Fall 1992

Sanctification

The word "sanctify" comes from the same root word as the word "holiness." It means to purify or to make holy. It also indicates a being "set apart" for a holy use.

In the Biblical setting, there are three acts of God seen in sanctification. 1. He takes from one place (the common or unclean place which characterizes the person or thing in that place).

2. He cleans the person or thing. (It is easy to clean a thing. A person demands more attention and time from God). A person is sanctified both instantaneously and progressively. Certain aspects of sanctification are instantaneous, while other aspects require a progressive work of God.

3. He places the person or thing into His service in the place He chooses.

"And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the
congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify
also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to
me in the priest's office" Exodus 29:44.

Such things as self-righteousness, self-control, a moral life, or self-denial, are never a proof of holiness. We often judge from outward appearances, but God looks upon the heart and sees the motivating thought or action.

"But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his
countenance, or on the height of his stature;
because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth
not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart"
I Samuel 16:7.

A true inner work of sanctification will reveal a Christ-centered life that acts or responds just as Jesus would act or respond. To be "sanctified" is to be "set apart" as a witness (sample) of His life being lived within us.

In order to derive the full benefit which God purposed through His plan of salvation, we must be identified, by faith, with Jesus Christ in His accomplished work at Calvary. This identification inevitably leads us to a sentence of death. It was not our sins and transgressions which were sentenced to death, but the source of all these, our "Adamic nature" which is enmity against God.

When by faith in His completed work of redemption in our behalf, we fully accept the fact that Christ died for us and that we are partakers with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection; our "old man" (Adamic nature) is done away with. In its place, we are given the Divine nature of His Son in a new birth through regeneration, and we become a new creation.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new ... For He hath made
Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we
might be made the righteousness of God in
Him" II Cor 5:17,21.

Our salvation is a gift; we are cleansed from sin, and in that aspect, sanctified. Our spiritual growth is not a gift. We are, "as newborn babes" to "desire the sincere milk of the Word, that we may grow thereby" (I Peter 2:2). That which we judicially are (Gift of Salvation and Sanctification) is to become an explosion of fullness within us, bringing additional areas of our lives out from their unclean practices and purifying such areas, (our thought life, dishonest gain, backbiting, impatience, etc,) thus being brought into His service in a greater measure. This purging (sanctifying) must go on as long as we have areas needing the refining fire. We grow into sanctification(characterized by spiritual maturity).

Sanctification and perfection (maturity) are not synonymous terms. The believer is a perfect "babe in Christ" as soon as he is born again, but is not yet fully grown nor mature. This "babe in Christ" grows, or goes on to perfection. Perfection, when applied to the believer, means he is full grown, mature.

God has made every provision for holy living. He delivered us from sin and the sinful nature when we first came to Him and believed upon Christ's work which He wrought for us. As we walk in this truth, we go from strength to strength, from victory to victory; going on unto full maturity, the life of Christ being more and more manifested in us to the glory of God.

We will have no excuse if we are found wanting, when weighed in God's balance of holiness. May the God of peace make us perfect in every good thing, working in us that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.