May 30th, 2023
Language is something that changes and evolves over time. How many of you have heard a new word from a young person you’ve had to secretly Google? In the same way that new words are born, some old words can fall out of fashion. Sanctification is one of those words. It’s not
something you’ve probably heard often, even in the church, but it would have been more familiar to an older, church-going generation. It’s a word with a meaning that desperately needs to be understood again in this generation—in every generation—now and always. God’s word never goes out of style, so let’s explore this!
Sanctification in the Bible is translated from a word meaning “to set apart as holy, to consecrate, or to purify.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 says,
“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
The Holy Spirit sanctifies us or makes us holy, in accordance with the Word of God, but what does that mean for us? How does that affect our lives? What responsibility do we have in that process? I want to share a few thoughts from the Word of God:
1. Sanctification is part of salvation. You aren’t saved without there being a measure of sanctification. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says,
2. Jesus himself was sanctified, or set apart, as an offering to God. John 10:36 says,“Do you say of him whom the Father consecrated (or sanctified) and sent into the world,
‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?”
3. Jesus was sanctified so that we could be sanctified, through the sacrifice of His body and the power of His blood. John 17:17-18 says,
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
Hebrews 13:12 says,
“Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.”
4. We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus. Romans 15:16 says,
“[Paul was called] to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
5. Sanctification is the process by which we are purified before God. Ephesians 5:26-27 says,
“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
6. Sanctification is both personal and corporate. It is a mark of the believer and the church! Acts 26:18 says,
“I am sending you [Paul] to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
7. Righteousness leads to sanctification and sanctification leads to eternal life. The importance of being set apart—holy and sanctified—cannot be overstated. Romans 6:21-23 says,
“For the end of [sin] is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
8. There is a connection between sanctification and seeing God. Hebrews 12:14 says,
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness [sanctification] without which no one will see the Lord.”
9. The fact that we are sanctified through the sacrifice of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, does not negate the believer’s responsibility in the process. He has made every provision for us to be sanctified, and we have to choose to keep ourselves clean. 2 Timothy 2:20-21 says,
“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy [having been sanctified], useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
To conclude, we understand that we are sanctified through faith, by the Holy Spirit, in order to share in the inheritance of Jesus Christ with other believers. We must know that only the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8) and Jesus is coming back for a spotless bride. We must keep ourselves holy before Him! This isn’t an outdated or unfashionable idea. It is absolutely necessary for us to walk in the power of God. Once you’ve accepted the forgiveness that comes by the sacrifice of Jesus’ precious blood and are filled with the Holy Spirit, keep yourself clean, and He will sanctify you and set you apart. There is nothing worth more! We have been cleansed by the greatest sacrifice that has ever been given and as believers we are filled with the sanctifying spirit of God. Walk differently child of God. Refuse to let your garment be stained by the flesh. You don’t fit in with the world because you aren’t meant to. The Bible is never out of date and sanctification isn’t for generations past. The world is waiting for a church set apart by Him, purified to carry His power to a hungry generation!
something you’ve probably heard often, even in the church, but it would have been more familiar to an older, church-going generation. It’s a word with a meaning that desperately needs to be understood again in this generation—in every generation—now and always. God’s word never goes out of style, so let’s explore this!
Sanctification in the Bible is translated from a word meaning “to set apart as holy, to consecrate, or to purify.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 says,
“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
The Holy Spirit sanctifies us or makes us holy, in accordance with the Word of God, but what does that mean for us? How does that affect our lives? What responsibility do we have in that process? I want to share a few thoughts from the Word of God:
1. Sanctification is part of salvation. You aren’t saved without there being a measure of sanctification. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says,
“We always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”
2. Jesus himself was sanctified, or set apart, as an offering to God. John 10:36 says,“Do you say of him whom the Father consecrated (or sanctified) and sent into the world,
‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?”
3. Jesus was sanctified so that we could be sanctified, through the sacrifice of His body and the power of His blood. John 17:17-18 says,
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
Hebrews 13:12 says,
“Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.”
4. We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus. Romans 15:16 says,
“[Paul was called] to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
5. Sanctification is the process by which we are purified before God. Ephesians 5:26-27 says,
“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
6. Sanctification is both personal and corporate. It is a mark of the believer and the church! Acts 26:18 says,
“I am sending you [Paul] to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
7. Righteousness leads to sanctification and sanctification leads to eternal life. The importance of being set apart—holy and sanctified—cannot be overstated. Romans 6:21-23 says,
“For the end of [sin] is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
8. There is a connection between sanctification and seeing God. Hebrews 12:14 says,
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness [sanctification] without which no one will see the Lord.”
9. The fact that we are sanctified through the sacrifice of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, does not negate the believer’s responsibility in the process. He has made every provision for us to be sanctified, and we have to choose to keep ourselves clean. 2 Timothy 2:20-21 says,
“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy [having been sanctified], useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
To conclude, we understand that we are sanctified through faith, by the Holy Spirit, in order to share in the inheritance of Jesus Christ with other believers. We must know that only the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8) and Jesus is coming back for a spotless bride. We must keep ourselves holy before Him! This isn’t an outdated or unfashionable idea. It is absolutely necessary for us to walk in the power of God. Once you’ve accepted the forgiveness that comes by the sacrifice of Jesus’ precious blood and are filled with the Holy Spirit, keep yourself clean, and He will sanctify you and set you apart. There is nothing worth more! We have been cleansed by the greatest sacrifice that has ever been given and as believers we are filled with the sanctifying spirit of God. Walk differently child of God. Refuse to let your garment be stained by the flesh. You don’t fit in with the world because you aren’t meant to. The Bible is never out of date and sanctification isn’t for generations past. The world is waiting for a church set apart by Him, purified to carry His power to a hungry generation!
No Comments