Saturday, August 21, 2010

Sanctification, What Is It?

Did you know that Jesus was sanctified by the Father before He was sent into the world?

John 10:36

"do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?"

The twelve disciples who were appointed to be apostles were also sanctified before they were sent into the world.

John 17:16-19

"They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth."

The Greek word for Sanctified is Hagiazo which means to make holy.

37. hagiazo hag-ee-ad'-zo from 40; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate:--hallow, be holy, sanctify.

When we replace the word sanctified in the scriptures with the meaning, 'to make holy', we get a better understanding of what Jesus and His disciples experienced. They were made holy by God.

Example: "And for their sakes I make myself holy, that they also may be made holy by the truth."

According to the scriptures Sanctification is to be made holy by God, His truth, and His Spirit.

1st Corinthians 6:9-11

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 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."

1st Thessalonians 5:23-24

"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. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."

If we believe the scriptures then we believe that the process of sanctification does have an end and that our spirit, soul, and body will be preserved blameless, without sin, until Jesus returns. The good news is that God Himself is faithful and He will do it!

Love In Christ,
Tyrone

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