What the Bible says about sanctification. What it means and how it applies.
Sanctification is another important reality in the life of a saint. So what is it?
SANCTIFICATION Greek Strong's Number: 38 Original Word: agiasmo Transliterated Word: Hagiasmos Phonetic Spelling: hag-ee-as-mos' Parts of Speech : Noun Masculine Definition:
consecration, purification
the effect of consecration
sanctification of heart and life
SANCTIFY Hebrew Strong's Number: 06942 Original Word: #dq Transliterated Word: Qadash Phonetic Spelling: kaw-dash' Parts of Speech : Verb Definition:
to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate
(Qal)
to be set apart, be consecrated
to be hallowed
consecrated, tabooed
(Niphal)
to show oneself sacred or majestic
to be honoured, be treated as sacred
to be holy
(Piel)
to set apart as sacred, consecrate, dedicate
to observe as holy, keep sacred
to honour as sacred, hallow
to consecrate
(Pual)
to be consecrated
consecrated, dedicated
(Hiphil)
to set apart, devote, consecrate
to regard or treat as sacred or hallow
to consecrate
(Hithpael)
to keep oneself apart or separate
to cause Himself to be hallowed (of God)
to be observed as holy
to consecrate oneself
Hebrew Strong's Number: 06942 Original Word: #dq Transliterated Word: Qadash Phonetic Spelling: kaw-dash' Parts of Speech : Verb Definition:
SANCTIFY Greek Strong's Number: 37 Original Word: agiazw Transliterated Word: Hagiazo Phonetic Spelling: hag-ee-ad'-zo Parts of Speech : Verb Definition:
to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
consecrate things to God
dedicate people to God
to purify
to cleanse externally
to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
to purify internally by renewing of the soul
Greek Strong's Number: 37 Original Word: agiazw Transliterated Word: Hagiazo Phonetic Spelling: hag-ee-ad'-zo Parts of Speech : Verb Definition:
But how, what, and in what relationship something or someone is set apart is sometimes confusing for some.
In the Old Testament a lot of words, terms, and concepts are derived from the root word and contextual meanings associated with this area of understanding. This includes terms such as sanctuary, saint, and holy, in example. And the meanings carry over into the New Testament applications.
So, a good simple definition to use for general understand is set apart for God. But it can mean dedication to things other than God. So context is important when reading.
With that in mind we can look at how sanctification applies to the Church saints.
When we are saved we are sanctified to God. So, sanctification does not mean salvation. It means that in the act of salvation God sets us aside for himself. He sets us apart from the world spiritually.
Romans 12: (NIV) 2Do not conform any longer 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.
Ephesians 4: (NIV) 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
One must be careful here to understand that we still live in the same old flesh and that still possesses the same old desires. Only our spirits are changed.
Yet in the changing of our spirits our minds are indeed changed. That in turn changes how we live our lives. But that is a subject for another page.
After salvation that act of sanctification points us in a new direction. And many of those who believe in Conditional Salvation fail in understanding here. Our spirits forever abandon a desire for sin. So all the conflicts of the saints are in the flesh and in the mind. Therefore, while salvation is an instantaneous one-time event never to be repeated and cannot be added to, sanctification is an ongoing process. Being set aside for God at salvation does not mean all our issues of life are instantly “fixed.” Nor does it mean we instantly understand everything and are mature in Christ.
So, some questions must be asked of those who believe in Conditional Salvation. And those questions are: How many sins does it take to lose ones salvation? Or which specific sin causes it? And finally how can one be condemned by sin when that condemnation comes for the Law which a saint is no longer under?
Then there are those who believe a saint never sins again. That just does not exist in the Bible.
Romans 7: (NIV) 14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[1] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Paul makes it very clear we are cleansed in the spirit but not in the flesh. The spirit and the flesh war against each other and that war plays out in the mind. And the spirit does not always win.
But there are still some that claim the flesh is also cleansed of the sin nature. And if you sin or desire to sin it means you are not saved.
Well, all that can be said in honesty is these people either do not know what sin means, only look at the big stuff, dismissing the little, find excuses to explain why their sins are not sins, or just completely lie to themselves. For anyone who honestly examines their thoughts and desires during a day know they sin. And anyone who knows the actual meaning of sin knows you do not have to physically act to sin, just having the desires or thoughts in your mind for the briefest of moments is sin.
Paul said he sinned as an anointed of God. And attempts to declare he was not really saved yet are simply unbelievable to make. The major writer of the New Testament in one of the biggest and most quoted books of the New Testament who preached, wrote, helped found churches, and more was not yet saved?
Plus the following totally defies the doctrine of Total Sanctification. How can one loose all their works and yet be saved and enter Heaven by this doctrine? Works could only be lost if one did them for the wrong motives or erroneous beliefs. And that would be sin because surely if they were without sin the Holy Spirit would have guided them truthfully. Therefore they did not listen to him but their own hearts and minds.
1 Corinthians 3: (NIV) 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
We have a Bible commanded obligation to study. Study heightens our understanding. That understanding aids in conquering issues of the flesh and mind. Conquering issues of the flesh and mind and study in turn makes us more productive tools for God to use in the world for the sake of others.
Hence, as stated, sanctification is an ongoing process. Salvation promotes growth. Growth promotes change. Change sanctifies us more deeply. And that causes the whole cycle to repeat itself over and over.
And hopefully you can now see we also sanctify things to God. Christians set apart time for God, create web sites, use money to print and distribute literature, do home Bible studies for their neighborhoods, and so on.
So, sanctification is a part of every Christian’s life. It is a permanent state of being. And a state of being that should grow over time.
