GotQuestions.org: What does it
mean to be sanctified?
To
be sanctified is to be “set apart.” Synonyms
for sanctified are holy, consecrated,
and hallowed. The Bible speaks of things being
“sanctified,” such as Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:23) and gifts to the temple (Matthew 23:17); days, such as the
Sabbath (Exodus 20:8); names, such as God’s (Matthew 6:9); and people, such as the
Israelites (Leviticus 20:7–8) and
Christians (Ephesians 5:26).
For a thing to be sanctified means it
is set apart for a special use. Sinai was set apart from all other mountains
for the giving of the Law. The temple in Jerusalem was set apart from all other
locations for the worship of the one true God: “I have chosen and consecrated
this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will
always be there” (2 Chronicles 7:16).
Things that are sanctified are reserved
for God’s purposes and should not be used for mundane tasks. The night Babylon
fell, King Belshazzar “gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets . .
. from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and
his concubines might drink from them” (Daniel 5:2). It was one of Belshazzar’s final
acts, for he was killed that night by the invading Persians. God’s name is
“hallowed” (Luke 11:2) and any flippant or disrespectful use
of His name is profane.
Jesus spoke of Himself as being
sanctified in John 17:19; in other words,
He is holy and “set apart” from sin. His followers are to be similarly set
apart from sin and for God’s use (see 1 Peter 1:16).
People who are sanctified are born
again [John 3:3] and therefore part of God’s family (John 1:12; Hebrews 2:11). They are reserved for God’s use.
They know “the sanctifying work of the Spirit” in their lives (1 Peter 1:2). They abstain from sexual immorality
(1 Thessalonians 4:3). They understand they have
been “called to be his holy people” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
To be sanctified means that God has
been at work in our lives. Under the Old Testament Law, the blood of a
sacrifice was required to set things apart unto God: “In fact, the law requires
that nearly everything be cleansed with blood” (Hebrews 9:22). Blood was sprinkled on tabernacle
furniture, on priestly clothing, and on people. Nothing was considered
sanctified until it had come in contact with the blood. This was a picture of
the spiritual application of Christ’s blood for our salvation—we are “sprinkled
with his blood” (1 Peter 1:2). Just as the
temple of old was sanctified for God’s use, our bodies, temples of the Holy Spirit, are set apart for
God’s holy purposes (1 Corinthians 6:19).
To be sanctified means that God’s Word
has had an effect on us. It is “through the word” that God cleanses us and
makes us holy (Ephesians 5:26; John 17:17).
God invites us sinners to come to Him
“just as we are” and receive His mercy and forgiveness. When we are saved, the
Holy Spirit begins His amazing work of transforming us into the image and
likeness of Christ. To be sanctified means that God loves us too much to let us
stay the same.
The apostle’s prayer is for all
believers, everywhere: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through
and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
+++
I’m building a topical file on the topic. Want
it? Just ask. EBB4
No comments:
Post a Comment