Sanctification, is one of those doctrinal words that often causes the eyes of many to glaze over. In your studies since becoming a Christian you likely have learned the word in conjunction with several others, all critical to ones position and condition in Christ. Typically, when studied, it is sandwiched between the two acts of salvation and glorification. While those two are instantaneous acts, sanctification is not. It is a process. Our salvation is based solely on faith and none of our works (Ephesians 2:8). Equally, our glorification at His appearing is solely His work. However, we have every thing to do with our sanctification. It begins with salvation and ends in glorification. While salvation is the act of redemption, sanctification is the process of setting apart those who have been redeemed. This separation is for many purposes, not the least of which is for God's own pleasure and glory. However, it carries with it much more meaning and purpose.
Made possible through salvation, God has called the redeemed to be holy, to live a life of distinction from the world, a life newly separated unto Him in holiness as He is holy (I Th.4:7). We have been separated from the world--while remaining in it yet no longer of it (John 15:18,19; 17:14-16). The Christian doesn't get to choose to live worldly six days of the week and holy only on the seventh. You will not find that anywhere in Jesus' prayer nor His Word!
I am constantly amazed at the number of Christians I meet who say they have never really studied holiness, never thought of what it actually means and requires of them in the conversation of their daily lives. Typically, when asked, they confuse this with being "spiritual". Spirituality is defined by their prayer life, their Bible study, their church attendance, their giving, their good works, etc. Don't misunderstand. All of these are good. But anyone can do either or all of these and never become holy.
No, spirituality does not mean holiness. I've known many who were spiritual but their lives were anything but holy, some who were ungodly on Saturday but could pray the most eloquent prayer on Sunday. Holiness does not flow from all these things that fall under the category of works, and, make no mistake, all of the above are works. Sadly, many works are done in the name of Jesus and the church that are not holy. Some damnable! Holiness is not achieved by our works toward others. It is achieved in what we do in submission to God. It comes from a life surrendered, all, none held in reserve—the whole body, the whole being.
Only then works become holy works when the Christian has thoroughly crucified himself or herself in Christ. They are transformed. They have their being in Him. They are indeed new creatures in Him--new minds, new hands, new eyes, ears, new tongues even--all of the old having passed away, no remnant desired nor remaining. They have become possessed by Him. They live in submission to Him--His will. They see others as He sees them. They love others as He loves them, even those they otherwise would not--especially those. They have welcomed Him into every moment and every facet of their lives (II Corinthians 10:5). They pray His blood covers everything in their lives. They have bathed in His blood. They allow Christ to appropriate His blood to every thought, every word, every deed. Christ, indeed, is their Master, their Lord. He becomes first above all else and all others. They have a new kinship with Him unlike the best relationship they have with any other. And the world sees, they are authentic.
Leviticus 20:7 - Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
I Peter 1:15-16 - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Moving forward now, for purposes of our study, let us look only at a brief definition and understanding of just what this process is the Bible calls sanctification which makes possible a life of holiness and one of lasting beneficial service to others. But I have to ask you at this point, do you desire it? Is there a cord that tugs at your heart that causes you to want such an intimate relationship, kinship, with your blessed Savior? A relationship that will amaze you every day? A relationship with others you thought impossible? And, yes, even a rewarding relationship with yourself you've never known? If not, you may stop reading now. But if so, please continue as I pray these words will find their way into your heart, for they have been bathed in prayer and in His blood for you. Please know that as I have written them I, too, have been moved in them. This is one way I know they are of Him, maybe not all but certainly those which moved me.
Ok then. Let us delve right in! "SANCTIFIED" = hagiason in the original Greek text, meaning, to cleanse and set apart. When we read, when we study, when we meditate on His Word it is like fullers soap, washing even the soul stained with sin to make pure a vessel fit for a temple for His Holy Spirit (Psalms 119:9; Jeremiah 2:22; Malachi 3:2; I Corinthians 3:16,17). The life that is set apart is to be sent as salt into the Earth, sanctifying all with whom contact is made (Mark 9:49,50). As Dr. John Ker once said: "Men who are spiritually healthy, holy, will be best fitted to resist spiritual disease, and be able to go about as spiritual healers among men"1 (Scott, p.481). Each will be sent forth in the manner of Jesus' own sanctification. (Heb.3:1, Ps.119:9, Ep.5:26, II Co.6:16-18) Oswald Chambers defines sanctification simply as: "...nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being exhibited in my life."2 "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,". (Hebrews 2:11)
Now I want to move beyond the initial work of sanctification of being set apart for Christ into the ongoing process of being sanctified as an holy vessel for His glory and service to others. As we continue to yield and grow in living this new life in Christ, being cleansed and nourished daily by His Word for that growth, our faith will be demonstrated by the works God chooses to do through us, if we are obedient.
I will not arouse the argument of whether God sanctifies a vessel before or after calling on it for service. Perhaps it may not be either/or but both, depending on His purpose and His prior work following being set apart. So, I will let your own experience His direction has been in your life speak to that. Often, I have experienced and seen instances it is prior, while passing through a great trial and being equipped in its process. My intent in this discussion is to speak directly to His sanctifying work and its purpose in service, not to His timing of it.
First, let's look at a few scripture to see what His Word teaches at length on this. The sheer volume of them prohibit all their mentions. As you read and study, your own memory of many others will be stirred.
Keep in mind His purpose in part for sanctification. We read and see this from the beginning after the fall of Adam when God deals with man to bring him back into fellowship. We see it time and again. One of the most iconic Old Testament examples is seen in the Exodus when God grew tired of the Hebrews' murmurings, disobedience and rebellion. In anger, He was determined to destroy them and begin again with Moses to establish a nation sanctified to be a priesthood for the world. Were it not for Moses' intercession He would have. Relenting, God issued to Moses this stern rebuke and warning: "And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. (Numbers 14:20-21) ".
However, there is another prayer in the New Testament similar in intent. It is spoken by Jesus. (Compare these two prayers, that of Moses and the other by Jesus. It is rich. In both instances God is trying to establish a people, a nation, set apart as a holy priesthood for the other nations of the world.) In Jesus' request, He does not ask for us to be spared, as Moses did, but for our sanctification. As He did not deny Moses, even though He knew they would fail miserably, He will not deny His Son who would not fail. We have that assurance. The outcome will be different. God will establish a nation, a Kingdom of the redeemed, a priesthood of believers who will walk in holy obedience to Him.
Let us look further in Jesus' words and see how this is to be accomplished (Jn.17:17). Having already been victorious over Satan during the crucible of His temptation in the wilderness, in this intimate moment Jesus is more focused on His disciples and what their state will be following His impending crucifixion, resurrection and departure. Hear the agony in His voice as He earnestly pleads our case for this purpose:
John 17:17-19 -- Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (Jesus asks of the Father; Jesus further states His Word is that by which we are sanctified.)
- As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (Indicating here we are to be sent when sanctified.)
- And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (Jesus Himself was sanctified, not that He had to be, but for our sakes. Jesus is the Truth, the Word!)
Romans 12:1-2 -
- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Our role in our sanctification is to yield our bodies to God--submit our will, be obedient. Do you not see? Sanctified and service, they go hand in hand!)
- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Our minds are renewed by the supplanting of it with His Truth. Philippians 2:5)
- Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
- For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
To what purpose? For one express purpose, "...that the life...of Jesus ...be made manifest in our mortal flesh." This is living holy, a life surrendered to Him, spent in service. In other words, that the lifting up of Jesus in and through our lives would draw all men to Him! (John 12:32). Yes, we are sanctified, set apart, first and foremost for God's pleasure and glory, but that greatest glory is achieved when the life of His Son is relived and revealed time and again by His saints that others be drawn to Him as well. The more drawn by the life and sacrifice of His Son the greater His glory. Is this not part of the reason "...there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."? (Luke 15:7; 15:10)
We now have reached the main thrust of this discussion: a major reason we are sanctified following our salvation while yet in our mortal bodies--that we be sent sanctified, a holy daily sacrifice, into the world to continue the work Jesus began while He was in the world (John 14:12). We have been called into "A holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4) For "...ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:" (1 Peter 2:9) He "...hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever...". (Revelation 1:6)
Now that I have given you a Biblical basis for reliving and revealing Christ in holy sanctified service, let me share with you some practical thoughts. I like to title these thoughts: The Invisible Vessel.
Let me begin with the example of the life of the Baptist. While John continued preaching "in the wilderness" after baptizing Jesus, his disciples came to him one day with a report that the crowds were beginning to follow Jesus more and more (John 3:26). John's ministry was that of repentance, calling men out of their sin, to prepare for the Messiah who was to come after him. Jesus' ministry was that of preaching the good news, teaching and going about doing good works and performing miracles (Matthew 4:23, Matthew 9:35, Acts 10:38). This was pleasing to the crowds (John 6:2, John 6:26). In the eyes of the masses, these ministries stood in stark contrast--one harsh and blunt Luke 3:7-8, the other gentle, rewarding and uplifting. Upon recognizing this, John knew his work was drawing to an end, as he knew from the beginning it was to be. His response to his disciples' report should be a constant reminder for our own lives today: "He must increase, but I must decrease.". (John 3:30)
Our vessels, our lives, our bodies once given over to sin now saved and sanctified, indwelled by His Spirit, infused with the life of Christ should not be the focus of the world. We are not to be lifted up. We are not to be the attraction, drawing attention to ourselves, intended or unintended. We must decrease that He increase if any are to be drawn to Him, if any are to be aided by Him, if any are to be healed by Him, if any are to be encouraged by Him--if any are to hear and desire Him! As John did not, we must not live our lives in continued competition with Christ. Our lives are to be lived in such a manner they become invisible to the eyes of those to whom Christ draws to Himself through it. The more we decrease the more He will increase!
If one needs further proof of this fact, listen to these words of Jesus: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.". (Matthew 5:16) Look closely. Does is say, let you shine before men? NO! Let your Light, His Light only capable of illuminating His works done through you, those are the only ones capable of bringing glory to the Father. Paul knew this of his life quite well: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.". (Galatians 2:20) And of his works as well: "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (I Corinthians 15:10) (Did you catch the same phrase twice used?)
Please let me put the next practical thoughts of invisibility in the first person rather than saying you.
As I began my life in service to Him, I knew I could not, within my power, be the "invisible vessel" necessary for those I saw around me who needed to see only Christ within the vessel. I had a long way to go to be able to say with conviction without question in service to others: "It is no longer I that liveth but Christ..." I did not and still do not want to be seen when in that service. It had to be His Light reflected in the greatest purity as possible for me to have clear conscience in holy service. I did not want to give occasion for anything that might "lie within me" to be an obstacle in my path nor a stumblingblock to another Christ wanted to draw. As I saw it, two things had to occur: first, I, like the Baptist, had to "decrease that He might increase" in my own life, and second, my faith not only had to be sufficient for myself but also bold enough to be infectious for others. I knew I had to be cleansed and healed, with the bandaids removed, before I could step out into the Light--invisible!
I know my story isn't your story, my weaknesses your weaknesses, my experiences your experiences. What I'm talking about is merely a window into my point, which is this: only if God has given you a burden for service and toward whom it is you are to serve and if you have given yourself over to His complete sanctifying work in you will you ever be bold in your service, your mind shielded from Satan who will throw every obstacle of doubt before you. His message must come through that onslaught with boldness and authenticity before others will be arrested.
Here you may ask: now that I am being sanctified in service to others, what can I expect?
Although Christ is our Shepherd, Shield, Buckler, and all those personal comforting characteristics we need in a personal Savior who sees us through our own trials, afflictions, troubles, etc., and the emotions that rock us in those experiences, He is so much more to us than that when He calls and we take on that role of servant in His service to another. We are shadowed under the wings of His grace for His protection (Psalms 91:4). Did you catch that? His Truth not only will be the tool by which you are sanctified but your shield that will protect you. There is no danger within any den (Dan.6:16) we may step nor furnace we may be cast (Dan.3:15). We are specially clothed in priestly garments and cannot be touched by the teeth of the strongest lion (Dan.6:22, I Peter 5:8) nor the heat of the hottest flame (Dan.3:27). He walks with us, as High Priest, shielding us as He goes about doing His work through us (Dan.3:25). It is Him. It is all Him! To Him be the glory! We are dead in Him. He lives, He lives in me! Can you truly say, He lives in me?
In his most popular writing, My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes:
"No one experiences complete sanctification without going through a "white funeral" -- the burial of the old life. If there has never been this crucial moment of change through death, sanctification will never be more than an elusive dream. There must be a "white funeral," a death with only one resurrection--a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ. Nothing can defeat a life like this. It has oneness with God for only one purpose--to be a witness for Him."
Writing on sanctification, Chambers also speaks of small daily "white funerals." As the Holy Spirit convicts of daily sins, sins continued to be repeated, the obedient Christian should take these to the Cross of Christ to be nailed there to go to the grave with Him--to be set free. In doing this, daily burial of those things that continue to manifest themselves in our flesh, we continue the ongoing process of sanctification. Every Christian, Chambers says, should be "walking in white", attending "white funerals" daily if they expect to continue to grow in grace to become more like Him. Each of us have those things unique to ourselves that need these burials following our death in Christ and being reborn. Old things must pass away in order for all things to become new. Our weaknesses from sin must be turned into strengths for our healthy spiritual life in order to walk among the "diseased" of this world. Else, we will easily fall back into their clutches!
What once may have been our troubles causing areas in our lives to still be weak, wounds yet fully healed, He will heal and weld those scars into strengths for His purpose for others and we will emerge stronger from His operations (II Corinthians 12:9). Everything required for this work, you are more than able through Him to do without fear for your own well-being. Your wounds, your scars, your emotions, He knows each and will strengthen and shield without question. For this purpose we have been sanctified. As He was sent and sanctified for us, He now sanctifies and sends us (John17:17-20). We have been called into a royal priesthood in the ministry of intercession for others (1 Peter 2:5,9), and are sanctified, equipped and commissioned to that end.
Although this ministry is one of burdens, we should not confuse His burdens with our emotions. Because we are compassionate our emotions can't help but be evoked in every need we may see. Burdens, however, are what God lays upon us. Emotions likely will develop within us in that experience. If so, they should not be allowed to rise above the burden. If so, then it becomes about you rather than them--and they will see! The closer we are or become to the subject of that burden the more emotions will be evoked. Stay at the guard.
I will say, it is not necessary to become personally involved in the person's life and their emotions in order to shoulder their burden God wishes us to share. It is their burden He asks us to lift without requiring anything from us other than what He gives to do so. Not by our might but by His strength. Fervent holy pleading, yes, emotional angst, no. What's the difference, you ask? Fervent holy pleading is pleading through His Blood, His sacrifice, His sorrow, His burdens, His stripes, His substitution, His finished work, His success, His completion. Asking in and through the same spirit in which He pleaded for us and continues to do so in heaven, Him touching it there, our touching the same here. He may deny us, but He cannot deny His Son (II Tim.2:10-14), so, we plead in the Spirit and the name of the Son (James 5:16). Remember the invisible vessel. It's not about us, nor our emotions--how deeply we may or may not feel. It's about the burden in our heart and the one whose need it is!
So, as He says, go, He also promises, lo, I will be with you (Mt 28:19-20), and give you whatever you need in that intercession (I Jn.5:14-15). We possess His Light and Word that dispels the error and darkness in others. We possess His Salt that gives them thirst for His living waters of healing in their spiritual sicknesses. Everything required for this work you have. You are more than able through Him to do without fear for your own well-being (II Corinthians 3:6, Philippians 4:13). Your wounds, your scars, your emotions, He knows each and will strengthen and shield without question.
You are equipped! Your armor has been tempered and tested! Wear it, but wear your own, as did David, and no others'. (I Sam.17:38-39) Wield your own weapons with which you have been uniquely equipped. Within them lies the power of God to set at liberty the souls of others, especially in the areas of your victories. As John teaches and Jesus said to Peter, you possess the power to bind and set loose (Matthew 18:18).
God has many arrows in His quiver, each unique. He does not blindly draw from it when taking aim at His intended target. He perfectly matches one to the other. As such, it never misses the mark. Nor is it ever expendable. He will gather and use them, again and again, until finally when the deserved day comes, He will reward each with a special place within that which He is preparing for all His trophies. It will not be frayed nor worn beyond further use, cast aside, nor left to lay upon the battlefield. In this you should have no fear. In this you should abound in joy! To be an arrow in the quiver of God! I can think of no greater place for God's glory.
You alone will know whether He has placed a burden for you to help lift. If not, don't do it! How long am I to do this?, you may ask. Again, as long as the burden is sensed, until He has fully relieved your heart of it. You will know when it is done and time to pass on. There will come His gift of peace.
God will guide you and you will be a great blessing to all. Your Light will be bright--your Salt increase in savor. As long as you are obedient they will not wane. You possess Truth and it is this Truth that sets one free. As Paul teaches, how can they know "...except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" If He calls, go!
------------------------------------See also: Imagine His Happiness.
1 Scott, W. Frank. The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary on The Gospel According to John. New York: Funk and Wagnalls.
2 Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost For His Highest. 1963 by The Oswald Chambers Publication Assn., Ltd.
3 Chambers, " ".
Author: Ken Livingston
We encourage you to use these studies as you will.
All we ask is for you to e-mail us as to your actual use of them.
