SANCTIFICATION, HOLINESS

1) The Basic Meaning.

To make or declare holy, or to give religious approval to an act, event or function. The act "to sanctify" means commonly "to make holy,"" that is, to separate from the world and consecrate to God.
A more accurate meaning is that by the gracious work of God a Christian Believer has been set apart for Himself and for serving Him in the world, this sanctification is by the action of Jesus on the cross which has freed the Believer from sin and allowed, enabled a Believer to know the will of God in the Believers life.

The word "sanctification" does not occur in the Gospels, but Jesus declared that belonging to God means having a likeness to Him, Matt 5:43-48;

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite fully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Mark 3:35.

"For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."

Paul uses the same thought, but connects it to the words "saint" and "sanctify," 1 Cor 1:2;

"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:"

Rom 1:1.

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Consider 1 Thess 2:12;

"That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."

Phil 1:27,

" Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; "

Col 3:1-4;

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

You belong to Christ; live with Him, live for Him,
1 Thess 5:9,10;

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.é "

Rom 12:1,2.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. "

1. The Position of a Believer

We do not get the full meaning of sanctification, consecration, or belonging, until we understand the New Testament thought that our relationship to God is personal. A sanctified life is therefore a life of personal fellowship, lived out with the Father in the spirit of Christ, in a loving trust and obedient service.
Rom 14:8;

"For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. "

Rom 6:11-14;

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. "

Gal 2:20.

" I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. "

As a result of this relationship a Believer is able to live a life of fellowship in faith and love, with the permission to use the title "Abba, Father", Rom 8:15;

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"

Gal 4:5-7.

"To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

It is a life having the mind of Christ Phil 2:5.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"

Consider 1 Corinthians 1:2.

"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:"

This shows that a Believer, having been set apart by God, will never lose that position. If we examine and consider the church at Corinthia, this church was anything but a pure and holy church, they were not living a life in Christ, yet Paul still referred to them as "sanctified in Christ Jesus."

2. Growth of Sanctification

John 17:17,

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. "

In the prayer by Jesus he asked for each believer to be daily sanctified through the Word of God, though final perfect sanctification will not take place until the return of the Lord Jesus, 1 John 3:2,3.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

Because the Believer knows that they have been set apart by God, and knows that Jesus will soon return to complete the sanctification, to become like Him, then they should want to live a life which pleases God and will make us more like His Son Jesus.
Unfortunately, each Believer still has the old, sinful nature, but God has given the Believer a new nature which enables a Believer to live a holy life, we are talking about each day by day becoming more like our Saviour, each day overcoming temptation and sinful failures.
Consider 2 Cor 7:1.

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. "

This verse shows two ’helps’ in the daily sanctification.

Mankind’s Sinful nature

Gal 5:19-21

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. "

Rom 1:23-25.

"And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."

Paul talks about the ‘sins of the flesh’ and ‘sins of the spirit.’ There are sins of the old nature, the ‘sins of the flesh.’ God gave us Believers a "new nature" but He will not take away the old nature until He calls us to heaven by our death or the Rapture, as a result each True believer is still able to commit sins. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit have now shown us the effect of sin and so as Believers we should not be seeking to sin, to hurt God. The passages from scripture listed show us what we need to avoid and washed with the help of God, from each Believers life.

There are two aspects of sins which need to be dealt with to assist in obtaining more Christ like, Sanctification.

A Sinful spirit

Sins of the spirit are not so obvious, do you suffer from pride? Are you full of criticism, judgement, disapproval?

Holiness

2 Cor 7:1,

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

There are two parts to holiness, our own action, "let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,", and those of God, "perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
2 Cor 6:14-18

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

Paul has developed the first part, our action, "Be you not unequally yoked(joined) together with unbelievers, what fellowship(partnership) has righteousness with unrighteousness?". Paul continues, "what communion(have in common) has light with darkness?", what does a Believer have in common with an unsaved person. A Believer lives in this world, but does not live like or behaves as part of the world, they belong to God. This does not mean that a Believer must quarantine, isolates themselves totally from the world, "separation" means to be clean, living a cleansed life.

Eph 4:1.

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

"Walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called." Until the Lord calls us home we still must live in the world.

2 Cor 7:1.

" Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. "

As a Believer we must aim to be trying to be Perfecting our holiness. A Believer is able to enter into the presence of the Father at anytime, in fact we live in His presence, being in fellowship with God should automatically leads us to grow like His Son, Jesus.

" For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. "

"foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son"

Col 3:1-4;

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

1 Thess 5:9,10.

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved,", what promises was Paul talking about? "I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be My sons and daughters," said the Lord Almighty."

2 Cor 6:17,18.

" Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

When a Believer receives salvation through the blood of Jesus, God becomes the believer’s Father. A Holy Father expects obedience and love from the children, "cleanse from all filthiness," and has respect and obedience "in the fear of God.", then the love of God promises a deeper fellowship and blessing through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

3. Sanctification as God’s Gift:

Sanctification is the making of a holy life, by the gift of God and His power, not by our action. Jesus prayed that the Father would sanctify His disciples in truth, John 17:17.

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

Paul prayed for the Thessalonians 1 Thess 5:23,24,

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Brethren, pray for us. "

Paul tells the thessalonians that Christ is to sanctify His church, Rom 6:22;

"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

2 Tim 2:19-21;

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work."

1 Peter 1:1,2.

" Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."

The Christian life is the gift of God and wrought by His Spirit. Phil 2:12,13;

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

Rom 8:9,14,16-26;

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

Gal 5:22ff.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."