Introduction
Sanctification is a term that is often used in Christian circles, but not everyone fully understands what it means. Simply put, sanctification is the process of becoming holy. It is a work of God in the life of a believer that begins at salvation and continues throughout their life. While sanctification is often associated with the Holy Spirit, it is ultimately the work of God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible has much to say about sanctification. In fact, the word “sanctify” appears over 100 times in the New King James Version of the Bible. One of the most well-known verses about sanctification is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, which says, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” This verse makes it clear that sanctification is not just a nice bonus for Christians, but rather it is God’s will for their lives. As such, it is something that believers should actively pursue as they seek to live a life that is pleasing to God.
What is Sanctification?
Biblical Definition
Sanctification is a term used in the Bible to describe the process of being made holy. It is the work of God in the life of a believer, whereby he is set apart from sin and made holy. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for sanctification is “qodesh,” which means “set apart” or “holy.” In the New Testament, the Greek word for sanctification is “hagiasmos,” which also means “set apart” or “holy.”
The biblical definition of sanctification is closely related to the concept of holiness. To be holy means to be set apart for God’s purposes and to be free from sin. The Bible teaches that God is holy and that he desires his people to be holy as well (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Types of Sanctification
There are three types of sanctification mentioned in the Bible: positional sanctification, progressive sanctification, and ultimate sanctification.
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Positional Sanctification: This type of sanctification occurs at the moment of salvation. When a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ, they are declared righteous and holy in God’s sight (1 Corinthians 1:30). This is known as positional sanctification because it is based on the believer’s position in Christ.
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Progressive Sanctification: This type of sanctification is a lifelong process that occurs after salvation. It involves the believer’s cooperation with the Holy Spirit to become more like Christ and to be set apart from sin (2 Corinthians 7:1). This process involves putting off the old self and putting on the new self (Ephesians 4:22-24).
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Ultimate Sanctification: This type of sanctification will occur when believers are glorified in heaven. They will be completely free from sin and will be like Christ (1 John 3:2).
Sanctification in the Bible
Old Testament
The concept of sanctification in the Old Testament is closely related to the idea of being set apart for a holy purpose. God called the Israelites to be a holy nation, and this required them to be set apart from the surrounding nations and their practices. The process of sanctification for the Israelites involved a variety of practices, including circumcision, keeping the Sabbath, and observing various dietary laws.
Sanctification in the Old Testament also involved the idea of purification. The Israelites were required to purify themselves before entering the presence of God, and this often involved the use of water, such as in the case of the priests washing their hands and feet before entering the tabernacle.
New Testament
In the New Testament, sanctification takes on a more spiritual dimension. It is no longer just about being set apart for a specific purpose, but about being transformed into the image of Christ. This process of sanctification is made possible through faith in Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.
The New Testament speaks of both passive and active sanctification. Passive sanctification refers to the initial work of God in regenerating the believer and making them holy. Active sanctification refers to the ongoing process of growth in holiness and conformity to the image of Christ.
The goal of sanctification is not just personal growth, but also the glory of God. As believers are transformed into the image of Christ, they bring glory to God and reflect His character to the world.
The Process of Sanctification
Sanctification is the process of becoming holy, set apart for God’s purposes. It is a lifelong process that begins at the moment of conversion and continues until we are fully conformed to the image of Christ. The Bible teaches that there are two aspects of sanctification: positional and progressive.
Positional Sanctification
Positional sanctification is a one-time event that happens at the moment of salvation. When we put our faith in Christ, we are declared holy and righteous before God. This is not based on our own merit or good works, but on the finished work of Christ on the cross. As Romans 8:10 says, “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
Progressive Sanctification
Progressive sanctification, on the other hand, is a lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. It involves the Holy Spirit working in us to transform us from the inside out. This process is not automatic, but requires our cooperation and obedience to God’s Word. As we grow in our knowledge and love of God, we will begin to see the power of sin in our lives diminish and our moral character become more Christlike.
The process of progressive sanctification involves discipline, patience, and suffering. God uses these things to refine us and make us more like Him. As Hebrews 12:10-11 says, “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
In the Old Testament, sanctification was often associated with objects used for worship, such as the tent of meeting, the altar, and the feast. Levites and priests were set apart for God’s service, and the people were called to hallow themselves before Him. Today, as Christians, we are called to be set apart for God’s purposes and to live lives that are pleasing to Him.
In conclusion, sanctification is a unique and ongoing process that is both instantaneous and progressive. It is a gift from God that is received by faith and involves the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. As we grow in our knowledge and love of God, we will become more like Him and experience the joy of fellowship with Him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, sanctification is the process of becoming holy through the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. It is a lifelong process that begins at salvation and continues until we are perfected in Christ. Sanctification is not something that we can achieve on our own, but it is a work that God does in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible teaches that God is holy and that we are called to be holy as well. Sanctification is the process by which we become more like God and less like the world. It is through sanctification that we are able to overcome sin and live a life that is pleasing to God.
The process of sanctification involves faith, grace, and love. We must have faith in God and trust that He will complete the work that He has begun in us. We must also rely on His grace to empower us to live a holy life. Finally, we must have a love for God and a desire to please Him in all that we do.
The Christian life is a journey of sanctification. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, we will become more like Him. We will begin to see the world through His eyes and love others as He loves us. We must continue to pursue sanctification every day, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Biblical sanctification is an important concept in Christianity, but understanding its definition and significance can be elusive for believers. Sanctification is the process of becoming more holy, more akin to the perfect holiness of God. It is a process of purification, transformation, growth, and maturation in a believer’s relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Bible outlines the beginnings of sanctification through faith and repentance. In Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul writes “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Grace is God’s undeserved favor, thus proving that salvation is ultimately up to Him and beyond the recipient’s control or doing. To accept this gift of grace is to accept the fact that obedience to Christ is necessary in order to live a holy life.
The process of sanctification is a life-long journey. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul encourages believers to present themselves to God in order to grow in holiness. He states, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Sanctification is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process of setting aside our will in order to grow in our relationship with God. As we obey God’s commands and strive to live a life that reflects His perfect holiness, we can transform from spiritually dead to spiritually alive. Through studying the scriptures and cultivating a life of prayer and holiness, believers can continue to move closer to being like Christ.
Sanctification in the biblical sense is an important concept for Christians to understand. It serves as a reminder that salvation comes from God alone and is not something that can be achieved on our own. By striving to live a life of purity and holiness, we can draw closer to Christ and His will for our lives. Ultimately, as believers, it is our responsibility to seek God’s word and to submit to His will in order to be sanctified.
