Saturday 25 October 2014

SANCTIFICATION, WHAT IS IT?



SANCTIFICATION, WHAT IS IT?
Memory Verse:          “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate”.
                                                                                                    – Hebrews 13:12
Text:   John 17:13-23, 1Thessalonians 4:1-7

Introduction:
The basic meaning of sanctification is separation from evil {2Chronicles 29:5, 15-18} and separation into God {Leviticus 27:16}. The generic meaning of sanctification is “the state of proper functioning.” To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer. A pen is “sanctified” when used to write. Eyeglasses are “sanctified” when used to improve sight. Within this context, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God’s design and purpose.
The Greek word translated “sanctification” (hagiasmos [“aJgiasmov”]) means “holiness.” To sanctify, therefore, means “to make holy.” In one sense only God is holy (Isaiah6:3). God is separate, distinct, and other. There is one God. Yet scripture speaks about holy things. Moreover, God calls human being to be holy as holy as He is holy (Lev. 11:44; Matthew5:48; 1Peter1:15-16). Another word for a holy person is “saint” (hagios), meaning a sanctified one. The opposite of sanctified is “profane” (Lev. 10:10).
The subject of holiness and sanctification is so important that it is mentioned 1, 066 times in the Bible. Human beings, made in God’s image, were the pinnacle and focus of His creation. The sanctification of human beings, therefore, is the highest goal of God’s work in the universe. God explicitly declared it to be His WILL (1Thessalonians 4:3), in other words, it is the express will of God that every believer should be sanctified. He proposed that human beings be “like Him” in a way no other created thing is.  Until we have been sanctified we are of every little use to God. We cannot really become a “Vessel unto honour” until we have been sanctified (2Timothy 2:21).

Why must a believer be sanctified?
When Adam sinned, he and his race forfeited that which made it possible for them to function as designed by God Himself. Human beings “fall short of God’s glory” (Romans3:23) because they lack God’s presence, it is the presence of God that produces glory. “Glory” is always the manifestation of the attributes of God resulting from the presence of God. God’s presence was the essential missing factor in Adam and Eve’s post-fall state. However, a true believe is a follower of Christ. He wants to be like Christ in all ways and in all things. Now Jesus Christ was sanctified. By whom? By His Father (John10:36) and by Himself (John 17:19).
Now if Jesus needed to be sanctified, then how much more do His followers need to be sanctified? Secondly, a man cannot live a holy life unless he is sanctified. And if you don’t live holy, then you shall not see the King on His return (Hebrews12:14).   

By whom can I be sanctified? 

·         God the Father sanctifies                    -           1Thessalonians5:23-24           
·         God the Son sanctifies &                    -           Ephesians 5:26
·         God the Holy Spirit sanctifies            -           2Thessalonians 2:13



The Trinity is involved in the work of sanctification. Sanctification is so crucial to a believer that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit all have a part to play in bringing it to pass. Sanctification, therefore, is exclusively the work of God in grace (Lev. 21:8; Ezekiel 20:12; Hebrews 2:11; Jude 1). Human beings are “made holy” through Christ’s work. The blood of Jesus Christ sanctifies (Hebrews13:12) because His substitutionary atonement reversed all of the dysfunctional as well as legal (i.e. guilt), effects of sin. Human beings are progressively sanctified now through faith in Christ and by the indwelling Spirit (2Corinthians3:18). The trinity is willing to sanctify you, but are you willing to be sanctified?  

How can I be sanctified?
There are various ways by which a believer can be sanctified;
1.      You can be sanctified by the Word of God. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth”. - John 17:17. In other words, to be sanctified, you need to spend much time on the Word. The Word of God will reveal to you every known sin. When you know your enemies i.e. sins, you will know how to avoid them.
2.      Sanctification is also to be obtained by the blood of Jesus.Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate”. Hebrews 13:12. The Word of God reveals the sin; the blood of Jesus cleanses it away.
3.         Finally, we also have a part to play - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2Cor. 7:1) God never forces His Will on any man. It is those who voluntarily yield their hearts unto Him, their stony hearts who can obtain hearts of flesh in exchange.

What are the results of sanctification?
The results of sanctification are many;
  1. First and foremost, once you are sanctified, it becomes easy to live a holy life. 
  2. Secondly, you now become a vessel unto honour fit for the Master’s use. This is as consequence of your holiness which follows  once you are sanctified.
  3. Thirdly, as soon as you become a vessel unto honour, you will start to bear fruits – But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” – Romans6:22, (Galatian5:22-23). 
  4.  Fourthly, once you start to bear fruits, you will get more and more perfect, so that day by day you approach the perfection of Christ Jesus (John15:2; Hebrews 10:14).
    Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit”. 
    “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified”.
  5. Finally, you have a guarantee of an inheritance beyond the grave – Acts26:18 says; to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me”.  In other words, there is inheritance in heaven, reserved for only those who are sanctified. In fact all the glories of heaven are reserved for only the sanctified since the unsanctified will never get to heaven. For heaven is holy and no unclean thing will be allowed in to defile its beauty.  

Are you sanctified? Do you wish to be? Are you willing to part with sin and uncleanness? Then the Trinity is willing to sanctify you wholly. Why not talk to Jesus about it now?

Ref:  Psalm 4:3; Exodus 40:9-11; Leviticus 27:14-16; Number 8:17; Romans6:19; 1Corinthians 6:11, Phil. 3:12-14; 1Peter 3:15.