SANCTIFICATION

I Thessalonians 4:3 , Hebrews 12:14

In regeneration our nature is changed, in justifying our standing is changed, in adoption our position is changed, in sanctification of our character is changed.

Sanctification shows the fruit of a justified life. Sanctification is the will of God for every believer. In essence sanctification and holiness are the same. The theme of holiness and sanctification is mentioned 1,066 times in the Bible .

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 Bible Sanctification means to be set apart or separated: 1) By God 2) To God 3) From sin 4) Unto a holy life (II Timothy 2:21).

For the believer it has two meanings: separation of evil (II Chronicles 29:5, 15-18), separation unto God (Leviticus 27:16). Holiness is not an achievement to be realized​​, but a gift to be accepted. The constant use of this gift will increase our sanctification (I Thess. 5:23-24, Eph. 5:26, II Thess. 2:13).

THE TIME OF SANCTIFICATION

When a person is sanctified he or she is being set apart by God for a specific divine purpose. The very moment we are saved in Christ we are also immediately sanctified and begin the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. As God's children we are "set apart" from that moment to carry out His divine purposes unto eternity. Hebrews 10:14 says, "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.

Sanctification occurs as a result of salvation. At the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit enters our life. I Corinthians 6:11 speaks of sanctification as a past experience with the washing and justification. 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 is a continuing process, it 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 in Galatians 5:17.

James 1:22-25 is an illustration of a man looking into a mirror and seeing a spot of dirt, he then goes and washes it away. The mirror is the Word of God which reveals sin and then we must confess it. God does not reveal all our shortcomings at once, it would be too discouraging and would lead to despair. The moment that something is revealed we should seek cleansing and continuously pursue a path of progressive sanctification.

Someday we will be completely holy without one grace missing; mature and perfect(I Thess. 5:23). Paul in Philippians 3:12-14, was pressing on unto that future perfection, while daily perfecting his earthly progressive sanctification.

THE MEANING OF SANCTIFICATION

But what is the work of sanctification? What does it practically mean to be "set apart"? Sanctification can be described as an inward spiritual process whereby God brings about holiness and change in the life of a Christian by means of the His Spirit.

We all face different issues, struggle with sin, and past hurts of varying degrees, hindering our ability to live the life God desires for us. Once we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, the Holy Spirit enters our life to start a transformation process (progressive sanctification). He convicts us on areas that need to be changed, helping us to grow in holiness. We begin to view the world, people, and personal difficulties from a more biblical perspective. Our choices begin to be motivated by love and truth and not selfishness.

The transformation process may be painful, but it is always motivated by God's love for us. Further, God promises in His Word to not give us more than we are able to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). 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 this life. In fact, the Bible warns against such false teachings in 1 John 1:8: "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 commands us to pursue sanctification so that through it we may be blessed.

THE MEANS OF SANCTIFICATION (How we are sanctified)

A. By the Word of God (John 17:17).

     If you spend much time in the Word of God you will be sanctified. It is the Word that purifies and cleanses. It is the Word that reveals sin.

B. By the Blood of Christ (Heb. 13:12).

     The Word reveals sin, the blood cleanses it away, the result is sanctification.

C. By chastisement (Heb. 12:10-11).

D. By surrendering to God (Rom. 6:19).

E. By worship (John 4:23).

     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.

F. By ourselves (II Cor . 7:1).

     We also have a part in sanctification, our part is to discover the sin, judge it; casting it out of our lives,  pray for cleaning; pray for strength to live a holy life

Daily we must appropriated Christ as our sanctification; daily we must claim His Holiness, His faith, His love and His grace. The secret of a holy life is the continuous appropriation of the Lords holy life. Our degree of sanctification is in relationship to our appropriation of the Lord.

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 unto adulthood, so is the work of sanctification in the life of a new believer. The work of sanctification will ultimately be completed in every believer's life when Jesus Christ returns. This is the hope of every Christian.

Is there a longing in your soul for holiness? For sanctification? For purity? For Christ likeness? For a greater conformance  to the image of God?

Confess your sin and repent and He will satisfy the deepest longings of your soul, the price is to be willing to part with sin and impurity (II Con 7:14).

Do not look within and be discouraged but look up and be encouraged (I Thess. 5:25).