The term "Sanctification" is closely associated with "holiness." Many people think that holiness exclusively means to be completely morally pure and and totally void of all temptation. This is an inadequate and misleading definition. The Biblical definition of "holy" is simply "set apart." This connotes a distance between the thing that is holy and what it is set apart from. Here are some examples of how the "set apart" (sanctify) concept worked in Biblical times:
- Israel was "set apart" from the other nations to serve God
- Prophets were "set apart" to preach the truth to their hearers.
- God is "set apart" from sin.
- A house or property is "set apart" (i.e., dedicated) to God.
- The Sabbath was to be "set apart" as a day of rest from the other days of the week.
- Prostitutes were "set apart" to serve the pagan gods that they worshipped.
- Believers are called those who are "set apart" ("the sanctified," i.e. Acts 20:32). In fact, the word "saint" derives from the word "sanctification."
As you can see, to sanctify something does not always mean to set it apart from moral wrong. However, for the purpose of this discussion, I will focus upon the setting apart of believers from sin, as that encompasses the most common meaning of "sanctification" - conformity unto God by being "set apart" from all that the corrupt world stands for.
Theologically, Sanctification is most often used for the period of the believer's life between Justification, when he/she has been declared righteous in the eyes of God, and Glorification, which occurs when believers go to heaven and become completely perfect, not able to sin anymore. It is characterized by a gradual increase in godliness and conformity to the flawless life of Jesus Christ, the perfect God-Man. However, sin is not eradicated, since we still dwell in our imperfect bodies and need to fight the temptations of our sinful nature. Nevertheless, we who believe have been set free from sin's power which we formerly could not resist in our old life. The most simple way I can express sanctification is: "being set further and further apart from sin and joined closer and closer unto godliness."
Romans chapter 6 dwells much on the concept of us being either slaves of sin (unsaved) or being slaves of God (believer). In this case, Paul makes the argument that we are bound totally to either sin or to Christ, having no choice but to serve whichever master is in control of us:
"Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:16-23).
I am using this passage because it presents very clearly the idea of us being bound unto Christ by the chains of God's love. In a sense (because we are but human, as Paul said above), we are slaves of God, but we are also free from sin, free to serve God, free to love Him with all the strength of our renewed hearts, and free to share His Message to the whole world. Interestingly, sanctification is given as the result of this slavery, and that is because since we are bound by love unto God, we are slowly being transformed into people who are like Him in His purity, grace, justice, kindness, and sinlessness. That is why eternal life is referred to as the "end" of sanctification - it is the purpose, the goal of sanctification. The contextual perspective this gives to the famous 6:23 verse is thus quite interesting..........
In certain passages as well, we are called to pursue holiness, to strive after godliness. As new creations in Christ, that is our responsibility. It does not mean that we can make ourselves better without God's help, but it does mean that as "slaves of God" we are to actively pursue what is right and true, not what is wrong and false. So how do we do this? Well, Jesus in His prayer after the Last Supper stated it quite simply: "Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17). We are sanctified by God's truth working in us, by the knowledge of Him continually entering into our hearts. As we seek to know Him through His Word, we are enthralled and captivated by how wonderful He is. That's why the believer needs to know Scripture and meditate upon it, for Scripture is the only completely error-free way to know God. It gives perspective and guidance to other ways God might reveal Himself, such as through nature. Once we think of the Bible as our source to know God, it becomes so much more precious to us!
So how does Sanctification relate to Justification? It confirms the righteousness of the believer who was justified by Christ's sacrifice. Sanctification is the practical outworking of this righteousness; after all, Ephesians 2:10, following up on the great pronouncement that we are saved by God's grace through our faith, declares that good works were prepared beforehand for us who believe. These works do not contribute to our salvation; they are a consequence of it. Sanctification, therefore, produces good works in a believer's life - as we are set apart to God and become more and more like Him, our desire to please our Heavenly Father by our actions continually increases.
It is also true that even though Christians have been declared completely righteous and holy in God's eyes, that does not mean they are sinless in practice. It is only because of Christ's perfect righteousness upon us that we are acceptable before God. Justification is a legal standing; sanctification progresses towards a practical standing. One day, indeed, we will be entirely, actually sanctified - 100% able to completely please our Father forever and ever. This is called "Glorification," and it happens when we get to heaven. Nevertheless, even now as we struggle with sin, we can rejoice in the fact that we are still justified, that we have been set apart to the service of God, and one day we will be completely willing and able to do what our Father desires us to do, with no taint of sin, temptation, or pride upon us anymore. The hallmark of a sanctified one, a believer, is his desire to do the will of God and to hate sin in himself, for he sees it for what it truly is. And one day, by the grace of God, his true desire for glorification will be fulfilled.
Sanctification can be a complex topic. Nevertheless, I hope I have made it a little plainer. It is not easy being perfected by God, that's for sure. But the hope we all live in - that our God will one day have us enjoy Him without any hindrances - purifies us and makes us live and fight another day for holiness and godliness. I wanted to write about these foundational issues of salvation so that Christians can clearly see the importance of understanding them and thus live more intelligently, more full of wonder at the majesty of our God who is drawing sinners to Himself and turning them into set-apart ones, the saints, for His glory, and for His glory alone. How wonderful that is!
As always, feel free to leave comments and ask questions.
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