When we think of the word “sanctification”, we think of the second step in our Christian walk. After justification, which is the step where we come to Jesus and He instantly forgives us our sins when we repent, the sanctification process begins, which lasts a lifetime.
The Lord justifies in an instant when we pray, while sanctify cation takes a lot longer. Then we have the word perfection. Jesus is asking us to be perfect. Are we only perfect when the sanctification process is finished? “At every stage of development our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled, there will be continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime.” – Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 65
Firstly I would like to define the word sanctify as taken from several dictionaries.
To sanctify means:
- To make holy. To purify or free from sin. Jesus wants to make us holy —free from sin and pure. He wants us to be wholly and completely His. The Apostle Paul states that it is God who sanctifies the person. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23. True sanctification involves the whole being. It is not possible to be partially sanctified by withholding certain areas of the life from being made holy. Every part of our lives must be submitted to the purifying power of God’s Spirit.
- To set apart as sacred; consecrate. Jesus wants to set all His followers apart and consecrate them to His service, whether full time or on a volunteer basis. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.” 1 Peter 2:9. “Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.” Joel 2:16
- To entitle to reverence and respect. In the Bible references are made to sanctify the Lord and the Sabbath. We are to reverence and respect both of these. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15. The word sanctify in this verse does come from the Greek word that can also mean reverence. The presence of Jesus in the heart provides unfailing stability. With Christ in the heart, we will always have an answer for our hope as is centred in Christ.
Regarding the sanctifying of the Sabbath we read, “And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy.” Nehemiah 13:22. We are to give the Sabbath its rightful place and sanctify it very carefully.
- To sanction (an action or practice) as religiously binding: to sanctify a marriage or at baptism. To sanctify by a vow. In this manner we are told to sanctify ourselves. We make an outward show (vow) of our decision to follow the Lord by baptism. We are willing to be bound to Jesus, letting go of all earthly ties.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,” 1 Peter 3:15. In other words, give God first place in your hearts.
FALSE SANCTIFICTION—they sanctify themselves.
While true sanctification comes from Jesus, false sanctification—also called self-righteousness, is a sanctification that is made by a person in an effort to bring honour and glory to themselves. True sanctification is always talking about Jesus, and praising Him for all the good works He has wrought through us, while false sanctification is always talking about our own endeavours in the religious life as something wonderful that we did; great sacrifices we have made.
False sanctification can be a cloak for hidden sin as seen in the lives of the religious leaders in Jesus’ time. Jesus said to them, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matthew 23:27–28
Yet it was going on for many years before. In the Old Testament we read that “They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 66:17. This is an interesting verse. These people “sanctify themselves.” They are purifying themselves, but how? By eating swine’s flesh in secret behind a tree. They are eating swine and mice—both unclean animals.
These apostates are mingling heathen rites with the worship of God. While trying to appear holy—they take a “holier than though” attitude towards their fellow brethren. These men, “Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou.” These people are “a smoke in My nose, a fire that burneth all the day.” Isaiah 65:5
The lives of these people were shown to be steeped in corruption in secret, but they made lofty pretentions of holiness, regarding themselves as possessing a special sanctity above their fellow brethren and sisters. These people, and their vain pretentions, are offensive to God and a continual provocation to Him.
From the verse in Isaiah 66:17, where was it that they were making an attempt to sanctify themselves? Was it in the temple of the Lord? No it was “in the gardens”. In ancient times this was where the heathen worshippers had their idols—in the groves and gardens. God had commanded them repeatedly to destroy them, however, most of the time they did not, and they copied the heathen practices of worship.
They openly defied God “behind the tree” where perhaps they were hidden from view of mankind. The Jewish apostates exulted in throwing off all restraints and pretended to sanctify themselves by the very things God had said would defile them and render them unfit for fellowship with Him. In their affection of a superior sanctity they had sunk to the lowest depths of degradation.
Can we find these types of people in God’s church today? Yes, there have always been those in the church who appear righteous on the outside but in their private lives they are living a life of sin. They speak of the high standard of righteousness while their own lives are far from pure and righteous. They make earnest efforts to appear righteous in the eyes of their fellow men. Although hidden from man, remember, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23. One day it will all come to light. Jesus tells of a time when the tares will be separated from the wheat. The angels gather the tares in bundles and burn them. (Matthew 13:25–30). The Lord will preserve and purify His church. It is the “apple of His eye” Zechariah 2:8. One day those secret sinners will either be shaken out or will repent.
Judas Iscariot is the classic example of one of these brethren. He even deceived the other 11 disciples and they thought Judas was such a blessing for the church. Such a pious man—one that the church could not do without. However, Jesus read his heart and saw the evil within, although clothed with “righteousness”. And in a time of crisis, his sin did find him out. What a disastrous end for this man—this deceiver.
The most dangerous people in the church of God are those that are in this condition as they can easily lead others astray. They bring honour and glory to themselves—broadcasting their own achievements—rather than bringing honour and glory to God who is the giver of all life and strength and all blessings which we own. Thus men are drawn to them when they see their superior holiness. Rather, men’s eyes should be drawn to Christ and not to the leaders of the church.
In the early Christian church Constantine became nominally converted and began to openly mingle heathenism and Christianity. This is exactly how the Papal Roman Empire became so strong in the Dark Ages. This mixture is a deadly poison. The Catholic Priests made an appearance of holiness and righteousness, but when Martin Luther made his first journey to Rome, he had a first-hand look at the reality of the lives of many of these priests and he was very disheartened.
The Jewish nation created hundreds of man-made rules and traditions as an interpretation of the laws given by God. They made religion a burden. And again, it is often those who are steeped in secret sin who love to exact extra rules and heavy burdens upon their fellow Christians. “There are duties and requirements in His word to humble the church and cause them to afflict their souls, and there is no need of making crosses and manufacturing duties to distress the body in order to cause humility. All this is outside of the word of God.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 205–206
Yet there is hope in Jesus. Jesus gave the parable of the Pharisee and the publican to illustrate the two types of believers in the church (Luke 18:10–14). There is hope for both if they repent. Although at the time when Jesus spoke this parable, He said that the publican went to his house justified. Apparently the Pharisee did not. Many of the Pharisees of Christ’s day did repent after the resurrection. Many of those who were caught up in the mob crying for the crucifixion of Jesus were pricked in their hearts and repented. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 22:36–38
“The Pharisee and the publican represent two great classes into which those who come to worship God are divided. Their first two representatives are found in the first two children that were born into the world. Cain thought himself righteous, and he came to God with a thank offering only. He made no confession of sin, and acknowledged no need of mercy. But Abel came with the blood that pointed to the Lamb of God. He came as a sinner, confessing himself lost; his only hope was the unmerited love of God. The Lord had respect to his offering, but to Cain and his offering He had not respect. The sense of need, the recognition of our poverty and sin, is the very first condition of acceptance with God. ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 5:3
“For each of the classes represented by the Pharisee and the publican there is a lesson in the history of the apostle Peter. In his early discipleship Peter thought himself strong. Like the Pharisee, in his own estimation he was ‘not as other men are.’ When Christ on the eve of His betrayal forewarned His disciples, ‘All ye shall be offended because of Me this night,’ Peter confidently declared, ‘Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.’ Mark 14:27, 29. Peter did not know his own danger. Self-confidence misled him. He thought himself able to withstand temptation; but in a few short hours the test came, and with cursing and swearing he denied his Lord.
“When the crowing of the cock reminded him of the words of Christ, surprised and shocked at what he had just done he turned and looked at his Master. At that moment Christ looked at Peter, and beneath that grieved look, in which compassion and love for him were blended, Peter understood himself. He went out and wept bitterly. That look of Christ’s broke his heart. Peter had come to the turning point, and bitterly did he repent his sin. He was like the publican in his contrition and repentance, and like the publican he found mercy. The look of Christ assured him of pardon.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 152
TRUE SANCFITICATION
How are we sanctified? It is not of ourselves at all.
By the Truth. Truth is reasonable and is never afraid. We must understand the truth before we can impart it to others. Therefore we need to be diligent students of the Word of God because it is His word that sanctifies. “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” John 17:17
Jesus’ Blood Sanctifies. “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.” Hebrews 13:12
When the Lord sanctifies it is seen by the keeping of the Sabbath. “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.” Exodus 31:13. “Moreover also I gave them My sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.” Ezekiel 20:12
Although all the commandments are important, the Sabbath commandment, when kept in its truest sense, is the commandment that is associated with sanctification. You cannot keep the Sabbath in its truest sense and break any of the other commandments. True Sabbath-keeping can only be done by the strongest attachment to Christ. You can refrain from stealing, killing, and committing adultery, but you may still violate the Sabbath, however the reverse is not true. You cannot keep the Sabbath in its truest sense and kill, steal, lie and covet. “I was shown that if the true Sabbath had always been kept, there would never have been an infidel or an atheist. The observance of the Sabbath would have preserved the world from idolatry.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 76
Working together with Jesus. We read in the Bible in several places that we are told to sanctify ourselves. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3. From this verse it may seem that man can purify himself as this is what is asked of him. However, sinful man cannot cleanse himself; he is sold under sin and utterly dependent upon the Saviour for purity. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23. Nevertheless there is a work for man to do for himself. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12–13. In these verses the Apostle Paul shows the united work of Jesus and mankind. This work requires diligent watchfulness and prayer. The central struggle is to maintain faith in the victory that Christ has gained for us, and to live believing that His grace is sufficient to give us the mastery over every besetment. “Man works and God works. Man is called upon to strain every muscle and to exercise every faculty in the struggle for immortality, but it is God who supplies the efficiency. God has made amazing sacrifices for human beings. He has expended mighty energy to reclaim man from transgression and sin to loyalty and obedience, but He does nothing without the cooperation of humanity. . . . It is by unceasing endeavor that we maintain the victory over the temptations of Satan.” –In Heavenly Places, p. 159. This is true sanctification.
Although, we are told that we must cleanse ourselves from every defilement and purify ourselves, the strength to do so comes from Jesus. In this work we must make a firm decision that we are willing to give up all sin and selfishness; anything that would separate ourselves from God. We see our impurity and we cry to God for deliverance. We make the choice and plead with the Lord as did Jacob when he wrestled with the angel. When we plead thus, the Lord comes to our rescue. He gives us strength to overcome all of our sinful tendencies. We will have nothing to glory in and of ourselves, as it is all from Jesus.
Habitual communion with God. “Sanctification means habitual communion with God. There is nothing so great and powerful as God’s love for those who are His children.” –In Heavenly Places, p. 129. Sanctification is not the result of some arduous task. It is simple—communion with God, habitually. Ask yourself, how many things you suddenly think of that require urgent or immediate attention when it is time for prayer and worship. The enemy gets our minds busy with the cares of this life and the communion is broken. Yes, the Christian life is a struggle, and the greatest struggle is letting go of the world and all that would separate us from the Lord. We need to cut loose from the world and let God fill our hearts.
“Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.” Isaiah 8:13. Praise the Lord for victory in Christ. Unless the people of God recognize the infinite holiness of the Lord, they will never attain to holiness themselves. By beholding we are changed (2 Corinthians 3:18).
“But when He seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of Him, they shall sanctify My name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.” Isaiah 29:23
May God help us to achieve this true sanctification which He offers. We cannot sanctify ourselves, but Praise the Lord that He is willing to take away our filthy rags and clothe us with His robe of righteousness. It is ours to accept and may we do so today. Amen.
Wendy Eaton