Sanctification.
Sanctification is one of the most frequently used words in the Christian lexicon. It is often used interchangeably with other words that are incorrectly thought to have similar meanings (i.e., Salvation).
But Sanctification has importance and meaning that is unique, and an understanding of this word is necessary for a Christian’s knowledge of their faith.
The online Google dictionary provides some valuable insights into sanctification and its appropriate usage. Google defines sanctification as “consecrating or setting apart something or someone as holy…that is free from sin and purified” (paraphrased). The word derives from the Latin “Sanctus” or “holy.”
So, sanctification is an act that results in a change in the person or object. What was unholy or unclean before has now been made holy or has been cleansed of its impurity.
When we speak of our sanctification, we’re referring to the process by which we are changed from the sinful (unclean) creatures we innately are to beings who are holy and pure.
Sanctification is important for us because, without it, we can never achieve the complete intimacy with God that we will need to abide with Him for eternity.
Why Sanctification?
The reasoning is this. God is Holy, and while He appreciates and loves everything in His creation, none of it that is not pure and free from contamination can withstand exposure to His holiness and perfection. The imperfect and the perfect are incompatible and cannot exist in proximity to one another.
His holiness is simply too much for our mortal souls to bear and they’d be dispelled by His holy presence. For biblical expression of this, see Exodus 33:20 where God says to Moses, “But my face, you cannot see, for no human being can see me and survive.”
What to Do?
We can (and are expected to) establish a relationship with God and to attempt to live lives that are pleasing to Him. He wants us to lead our best lives possible and to allow the light of Christian values to shine through us as a beacon to the rest of the world.
But, because we are innately imperfect, the best we can hope to do is to approximate the intimacy and delight that perfect alignment with Him and His will for us would provide. This is what John Wesley was referring to when he coined the phrase “going on to perfection.” Perfection by our own effort may be an unattainable goal, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to come as close to it as we can.
There’s been only one person in the history of the universe who had such a relationship with God, and that that person is Jesus.
So, Why?
“Then,” you may ask, “why should we even try? If we cannot be good enough, why shouldn’t we just live our lives as we please and forget about God altogether?”
The answer is two-fold.
First, just because we cannot hope to achieve the purity and holiness necessary for a permanent place by God’s side doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make the attempt. There is dignity in striving for something worthy, even if it is unattainable.
Also, a life lived with and guided by God’s Holy Spirit is infinitely better than a life lived without Him. A life with God is a life with hope, whereas a life without God is utterly hopeless.
Second, there is Good News! While we cannot hope to achieve the requisite purity and sinlessness required for eternity with God, He’s recognized our plight and made provision for us to overcome this seemingly unassailable obstacle.
He sent Jesus the Christ to us to (a) model for us what a true relationship with God looks like, and (b) enable our purification (and thus our sanctification) by His sacrifice on the cross. For when Jesus did that, He took our sins upon Himself, thereby allowing us to become sinless and pure so that we could stand in the presence of the Lord and not be consumed.
Jesus’ sacrifice did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He took our impurity, washed it away with His blood, and sanctified our souls before God in the process.
The Importance.
A central point of this post is that we are incapable of sanctifying ourselves. Nor can we sanctify one another. Those acts are beyond us.
But for us to enjoy the intimate relationship with God that eternal life requires, we must be sanctified. We must be changed from impure and sinful to pure and sinless. It is the process that Jesus enabled, and that is the true definition of sanctification.
Understanding.
Thus, we now understand the proper context and meaning of sanctification. For our sinful souls to be cleansed, they must first be sanctified. Then, when they are, we can be “saved” and achieve Salvation. And, because Jesus died for ALL of humanity, we are all able to be sanctified and saved.
The Gift.
What a Gift! To be given the possibility of a one-on-one relationship with God and to live with Him for eternity because of Jesus’ act is of incalculable value. And it is free and available to everyone!
But like most gifts, it has to be accepted before it can become effective. The candidate for a heart transplant remains just that, a candidate until he agrees to and accepts the operation that replaces his old failing heart. The new heart may save his life, but the patient must accept it before it can be effective for him.
Jesus’ Gift operates the same way. He’s made the sacrifice. He’s making the offer. But it’s up to us to accept the gift before we can take advantage of it.
We still have free will. God does not impose a decision on us. He leaves us free to make our own choice. We can accept the Gift or not.
Your Choice and Your Commission.
I know what choice I’ve made. And, I know which choice I encourage all who I encounter to make. That is to “accept the Gift!”
I hope that each reader of this post, if they haven’t already done so, will make the choice I’ve made; to accept Christ’s Gift. And I challenge each of us who does to tell everyone they meet about their choice. Christ said to us, “…you will be my witnesses…to the end of the earth.” [Acts 1:8] For the world needs hope. It already has enough despair.
God’s Blessings on You All.
Richard
August 2, 2019
