Sacnitification
Simply speaking, sanctification is the process of achieving holiness (Websters)
But what does that really mean? People of some religions would tell you that sanctification is brought about by learning and performing certain religious rituals that imbue the person or object with holiness (Websters). Buddhists and Hindus call this dharma, doing what is expected of you (Websters). Buddhists obtain holiness (dharma) through emptying themselves of everything worldly. This achievement of holiness is explained this way:
When it comes to being in accordance with dharma:
When the mind is in accord with emptiness
What is there to be concerned or to be pleased with?
When the mind is on accord with the empty,
Yet not empty.
Inside, driftwood.
Outside, regal serenity.
Cravings and attachments end conclusively
(Dronma, p 52)
Hindus also use the word dharma to mean holiness. To a Hindu, dharma means an individuals duty fulfilled by observance of custom or law(Websters). By fulfilling all that is required of one, the soul becomes one step holier and progresses to the next caste in the next life. When following dharma you are in harmony with the cosmic order; you abide close to God. (Hinduism Online) There are eight restraints and nine observances that comprise basic requirements of Hindu dharma (holiness), but individual gods and devas (minor godlike-spirits) may order other laws, such as the offering of flowers, perfumes, or fresh fruits to their idol. (Hindu Resources)
Modern religious Jews, too, seek to bring holiness into every aspect of their lives by keeping Gods Laws, but historically, Jews see holiness as something more. It is a national identity that was established by Gods conveyance of His convenant to them. (Johnson) So, this then, was one world religion that saw sanctification as an honor and a state of being conferred by God, not as a condition of human performance.
But these definitions do not correspond with the Christian use of the word sanctification. In fact, St. Augustine argued that the holiness is not derived from an individuals virtue, but from the Holiness of its Head, who is Christ. (Hodges) In direct contradiction to these other religious practices, with which educated Augustine would have been familiar, he declared that holiness is God-given and not human-created.
Strong defines sanctification as growing in holiness. It is a process in a Christians life produced by God (I Thessollians 5:23), Christ (Hebrews 2:11), The Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:2), Truth (John 17:17-19), Christs blood (Hebrews 9:14), and Prayer (I Timothy 4:4-5). (Strongs, p 178) This definition differs from the other religions by being outside-centered instead of performance-based. With the exception of prayer, the things which produce sanctification are the actions of God, not the human Believer. And even prayer is God-centered, since prayer is the act of communication with God.
Strong is careful to differentiate sanctification from sanctimony, which he defines as an assumed or pretended holiness based on self-evaluation of personal performance and observation of ritual requirements. This is the hypocrisy condemned by Christ in Matthew 6:5. (Strongs, p 178) Strong makes this distinction to show that holiness that comes from human effort and evaluation is pretended, but holiness that comes from God is real. This directly contradicts the Buddhist and Hindu notion of sanctification through personal accomplishment, and identifies such holiness as sanctimonious.
Another definition of sanctification is the work of Gods grace in the human soul though which and by which we are renewed in the image of God, set apart for Gods service and enabled to die to sin and live in righteousness. (Essig, p 473) Again, the work is Gods, not humans. Sanctification comes to individuals from God alone, not as a reward for the performance of rituals.
This is reinforced by other definitions that convey the Christian use of the word. To prepare or set apart people or things for a holy use, denotes that the person or object is set apart, but not by their own efforts. The effect of Gods spirit upon which it is made ready for the inheritance of the saints by grace through knowledge, faith, love, repentance and humility, makes it clear that sanctification is an act of God in which humans cooperate, but do not originate or provide a source for. The process by which man is delivered from the power of sin (ala Romans 6:11-14), again states that humans do not sanctify themselves, but external forces work it upon us (no one, by definition, can deliver himself; one is delivered by a rescuer. If one can rescue himself, there was no helplessness from which to be delivered.). (Cope, p 573)
One definition hits the truth of the gospel most accurately, though. Sanctification is the process by which a person comes to enjoy the presence and love of God (Wesley). This truth is repeated throughout the Bible, culminating in the crucifixion. Genesis 17:1 & 3, When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him. He said to Abram, "I am God Almighty. Live in my presence with integrity At this, Abram fell face down in the dust, it was a call to Abram to live in His presence, made holy, by his faith. His submission (bowing down to the ground before God), demonstrated his faith in God, as did the later description of circumcision (obedience to Gods first condition of the covenant) for every man in Abrams household.
The possibility of a post-fall human enjoying the presence of God was made real in the Bibles description of Enochs life, After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was gone because God took him. (Genesis 5:22-24) Enoch obviously enjoyed the presence and love of God to such a measure that God took him directly instead of waiting for him to die like everyone else. We can only hope that we will come to enjoy His presence so much!
This concept is revealed in Gods admonition So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests. (Exodus 28:41) In order for the priests to be allowed to be in His presence in the Tabernacle, they had to undergo a process of sanctification.
Psalm 24 echoes this idea. Who has permission to be in Gods presence in His holy hill? The person who is holy, sanctified.
So when we are sanctified, we are set apart for Gods purposes, we are growing in holiness, we are being renewed in the image of God, we are being enabled to serve Him, we are being delivered from the power of sin, are preparing to accept our inheritance, and are coming to enjoy the presence of God.
Works Cited
Websters Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., Springfield, Mass., 1989.
Dronma, Yeshe, A Glimpse into the Buddhist Mind, Dorje and Bell Publications, Toronto, 1990.
Hindu Resources Online, Dharma & Philosophy, http://www.hindu.org/dharma/#Dharma.
Hinduism Online, Basics of Hinduism, http://www.himalayanacademy.com
Johnson, Carl, Jewish Articles of Faith, http://mb-soft.com/believe/txh/jewbelie.htm, Believe Publications, Kingsbury, Indiana.
Hodges, Miles H., The Donatist Controversy,
http://www.newgenevacenter.org/biography/augustine2.htm#donatists, 2000.
Strong, James, Strongs Universal Subject Guide to the Bible, Thomas Neslon Publishers, Nashville, 1990.
Essig, Montgomery F., The Comprehensive Analysis of the Bible, Southwestern Company, Nashville, 1922.
Cope, Herman, The Union Bible Dictionary, American Sunday School Union, Philadelphia, 1855.
Wesley, John, The Works of John Wesley, edited by Thomas Jackson, Number XI, p.60, London, 1872.
All scripture references are from Gods Word, World Publishing Inc., Cleveland, 1995. Used by permission.
Simply speaking, sanctification is the process of achieving holiness (Websters)
But what does that really mean? People of some religions would tell you that sanctification is brought about by learning and performing certain religious rituals that imbue the person or object with holiness (Websters). Buddhists and Hindus call this dharma, doing what is expected of you (Websters). Buddhists obtain holiness (dharma) through emptying themselves of everything worldly. This achievement of holiness is explained this way:
When it comes to being in accordance with dharma:
When the mind is in accord with emptiness
What is there to be concerned or to be pleased with?
When the mind is on accord with the empty,
Yet not empty.
Inside, driftwood.
Outside, regal serenity.
Cravings and attachments end conclusively
(Dronma, p 52)
Hindus also use the word dharma to mean holiness. To a Hindu, dharma means an individuals duty fulfilled by observance of custom or law(Websters). By fulfilling all that is required of one, the soul becomes one step holier and progresses to the next caste in the next life. When following dharma you are in harmony with the cosmic order; you abide close to God. (Hinduism Online) There are eight restraints and nine observances that comprise basic requirements of Hindu dharma (holiness), but individual gods and devas (minor godlike-spirits) may order other laws, such as the offering of flowers, perfumes, or fresh fruits to their idol. (Hindu Resources)
Modern religious Jews, too, seek to bring holiness into every aspect of their lives by keeping Gods Laws, but historically, Jews see holiness as something more. It is a national identity that was established by Gods conveyance of His convenant to them. (Johnson) So, this then, was one world religion that saw sanctification as an honor and a state of being conferred by God, not as a condition of human performance.
But these definitions do not correspond with the Christian use of the word sanctification. In fact, St. Augustine argued that the holiness is not derived from an individuals virtue, but from the Holiness of its Head, who is Christ. (Hodges) In direct contradiction to these other religious practices, with which educated Augustine would have been familiar, he declared that holiness is God-given and not human-created.
Strong defines sanctification as growing in holiness. It is a process in a Christians life produced by God (I Thessollians 5:23), Christ (Hebrews 2:11), The Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:2), Truth (John 17:17-19), Christs blood (Hebrews 9:14), and Prayer (I Timothy 4:4-5). (Strongs, p 178) This definition differs from the other religions by being outside-centered instead of performance-based. With the exception of prayer, the things which produce sanctification are the actions of God, not the human Believer. And even prayer is God-centered, since prayer is the act of communication with God.
Strong is careful to differentiate sanctification from sanctimony, which he defines as an assumed or pretended holiness based on self-evaluation of personal performance and observation of ritual requirements. This is the hypocrisy condemned by Christ in Matthew 6:5. (Strongs, p 178) Strong makes this distinction to show that holiness that comes from human effort and evaluation is pretended, but holiness that comes from God is real. This directly contradicts the Buddhist and Hindu notion of sanctification through personal accomplishment, and identifies such holiness as sanctimonious.
Another definition of sanctification is the work of Gods grace in the human soul though which and by which we are renewed in the image of God, set apart for Gods service and enabled to die to sin and live in righteousness. (Essig, p 473) Again, the work is Gods, not humans. Sanctification comes to individuals from God alone, not as a reward for the performance of rituals.
This is reinforced by other definitions that convey the Christian use of the word. To prepare or set apart people or things for a holy use, denotes that the person or object is set apart, but not by their own efforts. The effect of Gods spirit upon which it is made ready for the inheritance of the saints by grace through knowledge, faith, love, repentance and humility, makes it clear that sanctification is an act of God in which humans cooperate, but do not originate or provide a source for. The process by which man is delivered from the power of sin (ala Romans 6:11-14), again states that humans do not sanctify themselves, but external forces work it upon us (no one, by definition, can deliver himself; one is delivered by a rescuer. If one can rescue himself, there was no helplessness from which to be delivered.). (Cope, p 573)
One definition hits the truth of the gospel most accurately, though. Sanctification is the process by which a person comes to enjoy the presence and love of God (Wesley). This truth is repeated throughout the Bible, culminating in the crucifixion. Genesis 17:1 & 3, When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him. He said to Abram, "I am God Almighty. Live in my presence with integrity At this, Abram fell face down in the dust, it was a call to Abram to live in His presence, made holy, by his faith. His submission (bowing down to the ground before God), demonstrated his faith in God, as did the later description of circumcision (obedience to Gods first condition of the covenant) for every man in Abrams household.
The possibility of a post-fall human enjoying the presence of God was made real in the Bibles description of Enochs life, After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was gone because God took him. (Genesis 5:22-24) Enoch obviously enjoyed the presence and love of God to such a measure that God took him directly instead of waiting for him to die like everyone else. We can only hope that we will come to enjoy His presence so much!
This concept is revealed in Gods admonition So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests. (Exodus 28:41) In order for the priests to be allowed to be in His presence in the Tabernacle, they had to undergo a process of sanctification.
Psalm 24 echoes this idea. Who has permission to be in Gods presence in His holy hill? The person who is holy, sanctified.
So when we are sanctified, we are set apart for Gods purposes, we are growing in holiness, we are being renewed in the image of God, we are being enabled to serve Him, we are being delivered from the power of sin, are preparing to accept our inheritance, and are coming to enjoy the presence of God.
Works Cited
Websters Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., Springfield, Mass., 1989.
Dronma, Yeshe, A Glimpse into the Buddhist Mind, Dorje and Bell Publications, Toronto, 1990.
Hindu Resources Online, Dharma & Philosophy, http://www.hindu.org/dharma/#Dharma.
Hinduism Online, Basics of Hinduism, http://www.himalayanacademy.com
Johnson, Carl, Jewish Articles of Faith, http://mb-soft.com/believe/txh/jewbelie.htm, Believe Publications, Kingsbury, Indiana.
Hodges, Miles H., The Donatist Controversy,
http://www.newgenevacenter.org/biography/augustine2.htm#donatists, 2000.
Strong, James, Strongs Universal Subject Guide to the Bible, Thomas Neslon Publishers, Nashville, 1990.
Essig, Montgomery F., The Comprehensive Analysis of the Bible, Southwestern Company, Nashville, 1922.
Cope, Herman, The Union Bible Dictionary, American Sunday School Union, Philadelphia, 1855.
Wesley, John, The Works of John Wesley, edited by Thomas Jackson, Number XI, p.60, London, 1872.
All scripture references are from Gods Word, World Publishing Inc., Cleveland, 1995. Used by permission.
