In the Fall, human nature became depraved – passions became
unruly, thinking distorted, and spiritual life died. But in Jesus
Christ, we are sanctified; we are changed into His holiness. We are
separated from sin unto God for holy service.
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Corinthians 6:11 ...But you were washed, you were
sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the
Spirit of our God.
In this study we have another aspect of salvation being
pictured. Sanctification is a temple scene where men are set apart, dedicated and consecrated for
service and ministry in the presence of a holy God.
Immediately when a
person asks Jesus to be his Savior and Lord, and repents of his sins, he is set aside as a special vessel to
accomplish God’s will. When a man is
born again, he is a new creation in Christ Jesus! This is regeneration, but it is also
sanctification.
Sanctification
contains these two ingredients: service
and holiness. These may also be called dedication
and separation. The meaning of
sanctification expresses a separation from wrong and evil and dedication to God
and His service. The Scriptures make
clear that sanctification has to do with the turning away from all that is
sinful and defiling to both soul and body.
However, it means not only a separation from, but also a
separation unto. In order to be
sanctified, a person must be not only separated from sin, but also
separated unto holiness. Whatever
is set apart from a profane to a sacred use, whatever is devoted exclusively to
the service of God, is sanctified.
The child of God is
not only responsible for coming out and being separate. He is also responsible for maintaining that
separation. When he is filled with the
Holy Ghost, he becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit, holy and sanctified.
does not make you holy.
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Men
and women become holy because God makes them holy and sanctifies them by His
own presence. Apart from the presence of God, there is no way a person may
become holy. Keeping a list of Do’s & Don’ts does not make you
holy. It is through the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life that you
are sanctified. There is no sin beyond the power of Jesus to erase.
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on Calvary ,
cleanses from ALL sin!
One of the most powerful agents the Lord uses in
sanctifying His people is His Word. The Word has the ability to reveal a
man’s true condition to himself, bring him under conviction, and finally to his
knees in prayer and true repentance. The source of faith is in the
hearing of God’s Word (Romans 10:17). God’s Word cleanses,
purifies, and sanctifies! (John 15:3, John 17:17, Ephesians 5:26)
A man who has been sanctified must continue to live
according to God’s Word. If sin is committed, it disturbs the
relationship with a holy God and breaks the fellowship. Sin must be
forgiven through confession and repentance. To be saved, a man must be
sanctified; without holiness all men are lost.
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