God’s word teaches that Sanctification is an operation of the Spirit of God on those who are already in Christ. That Christians, those who are effectually called and regenerated having a new heart and a new spirit created in them need to be further sanctified through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, His Word and His Spirit.
What then is the meaning of the word ‘Sanctification’? Sanctification is an English word which means: “To make sacred or holy; to set apart for a holy or a religious use; To make free from sin; To cleanse from moral corruption and pollution; The act of God’s grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world and exalted to supreme love to God; To purify in order to prepare for divine service and for partaking of holy things; To free from the power, of sin; Being set free from the power of cancelled sin.
Sanctification is not of works, but it is the work of God, divinely wrought by the Holy Spirit. It is progressive and changeable, depending upon the believer’s yieldedness to God’s word (Romans 6:13) and conformity to God’s will (Romans 12:2).
‘Holiness’, ‘Perfection’ and ‘Sanctification’ are the definitive terms used interchangeably. ‘Holiness’ means entire freedom from sin; wholeness, spiritual health, moral integrity and purity. Our health means the absence of sickness. Therefore, holiness means the absence of sin (Luke 1:74,75; Psalm 29:2; 93:5; 1 Peter 1:16; Hebrews 12:14). ‘Perfection’ means that which is not lacking in that which it ought to have. The perfection which God requires and accomplishes in those who earnestly ask in faith is the purifying of our hearts; loving every believer as Christ loves us and loving our neighbours as ourselves. Nothing less than this is desirable and nothing more is required (Colossians 1:28), ‘Sanctification’ is described as ‘clean heart’ or ‘pure heart’. This descriptive term shows the experience in a way, one can understand in his heart (Psalm 24:3-4; Matthew 5:8). The Bible teaches that all of God’s children can be like Jesus in separation from the world, in purity and in love. We must be inwardly pure and peaceful, otherwise we are left defeated. A blameless life is a life in which God sees nothing to condemn. We may not be blameless to our contemporaries, but we can be blameless before God. When God examines a sanctified heart, he finds all that He possesses to be in harmony with Himself. His heart is a throne on which He reigns without a rival; an empire wherein He exercises unchecked, undisputed dominion and authority.
How does the earnest seeker get sanctified?
a. There must first be a definite separation and withdrawal from all sins and appearance of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22; 2 Corinthians 6:17); from immorality and all unclean things (2 Timothy 2:21).
b. There must be entire consecration. This is giving ourselves unto God in a vivid manner:
- First, we give ALL we are to God. Here we no longer lay any claim on ourselves (Luke 9:60; Romans 12:1-2).
- Second, we give our body unto the glory of God, not for any selfish motive or purpose in view, but with the consideration and knowledge that we are bought by the precious blood of Jesus.
- Third, we give ourselves for service (John 13:12-17). Here, Jesus shows how to consecrate and dedicate ourselves for service. Washing the feet was the work of a slave. So, we must learn to do the meanest job in the midst of believers and not waiting for compliments.
- Fourth, we must die to self. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into ground and die it bringeth forth much fruit…” (John 12:24-26). Consecration is coming before God with our past, present, future, personality, possession, wisdom, talent, intellect, money, influence, position in the family and in the church and dedicating all to God.
Having been so separated and dedicated unto God, God will then be ready to do His part and give us a definite experience which is sanctification. This is the operation of God, a definite act of God’s grace in believers’ hearts (Hebrews 2:11; 13:12- 13).
By what means of grace does the believer get into this experience? The means of sanctification includes:
- The word of God (John 15:3)
- Blood of Jesus (Hebrews 13: 12-13)
- Faith in the Lord (Acts 26:18)
- Spirit of God
- God Himself (I Thessalonians 2:23).
We do not get sanctified by studying the word alone, but then, we still must pray in faith. We must believe in its possibility before we can ask in faith. Also, we must realize that it is the will of God that we are made holy (I Thessalonians 4:3-8; I John 5:14-15). Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Holiness here is not just the judicial kind of holiness, but the practical holiness of which believers are partakers because they have surrendered unto God through Christ. This holiness does something in our hearts that will make us live right. We must desire it (Mark 11:24), and ask with a genuine burning desire.
The Bible teaches that all believers can be wholly sanctified (I Thessalonians 5:23). We should not be guilty of taking away from the word. This teaching places a great and solemn responsibility upon all preachers of the word to teach this doctrine; be a partaker of the experience (I Timothy 4: 12; 2 Timothy 2:6), as well as endeavour to understand and know how to present this teaching by study (2 Timothy 2: 15; Titus 1:9; John 7:46); faithfully and effectively teach all believers without fear or compromise for in all things of the Spirit, we should not withhold or withdraw the truth from our congregation (2 Timothy 2-2). Let us encourage all believers to partake of the blessing.
Recoommended Reading
THE POWER OF THE WORD
The Place And Power Of The Local Church
Top Ten Lessons from the Life of Daniel
10 Guidelines That will Keep You In Minsrtry
This gracious Christian experience of Sanctification, could be kept all through one’s Christian life provided that the recipient keeps abiding in Christ, watching and praying (John 15:4; Mark 13:32-35). Having been warned to hold fast that which is good, the only reasonable thing for the Sanctified Believer to do is to stop grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30-31); refuse to relapse into bitterness and harshness of spirit, never engage in unprofitable conversation (Ephesians 5:3-4), unkind criticisms, evil speaking and fault finding, self-indulgence and prejudice, impatience, indolence and negligence, uncontrolled temperament, self-dependence and self-management as well as never again to show interest in objects of temptation.
The white lily grows up from the midst of dirty mud and yet there is no dust on it. Christians can grow up in this dirty world yet without spot on their lives (Romans 12:1-2). It is our privilege to be totally separated from the evil of the world. It is a promise from God that we should be purged and sanctified. “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:24).