Sanctification And Holiness
Trained by Saving Grace
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” – Titus 2:11-14
The generic meaning of sanctification is “the state of proper functioning.” To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer.
A pen is “sanctified” when used to write. Eyeglasses are “sanctified” when used to improve sight. In the theological sense, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God’s design and purpose.
The Greek word translated “sanctification” (hagiasmos [aJgiasmov”]) means “holiness.” To sanctify, therefore, means “to make holy.” In one sense only God is holy ( Isa 6:3 ). God is separate, distinct, other. No human being or thing shares the holiness of God’s essential nature. There is one God. Yet Scripture speaks about holy things. Moreover, God calls human beings to be holy — as holy as he is holy ( Lev 11:44 ; Matt 5:48 ; 1 Peter 1:15-16 ). Another word for a holy person is “saint” (hagios [a&gio”]), meaning a sanctified one. The opposite of sanctified is “profane” ( Lev 10:10 ).
3 Parts of Santification
- Putting Away Lawless Deeds
- Redeemed For Him
- Separated To Do His Good Works
1. Putting Away Lawless Deeds
Putting away ungodly deeds – lust, greed, dishonesty, unclean thoughts and actions and motives, hatred, etc.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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.” – Romans 12:2
2. Redeemed For Him
If we have been redeemed for Him, then we are redeemed for His glory. Not for us and our glory.
If we are not doing everything for Him, we are not sanctified.
3. Separated To Do His Good Works
If I take part of His body to do MY will, I am not sanctified. Instead, I am a thief.
The Babylonian mindset is, “Live a clean life, but live for yourself.”
“I am redeemed by the Lord, I am saved, I don’t do drugs, I live for myself most of the time. I live so clean. I am a good Christian, and I serve once a week…” – this is Babylonian mindset
Redeemed So We Can Give Our Whole Life
You are loved by God. He is our inheritance. Repent.
