Sanctification
The meaning of sanctification is consecration, or separation, unto God. This will result in purification
and cleansing from moral evil an defilement, and a brighter image of Christ will be seen in the
believer. Sanctification is not just limited to regenerated believers, for scriptures state that the
prophet Jeremiah was sanctified even before his birth (1). The furniture of the tabernacle, which in
itself was morally neutral, was set apart, or sanctified (2). Jesus Christ, who had no need of
cleansing from sin, sanctified Himself, (3) showing us that sanctification, as it applied to Him, was a
complete separation from this world to the perfect will of the Father. In John 10:36 we find the
Father sanctified, or set apart, the Son for a specific purpose. We see sanctification is not an act to
make us sinless, for who would dare say that our Savior would need such an experience (4)? We
can rejoice in the truth that believers are set apart or sanctified in Him. It will result in a walk that is
well pleasing to God, because the indwelling Spirit will empower us to be separate from sin and the
world.
In considering what part sanctification has to play in our Christian experience, let us first note the
positional aspect of our sanctification. Our perfect, positional sanctification has been brought to pass
by the blood of Christ and we are now in Him (5). This positional side of our sanctification is eternal
and belongs to all believrs regardless of maturity or lack of it, because it is based entirely upon the
finished work of Christ (6). Since it is not based on man's efforts, we are set apart or sanctified
forever, and this position can never be altered (7).
As a result of a believer's perfect position in Him, the child of God will be motivated to live a life of
obedience to Jesus Christ (8). When the believer walks by faith and rest in the Savior, he is in a
position to grow in grace and be used in the service of the Lord. This brings us to the "present tense"
of our sanctification.
Believers have two natures, the consequence of two births. By the new birth, (9) we have a new
nature, one that is perfect and cannot sin (10). By our physical birth, we all possess an old nature,
the "old man" (11). This is not as sad a plight as one might think if we acknowledge these facts to be
so; otherwise, we are only deceiving ourselves. A perfect way of victory has been provided as we
reckon ourselves (the old man) dead and live in and after the Spirit by faith (12). This is the practical
outworking of progressive sanctification.
As Christians, we believe we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and completely dependent on Him
(13). Next, we must use the Word of God to live holy life (14). God's Word transforms Christians
into the image of Christ, as the Spirit of God empowers us.
(1) Jeremiah 1:5 (2) Exodus 40:10; Numbers 7:1 (3) John 17:19 (4) Hebrews 7:26 (5) Hebrews 13:12
(6) Hebrews 10:10; Acts 26:18 (7) Hebrews 10:14 (8) 1 Peter 1:2 (9) John 3:3 (10) 1 John 3:9
(11) Ephesians 4:22-24 (12) Romans 6:11-23 (13) Ephesians 5:18 (14) John 17:17