What Is Sanctification?
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21
The Bible tells us that sanctification is God’s will for our lives and soul (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ, by purifying our hearts and minds, through repentance, prayer, and spiritual practices. It is to be set apart for God’s use. There is a sense that every believer has been set apart to serve the Lord and this is usually referred to as positional sanctification. We have been sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10). Those who are positionally sanctified have been called to be saints (I Corinthians 1:2). Jude 1 states that we have been sanctified by God the Father while Romans 15:16 reveals the work of the Holy Spirit in our sanctification.
Throughout the Bible, sanctification is mentioned frequently as a calling to align ourselves with God’s will and cleanse ourselves from sin. The word sanctified in our text means to make holy, to purify, consecrate and set apart. Unlike justification and regeneration, and positional sanctification, all believers have the responsibility of sanctifying themselves, to separate themselves from all forms of sin. This is not a one-time event in the believer’s life but is progressive, meaning that it continues throughout the life of the believer. This aspect of sanctification is often called practical or progressive sanctification. The practical aspect involves our behaving saintly aiming to bring our lives in alignment with our calling.
While we are elect according to the foreknowledge of God (1 Peter 1:2 – Positional sanctification), we are to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts (1 Peter 3:15). What we were without Christ and what we are now, so reveals the love, mercy and grace of God on our behalf. We were set apart from evil and unto God. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Also note Ephesians 2:1-8.
Point of Interest: The Greek word for sanctification along with the words HOLY, SEPARATE and SANCTIFY all come from the same root word – ἅγιος / hagios. It can be expanded to further mean, sacred, pure, morally blameless, or ceremonially consecrated. This gives us some idea of what we need to be doing to become all that God wants us to be as SAINTS. The Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:12 instructs us that we are put on being holy, clearly indicating practical sanctification, our part. We have been set apart unto holiness and therefore, we ought to live holiness before the watching world around us.
God called us unto sanctification and His Word instructs to be sanctified. The entire Godhead has set us apart for God’s glory. 1 John 3:1,2 is so appropriate right here. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 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. In an instant at the Rapture or in that instant we leave our earthly bodies and are taken into glory, we will see Christ face to face, and we will be like Him. It is at that moment that the work for sanctification will be totally completed. Are you looking forward to that moment? Does your life currently give testimony to this truth?
George Stiekes serves as a Lay Pastor at Bethany Bible Church in Hendersonville, NC. See here for a more complete bio of brother Stiekes extensive ministry. We republish his material by permission.