Sanctification
This week, I'd like for us to take a look at the concept and meaning of sanctification. Admittedly, if I was asked to define sanctification before undertaking this study, I would not have been able to give a proper definition. Although I have heard the term all my life, and felt that I understood the concept, it really goes much deeper than I had imagined. Webster's dictionary defines the word "sanctify" as "to make sacred or holy, or to set apart, or make free from sin." These are all acceptable definitions, but considering the fact that sanctification is a biblical concept, I believe that we should allow the bible to define it for us. Therefore, we'll take a look at some instances of sanctification throughout the bible and delve into the deeper meaning of what it is to be sanctified.
The first mention of sanctification in the bible is found in Exodus, chapter 13, verse 2, as God instructs Moses that he is to sanctify all of the firstborn of Israel, both man and beast, because they belong to Him. In this instance, sanctification is defined as the setting apart for use by God. Later on in Exodus, God gives instruction through Moses for the building of the tabernacle, and for the sanctifying of the instruments of worship. So we see, not only people and animals can be sanctified, but inanimate objects, as well. Anything that God makes holy, or sets apart for His use, is said to be sanctified. How does this differ from sanctification as it relates to our salvation?
In the original Greek, which is the language that the New Testament is written in, the word "sanctification" is "hagiasmos", which is literally translated as "holiness." We know that only God is holy, and no person or thing shares the holy nature of God, so, how does anything become sanctified? Only God can sanctify a person, an animal, or an object, to make it holy, and set it apart for His intended purpose. We are told that we are to be holy, as we read in 1 Peter 1:15-16..."But as he which called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." However, this holiness is not something that we can ever hope to achieve on our own. Only through the blood of Jesus, and our belief in His supreme sacrifice, can we be made holy. Human beings cannot sanctify themselves.
God created man in His image, perfect from the beginning, and all was flawless and complete until the lies of Satan beguiled Adam and Eve, and the fall of mankind was the result. We were thrust into a state of separation from God, and only He Himself could bridge the gap that sin had created. We read in Genesis 3:8-9..."And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" There can be no doubt that God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were, as well as what they had done. Still, He came seeking after them, because the redemption of humanity is the goal of our Father in Heaven. Original sin, committed by Adam and Eve, had driven a terrible wedge between not only themselves and God, but between all of humanity and God as well, which could ultimately only be removed by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. For thousands of years, the sacrifice of bulls and goats was to be the only atonement for sin, but even this was only a temporary measure. The sacrifices were continual, and the people were at the mercy of their high priest, and depending upon whether their high priest was pure or not, the people would be either blessed or cursed. Since the resurrection of Jesus, we live under the New Covenant, and we are blessed to have a high priest who lives forever, and continually makes intercession on our behalf before God.
So, how can we, as sinful human beings, ever hope to be sanctified? Our answer is found in Hebrews, chapter 10, verses 1-14..."For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
So, we see that it is ultimately the blood of Jesus which sanctifies us, but we must understand that we have a vital role to play in the process, as well. We must strive to live as He would have us to live, and to be led by His Spirit, and proclaim His Word. 1 John 1:5-7 tells us..."This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." May we be a willing participant in the sanctifying work of Jesus in our life, allowing His precious blood to cleanse and purify us, that we would walk in the light, as He is in the light.
The first mention of sanctification in the bible is found in Exodus, chapter 13, verse 2, as God instructs Moses that he is to sanctify all of the firstborn of Israel, both man and beast, because they belong to Him. In this instance, sanctification is defined as the setting apart for use by God. Later on in Exodus, God gives instruction through Moses for the building of the tabernacle, and for the sanctifying of the instruments of worship. So we see, not only people and animals can be sanctified, but inanimate objects, as well. Anything that God makes holy, or sets apart for His use, is said to be sanctified. How does this differ from sanctification as it relates to our salvation?
In the original Greek, which is the language that the New Testament is written in, the word "sanctification" is "hagiasmos", which is literally translated as "holiness." We know that only God is holy, and no person or thing shares the holy nature of God, so, how does anything become sanctified? Only God can sanctify a person, an animal, or an object, to make it holy, and set it apart for His intended purpose. We are told that we are to be holy, as we read in 1 Peter 1:15-16..."But as he which called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." However, this holiness is not something that we can ever hope to achieve on our own. Only through the blood of Jesus, and our belief in His supreme sacrifice, can we be made holy. Human beings cannot sanctify themselves.
God created man in His image, perfect from the beginning, and all was flawless and complete until the lies of Satan beguiled Adam and Eve, and the fall of mankind was the result. We were thrust into a state of separation from God, and only He Himself could bridge the gap that sin had created. We read in Genesis 3:8-9..."And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" There can be no doubt that God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were, as well as what they had done. Still, He came seeking after them, because the redemption of humanity is the goal of our Father in Heaven. Original sin, committed by Adam and Eve, had driven a terrible wedge between not only themselves and God, but between all of humanity and God as well, which could ultimately only be removed by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. For thousands of years, the sacrifice of bulls and goats was to be the only atonement for sin, but even this was only a temporary measure. The sacrifices were continual, and the people were at the mercy of their high priest, and depending upon whether their high priest was pure or not, the people would be either blessed or cursed. Since the resurrection of Jesus, we live under the New Covenant, and we are blessed to have a high priest who lives forever, and continually makes intercession on our behalf before God.
So, how can we, as sinful human beings, ever hope to be sanctified? Our answer is found in Hebrews, chapter 10, verses 1-14..."For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
So, we see that it is ultimately the blood of Jesus which sanctifies us, but we must understand that we have a vital role to play in the process, as well. We must strive to live as He would have us to live, and to be led by His Spirit, and proclaim His Word. 1 John 1:5-7 tells us..."This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." May we be a willing participant in the sanctifying work of Jesus in our life, allowing His precious blood to cleanse and purify us, that we would walk in the light, as He is in the light.
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