find Me in the River
Written by: Martin Smith
Find me in the river
Find me on my knees
I've walked against the water
Now I'm waiting if you please
We've longed to see the roses
But never felt the thorns
And bought our pretty crowns
But never paid the price
Find me in the river
Find me there
Find me on my knees with my soul laid
bare
Even though you're gone and I'm
cracked and dry
Find me in the river, I'm waiting here
Find me in the river
Find me on my knees
I've walked against the water
Now I'm waiting if you please
We didn't count on suffering
We didn't count on pain
But if the blessing's in the valley
Then in the river I will wait
©1995
Curious? Music UK
*A special thank you to the website AllAboutGOD.com
for the article entitled “sanctification” for inspiration and insight.
The music presented above is copyrighted by the respective artists and is presented here for educational purposes only and not for profit.
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