Biblical Analysis of Sanctification
Introduction & Biblical
Analysis Methodology
As a research team, nine men of the Other Seventy Training Academy congregated for the purpose of studying the concept of sanctification. A specific team-developed methodology was used to investigate the topic. Every Thursday night, the men of the Academy met for one hour and the time was divided into individual study followed by collective dialogue. All biblical study was conducted on site and homework was not allowed, keeping each study session unique, fresh, and alive.
Through our strategic methodology, we developed and researched questions concerning sanctification. After which, we selected a biblical definition from a scholarly source, located and selected biblical illustrations, and collectively developed a research team definition of the concept (sanctification). Topical sanctification passages were defined and determined with note exploration. Lastly, our four research questions were answered, prior to the collective writing of the document.
The Nelson’s Bible Dictionary defines Sanctification as “The process of God's grace by which the believer is separated from sin and becomes dedicated to God's righteousness, accomplished by the Word of God (John 17:7) and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:3-4). Sanctification results in holiness, or purification from the guilt and power of sin.” Selected were a collection of Old Testament passages, providing manifestations of the sanctification process. In Exodus 28:41, the Bible records “…Thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.” In further defining the concept and looking specifically at the theme of consecration, Ezekiel stated, “Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves” (Ezekiel 43:26). In relationship to a sin offering, using the ram “…He slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 24 And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about” (Leviticus 8:23-24).
In critically looking at multiple passages of scripture, dialogue, scholarly sources, and the methodology of sanctification, this research team defines the concept of sanctification as, “God’s divine cleansing method of sin through a process of being washed by the blood of Christ in baptism.”
Biblical Facts Concerning
Sanctification in Scripture
Within four New Testament narratives, the literal term sanctification is used. In 1 Corinthians 1:30 Paul said, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption…” From the perspective of Paul and divine guidance, the process of sanctification is through the providential purchase of Christ by the hand of God. The four elements, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, make the cleansing process of Christ accessible to individuals willing to repent. Additionally, Paul reminds Christians (2 Thessalonians 2:13), that they are chosen to salvation through the process of sanctification by God, manifested through the power of His Holy Spirit. “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.”
In 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
Paul said, “For this is the will of God,
even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every
one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour…”
Paul speaks to the Thessalonians about the fact that sanctification alone
is the very reason that Christians should know how to conduct themselves,
showing with all dignity in the highest regard, and with proper esteem,
upholding the honor due to God’s positioning of all Christians, according to His
desired will. Peter said, “Elect
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the
Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto
you, and peace, be multiplied” (1 Peter 1:2). Therefore, as Peter spoke to the chosen saints of
God the Father about their position of being set apart for a special service to
God, his primary emphasis was on the expressed purpose of submission and
obedience, under the sacrifice of Christ.
From an Old Testament perspective, Moses was commanded by God to take Aaron and his sons before the congregation to prepare, consecrate, and sanctify them for the priesthood. The following passage is a descriptive account of the religious ritual instructed by God to set these men apart for a Holy purpose: “And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 24 And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about” (Leviticus 8:23-24).
In What Way is Sanctification Discussed
in the Old Testament?
The primary method in which sanctification is discussed in
the Old Testament appears to be through the process of dedication. The Hebraic
concept, sanctify in the Old Testament, is developed from the word qadash, which means to “causatively,
make, pronounce or observe as clean (ceremonially or morally). And
to appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, keep holy, prepare,
proclaim, purify, or sanctify. As an example, Hannah lent her son Samuel to the
Lord. In terms of her son, Hannah states, “Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he
liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there” (1
Samuel 1:28).Therefore sanctification of the New Testament is the
perfection of that dedication, a person being dedicated and cleaned by God. Who
did the dedicating in the Old Testament, Man (theoretically)? Who sanctifies in
the New Testament, God emphatically?
The sanctification through the process of dedication in the Old Testament was most always for a specific purpose. God has never sanctified His children or people to assume a position of idleness. In 1 Samuel 16:5-6, we see a portion of the purpose carried out through the sons of Jesse, knowing that David was amongst them, approaching the path of becoming the new king of Israel. “And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him” (1 Samuel 16:5-6).
From an Old Testament perspective the concept of
sanctification is more of a physical process and a spiritually invisible process
in the New Testament. God’s design is to set things apart for His own purpose. In
the Old Testament it is more of a physical picture: Rituals, garments,
tabernacles, etc. God made it (sanctification) easily identifiable in the Old
Testament. Sanctification was a process for an exclusive group, the Nation of
Israel. “But know that the LORD hath set
apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him”
(Psalms 4:3).
Part of God’s apparent view of sanctification deals with the
assumptive element that His set-apart children will function differently from
the world. The view is that if God has washed His children, His children will
live as if they are worthy and appreciative of His Grace: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should
abstain from fornication” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Also, there is the
position that for one to possess God, it can only come through being sanctified
or set-apart from the dead things of the world. “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in
sanctification and honour” (1
Thessalonians 4:4).
Based upon two
primary passages, Gods view of sanctification is that it is a special process
that makes a people special. As stated by the Apostle Paul to the
Thessalonians, “But we are bound to give
thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath
from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit
and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians
2:13). The Apostle Peter further
elaborates upon the concept, stating, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God
the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling
of the blood of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 1:2). Be mindful of the
condition that it is not a special process made for special people. The sinner
becomes the elect of God, only after having experienced the sanctification
process of Him. The evidence of the process also promotes the reason why
Christians are to give God thanks, praise, and glory.
Through it all, it is God who spiritually and wholly
sanctifies, cleanses, washes, and preserves the repentant sinner through His
Word and washing of water. It is His process that grants the world acceptance
into his Grace and Kingdom (2 Corinthians 3:18). Paul said, in terms of the workings
of Christ, “…That he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26). The
process introduces a format for God’s divine people completion. As preached by
Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “The very
God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and
body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is pivotal to understand that
sanctification is God’s personal process without the interference of humanity.
Therefore, the Hebrew writer instructs in terms of Jesus, “…That he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered
without the gate” (Hebrews 13:12). The invisible surgery of God is executed
upon the spiritual hearts of men and women, seeking God through the process of belief,
faith, repentance, confession, and baptism to obtain salvation. Consequently Peter
explained, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with
meekness and fear”(1 Peter 3:15).
From a process perspective, the formulary building block of sanctification
begins with the divine Word of God. Without
a person receiving the Word of God, spiritual sanctification cannot commence. It
is the Word of God that washes and renews our minds (Romans 12:1-2). Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is
truth. 18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so
have I also sent them into the world. 19And for their
sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth”(John
17:17-19). The
passage helps us understand that the process of sanctification begins with the
penetrating Word of God, touching the souls of men and women.
The house of Cornelius heard the preached word of the resurrected Christ, believed, and were then given the Holy Spirit, followed by baptism in water. This was a unique case (Acts 10:44-48; Acts 15:7-9). The process is executed by and through Christ. The Christians at Corinth were sanctified by Christ and classified as saints (Holy, set apart, & consecrated). What must be experienced to be called a saint? Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 1:2, “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's.” In the house-of- Cornelius case study, and as a part of the sanctification process, the Word was heard and believed as a partial completion of the process. As indicated in Acts 15:9, those in the House of Cornelius believed and had faith in the Christly evangelistic message of Peter.
The message includes the complete
gospel of Christ and the methodology of how to capture Him in Spirit. The
Hebrew writer said, “By the which will we are sanctified through
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). The system for
apprehending Him includes faith (Acts 26:18),
the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:13-15),
the Word of God, Belief in God and the body of Christ. It is the essence of the
elements in the plan of salvation, hearing, believing, repenting, confessing,
and being baptized into Christ.
Acts 26:18 indicates a turning from
darkness to light. Thus, eyes must be opened to actualize the importance and
power of God, for the purpose of gaining the inheritance through faith in
Christ. The following passages, 1 Corinthians 6:11 & 1 Peter 1:2, deals
with the obedience and the Spirit of Christ. In terms of the process and for
added emphasis, Ephesians 5:26 reveals the church and washings, based upon
the washing by/of the Word.
How does sanctification benefit
the believer?
Benefits of Sanctification
|
Benefits
of Salvation |
Biblical
Passages |
|
Spiritual Transformation |
Romans12:1-2; 1Cor 6:11 Col 1:13 |
|
The Remission Sins |
Acts 22:16 |
|
The Relief from the Pain, Burden, Influence, Weight, Anxiety, and Bondage of Sin |
Psalms 34:15; Matthew
11:28; Luke 4:18-19 |
|
Access to the power of God |
2 Timothy 1:7 |
|
Prayer |
2 Kings 20:5-6; Acts
12:5-11; Ephesians 6:18 |
|
The Love of God |
Romans 8:35-39 |
|
The Indwelling of Holy Spirit |
1 Corinthians 1:30 |
|
Kingdom Membership/Heavenly Inheritance |
Ephesians 5:5; 2
Thessalonians 2:13; Matthew 5:8; 1 Cor 1:30 |
|
Opportunity to Deposit the True Gospel |
Mark 16:15-16; Luke
4:18-19 |
|
Worship |
John 4:23-24 |
|
Grace |
Ephesians 4:7; Hebrews 10:28-29 |
|
Mercy |
Jude 1:2; Titus 3:5 |
|
Righteousness |
1 Corinthians 1:30 |
|
Election |
2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2 |
|
Completion & Blamelessness |
1 Thessalonians 5:23 |
|
Hope |
1 Peter 3:15 |
|
Spiritual Strength/Ability to Endure |
1 Peter 2:18-21 |
|
The reception of the Truth |
John 17:17 |
|
Dedication, Allowance & Purpose |
Romans 12:2 |
|
Justification |
Romans 3:26 |
|
To See the Lord God |
Philippians 3:20 |
|
Peace |
Hebrews 12:14 |
|
Created to do Good Works |
Ephesians 2:10 |
|
His Workmanship/Masterpiece |
Ephesians 2:10 |
|
We Serve a God that has the Ability to Build up His Children |
Acts 20:32 |
|
The Ability to do the Will of God |
James 1:22 |
|
Access to the Priesthood |
Leviticus 8:23-24;1Peter
2:9 |
|
Salvation |
2 Thessalonians 2:13 |
Conclusion
Through the process of sanctification and how it is
discussed in the Old Testament, God’s view for Christians, the process in which
Christians receive sanctification, its benefits and the aftermath, obedience to
God through Christ is central. In coming to Christ and staying with Him,
obedience is the glue in the relationship on the side terrestrial with the love
of God on the side celestial. From the perspective of Jesus He stated, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John
14:15). Additionally Christ stated the end result of obedience: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth
them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord,
how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said
unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him,
and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him”(John 14:21-23).The
contingent form of obedience is not compartmentalized but holistic, Jesus
providing the supreme command, :“…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37)
In terms of a visual example of obedience, post sanctification status, Josiah was so moved by the Word of God it manifested physically. The Bible reveals his response: “And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes” (2 Kings 22:11).
“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled
thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place,
and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a
curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee,
saith the LORD” (2 Kings 22:19).
In John 14:21-23, Christ responded to the result of human
spiritual obedience, and in terms of the obedience of Josiah God revealed His
response, “And like unto him was there
no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all
his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither
after him arose there any like him” (2 Kings 23:25).
In the end, the main
objective is to be obedient to the Word of God as stated by the wise man,
King Solomon, “Let
us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).