SANCTIFICATION and HOLINESS
Prepared by William R. Cunningham
The Holman Bible Dictionary defines sanctification as the process of being made holy resulting in a changed life-style for the believer. The English word sanctification comes from the Latin santificatio, meaning the act/process of making holy, consecrated. In the Greek New Testament, the root hag- is the basis of hagiasmos, "holiness," "consecration," "sanctification"; hagiosyne, "holiness"; hagiotes, "holiness"; hagiazo "to sanctify," "consecrate," "treat as holy," "purify"; and hagios, "holy," "saint." The root idea of the Greek stem is to stand in awe of something or someone. The New Testament usage is greatly dependent upon the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, for meaning. The hag- words in the Septuagint mostly translated the Hebrew qadosh, "separate, contrasting with the profane." Thus, God is separate; things and people dedicated to Him and to His use are separate. The moral implications of this word came into focus with the prophets and became a major emphasis in the New Testament.
The Websters Dictionary defines sanctification as to set apart for sacred use: consecrate, to make free from sin: purify
Sanctification can be generally defined as being separate or set apart. In the case of the Christian, we are set apart for God and we are separate from the world. Sanctification therefore establishes a distinction between the true Christian and the world. Also note that sanctification is closely related to holiness.
Holy has four distinct meanings. First is "to be set apart." This applies to places where God is present, like the Temple and the tabernacle, and to things and persons related to those holy places or to God Himself. Next, it means to be "perfect, transcendent, or spiritually pure, evoking adoration and reverence." This applies primarily to God, but secondarily to saints or godly people. Next, it means something or someone who evokes "veneration or awe, being frightening beyond belief." This is clearly the application to God and is the primary meaning of "holy." It is continued in the last definition, "filled with superhuman and potential fatal power." This speaks of God, but also of places or things or persons which have been set apart by God's presence. A saint is a holy person
To be sanctified is to be made holy.
The holiness of God
The focus of holiness in the Old Testament was on God. God was holiness in the sense that he is the definition of holiness. The Bible speaks of Gods holiness.
We note from the last scripture that all that pertain to God are holy by association. Certain times are sanctified in that they are set apart especially to the Lord:
By strictly observing the regulations governing each, Israel sanctified (or treated as holy) these special times of the year. Also the land of Canaan (Exodus 15:13), as well as Jerusalem (Isaiah. 11:9), was holy to the Lord and was not to be polluted by sinful conduct. The tabernacle/Temple and all the objects related to it were holy (Exodus 25--Numbers 10; Ezekiel 40-48). The various gifts brought in worship were sanctified.
Scripture Examination of Sanctification
(John 17:17 KJV) "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
We, as the disciples in the above scripture, can be sanctified by the word of God which is truth. Note also that since Jesus is the word of God and truth, we are sanctified by Christ.
(John 17:19 NIV) "For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified."
Here we see a specific case where Jesus is sanctifying (setting apart from) his disciples.
(Acts 26:18 NIV) "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'"
In The above scripture we see that Jesus implies that we are sanctified by faith in Him. Of course having faith in Christ means that you have accepted the Gospel and are therefore saved. Once saved, we are set apart from the world.
(Romans 15:16 NIV) "to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit."
Here we see Paul alluding to the fact that the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. This is consistent with salvation when we consider that the Holy Spirit enters into us when we are born again.
(1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV) "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
This scripture seems to reveal a relationship between washing, sanctifying, and justification. The washing alludes to the act of purification which itself refers to being saved (Titus 3:5). As we said earlier, salvation implies sanctification because of being set apart or made holy. When we are saved, we are justified, made righteous, by faith.
(1 Corinthians 7:14 NIV) "For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy."
Paul teaches that the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband. The unbelieving spouse is purified or consecrated by the believing spouse which enables the to produce pure ("Clean") children.
(1 Thessalonians 4:3 NIV) "It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;"
The sanctification mentioned here has to do with being apart or separate from the ways of the heathen world. They do not practice self control in the area of sex. We are to practice self control which itself distinguishes us from he world. Greek cities like Thessalonica were wide open to all kinds of sexual looseness, even in connection with religious rites.
(2 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV) "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth."
Again we see a reference to the fact that the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. He also points out that our salvation comes as a result of this sanctification work of the Holy Spirit. See also (1 Peter 1:2)
Levels of Sanctification
There are three aspects to sanctification referred to in scripture:
There is a relationship between the anointing and sanctification. The word anoint describes the procedure of rubbing or smearing a person or thing, usually with oil, for the purpose of healing, setting apart, or embalming. We will look at the setting apart aspect of anointing since to sanctify means to set apart also.
The Anointing of King David
As an example of the anointing and sanctification, let us look at the selection of David as King over Judah.
This anointing revealed Gods selection of David as King eventually over all Israel. Note that after David was anointed that the Spirit of God came upon him.
The Anointing of Jesus Christ
Lets look at another example
The word anointed in the above scripture refers to the consecration to an office or religious service.
The Anointing of the Christian
Christians are anointed by God for specific tasks in ministry (2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:27) for the tasks of ministry.
Purpose of Sanctification
The first purpose of sanctification is the separation or distinguishing ourselves (Christians) from the world. We are made holy by the process and act of sanctification by the Holy Spirit. This sanctification gives us the right to say we are children of God, citizens of the Kingdom of God.
The second aspect of sanctification involves the anointing or consecration for a specific ministry task. What has God sanctified you for. We all have a purpose and we should discover this purpose and begin the task of fulfilling it. Your sanctification for purpose will be accomplished since it was God who anointed you for that purpose. By faith in God begin to live your purpose and accomplish it without considering the opposing circumstances.
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