SANCTIFIED

“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” – Hebrews 10: 10

Being SANCTIFIED is directly linked to the Word of GRACE: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His GRACE, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are SANCTIFIED” (Acts 20:32). Grace denotes God’s unmerited love and favour toward humankind; divine enablement for supernatural accomplishment. To be “sanctified” means “to set apart for holiness” or “to make holy.” Sanctification signifies to “consecrate” and set apart to a holy use. Although there are varied theological interpretations and denominational distinctions, the concept of “sanctifying grace” is commonly agreed on across the spectrum of Christian beliefs. Subsequent to being SAVED and justified by grace through faith, Sanctifying Grace imparts the purifying process that enables Christians to become more Christ-like: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification” (1The.4:3). Although denominations differ on what exactly sanctification is, when, how or by what agencies it happens, there is consensus on the reality of being “Sanctified by Grace.”

There is Justifying Grace, which changes our relationship with God: “being justified freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom.3:24); “having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom.5:1). In addition, there is Sanctifying Grace, which changes us on the inside. The Lord Jesus Christ prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth” (Jh.17:17). Two verses after, He declared, “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself that they also may be sanctified by the truth” (Jh.17:19). There are therefore two aspects to sanctification: the divine and the human, and both are subject to grace. First is “positional” sanctification, wherein believers are set apart for God’s holy purpose from the moment of being born-again. God performs this work of sanctification once for all time: “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb.10:10). This is done deal!

Second is “progressive” or “experiential” sanctification: although those who believe are made holy in Christ at salvation, we progressively mature in the spirit and grow in knowledge, discipline, and obedience to God’s Word: “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are BEING sanctified” (Heb.10:14). Some refer to a third aspect – “complete” sanctification, when believers obtain or attain ultimate and total separation from sin through glorification: “…Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col.1: 27a-28). Being sanctified progressively is therefore pertinent and practical to our needs as believers, being the prerequisite to perfect sanctification. The bottom line is: we receive Grace both to be saved from sin and to be set apart for holiness: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1Cor.6:11).

Believers in Christ Jesus are a sanctified people, separated from the world, and set apart for God’s service. By grace, God accomplishes a purging out of sin – the old leaven and leprosy of the soul – thus taking away the love of sin. Also by grace, He enables us to experience the spiritual refining of the soul: a “renewing of our mind” and a “partaking of the divine nature” (Rom.12:2; 2Pet.1:4). Sanctification not only washes from sin; it also adorns with purity. The latter demands our active cooperation with divine Grace: “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and useful the Master, prepared for every good work” (2Tim.2:21). We who by grace are sanctified and are being sanctified, bear not only God’s name, but also His Image and His nature. Although we are sanctified supernaturally and internally, the process must saturate our entire being: “Now may the God of Peace Himself SANCTIFY you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1The.5:24).