Sanctification

A big theological word, not one to be scared of, but one to know of, and one surely to be a possessor of. A word that is used some 10 times in the New Testament, the Greek word, Hagiasmos, often translated as the word holy and, not to be confused with justification, that of God's declaring the sinner righteous, sanctification is God's renewing and transforming of our minds, wills, affections, and behaviors. Justification is a one-time act of God; sanctification is a continual work of God in the believer all of his life. Sanctification mainly consists in two things, 1) ceasing to do evil, 2) learning to do well.
But if this is going to be a work of God, is it possible to sanctify one who is at enmity, hostile toward, and resists Him in every step of life? The coming of this divine and glorious Person to indwell one like this who is dead in transgressions, walking in darkness, and uncircumcised in his heart, it is both a marvel and a mystery, a marvel that He should do such a thing, and a mystery that He would ever do such a thing. Could a thrice holy being dwell within one who is not holy? Could opposites really attract? When an Almighty God desires to begin a work, any work, all things are possible! If a man could be born again, maybe so. And so, one can be born again, born of water and the Spirit as the Apostle John records Jesus's words in John 3:5. We have not the power to do such a thing, but He can provide not only a perfect righteousness, justification, but a perfect holiness, sanctification.
God's salvation is not only a rescue from the penalty of sin, but also a rescue and deliverance from the defilement and power of sin. Titus 3:5 begins the salvation of a human being, "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit." The Greek word only used twice in the New Testament, renewing, is only found elsewhere in Romans 12:2,"Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, acceptable and perfect." The great theologian A.W. Pink states, "Sanctification is that work of divine grace in the believer which brings him back into allegiance of God, regulating his affections and actions in harmony with His will, writing His law on the heart (Heb.10:16), moving him to make God's glory his chief aim and end."
Our eternal well-being depends on this. Heb.12:14,"Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification, (holiness) without which no one will see the Lord." Being sanctified will eliminate your enmity, hostility, and alienation from God, and will pull you out from under the condemnation of God. For we know that God is a God of love, and we can love because He first loved us. To fulfill the greatest of the commandments, Math.22:37-40, we need a new nature. One that imitates that which we see by faith, Rom.5:5,"That the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." As sin was a transgressing of the law, Rom.5:20, so love is a fulfilling of the law, Rom.13:10. Next week, we will see, Lord willing what the scriptures say about how one is sanctified. Look to Him to set you apart for what you were intended to be, holy as He is holy.

Elder Randy Slak
11/15/2022