As found in 1Peter 1:2 and many other places, the word "sanctification" is the English translation of the Greek word hagiasmos, which means: purification.
It is found in 1 Corinthians 1:30 (which verse has great truths in it), and also in
1Thessalonians 4:3,4....which defines one facet of just what sanctification is concerning the will of God for the life of every Christian.
2 Thessalonians 2:13... "But we are bound to give thanks for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you (corporately) to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."
Sanctification and salvation are inextricably connected. If you are saved/born-again, you are sanctified. It will help if we look at some of the places that the word "sanctified" appears... One of the best known is found in 1Corinthians 1:2....
"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints..."
The word "sanctified" is the Greek hagiazo, which means:
to make holy, to purify or consecrate (i.e to set apart). Its use here in 1Cor. shows us that the first phase of sanctification is positional. The Corinthian church was not known for a holy lifestyle, yet they are described as being in the state of having been sanctified, because they were "...in Christ Jesus..."
One of the great passages concerning sinners having their lives changed by union with Christ is found in 1Cor. 6:9-11... "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (sodomites), Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified (to be declared innocent), in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (And so you will inherit the kingdom).
Other passages dealing with sanctification are: Hebrews 2:11; Heb.10:10,14,29; and Jude 1. All of which are important.
As is the case with salvation, there are three phases of sanctification: #1. Positional . #2. Operational. #3. Eternal. What follows will elaborate.
In His High Priestly prayer found in John 17, the Lord Jesus prayed for the Father to: "Sanctify them (all believers) through the truth; Thy word is truth."
Most folks who would spend the time to read this paper would know that the "first phase" of sanctification is positional. When we are born-again, we are set apart for eternity.
As Colossians 3:3 puts it: "For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Safe! And Secure!
Some other scriptures that speak of positional sanctification are: 1Cor. 1:2; 6:9-11; Jude 1, and Heb.10:10
Mentioned briefly above, 1 Thessalonians 4:2-8 gives a clear description of "ongoing" sanctification. First, we find that Paul is referring to the responsibility of the believers in Thessalonica to be obedient to the commandments that he gave them by the authority of the Lord Jesus. The word "commandments" there is the Greek paraggelia, which is a military order. The same word is translated "charge" in the KJV of 1Timothy 1:3,18; 5:7; and 6:13. In other words, the instructions given in each of these places (taken in context), are not optional.
Verse 4 goes on to say that our physical processes come under this ongoing sanctification, and verses 5 and 6 speak of the lust for that which is forbidden that the Christian is to avoid through the power that only the Holy Spirit can provide.
Verse 7 states that God has called every true Believer "...unto holiness." The word "holiness" is the exact same word in the Greek as the word "sanctification" set forth above.
The final phase of our sanctification awaits our seeing the Lord Jesus Christ.
As 1John 3:2 puts it: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."
It is found in 1 Corinthians 1:30 (which verse has great truths in it), and also in
1Thessalonians 4:3,4....which defines one facet of just what sanctification is concerning the will of God for the life of every Christian.
2 Thessalonians 2:13... "But we are bound to give thanks for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you (corporately) to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."
Sanctification and salvation are inextricably connected. If you are saved/born-again, you are sanctified. It will help if we look at some of the places that the word "sanctified" appears... One of the best known is found in 1Corinthians 1:2....
"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints..."
The word "sanctified" is the Greek hagiazo, which means:
to make holy, to purify or consecrate (i.e to set apart). Its use here in 1Cor. shows us that the first phase of sanctification is positional. The Corinthian church was not known for a holy lifestyle, yet they are described as being in the state of having been sanctified, because they were "...in Christ Jesus..."
One of the great passages concerning sinners having their lives changed by union with Christ is found in 1Cor. 6:9-11... "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (sodomites), Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified (to be declared innocent), in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (And so you will inherit the kingdom).
Other passages dealing with sanctification are: Hebrews 2:11; Heb.10:10,14,29; and Jude 1. All of which are important.
As is the case with salvation, there are three phases of sanctification: #1. Positional . #2. Operational. #3. Eternal. What follows will elaborate.
In His High Priestly prayer found in John 17, the Lord Jesus prayed for the Father to: "Sanctify them (all believers) through the truth; Thy word is truth."
Most folks who would spend the time to read this paper would know that the "first phase" of sanctification is positional. When we are born-again, we are set apart for eternity.
As Colossians 3:3 puts it: "For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Safe! And Secure!
Some other scriptures that speak of positional sanctification are: 1Cor. 1:2; 6:9-11; Jude 1, and Heb.10:10
Mentioned briefly above, 1 Thessalonians 4:2-8 gives a clear description of "ongoing" sanctification. First, we find that Paul is referring to the responsibility of the believers in Thessalonica to be obedient to the commandments that he gave them by the authority of the Lord Jesus. The word "commandments" there is the Greek paraggelia, which is a military order. The same word is translated "charge" in the KJV of 1Timothy 1:3,18; 5:7; and 6:13. In other words, the instructions given in each of these places (taken in context), are not optional.
Verse 3 (of 1Thess. 4), shows that obedience to these commands is the will of God for the Believer. Not only so, but that obedient behavior is then stated to be the operational or experiential sanctification of the obedient Christian. Verse 4 goes on to say that our physical processes come under this ongoing sanctification, and verses 5 and 6 speak of the lust for that which is forbidden that the Christian is to avoid through the power that only the Holy Spirit can provide.
Verse 7 states that God has called every true Believer "...unto holiness." The word "holiness" is the exact same word in the Greek as the word "sanctification" set forth above.
The final phase of our sanctification awaits our seeing the Lord Jesus Christ.
As 1John 3:2 puts it: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."
HALLELUJAH!
Written by: W.A.B.
