SANCTIFICATION
MEMORY VERSE: Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the
people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.
Hebrews 13:12.
“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own
blood, suffered without the gate”
BIBLE PASSAGE: John. 17:13-23, 1 Thessalonians. 4:1-7.
INTRODUCTION: The basic meaning of sanctification is separation:
Separation from evil (11 Chro. 29:5, 15-18) and separation into God
9Lev. 27:16).
The subject of holiness and sanctification is so important that it is
mentioned 1,066 times in the Bible. It is the express will of God that
every believer should be sanctified (1Thess. 4:3).
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should
abstain from fornication”
Until we have been sanctified we are of very little use to God. We cannot
really become a “Vessel unto honour” until we have been sanctified. (11
Tim. 2:21).
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto
honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto
every good work.”
WHY MUST A BELIEVER BE SANCTIFIED?
A true believer is a follower of Christ. He wants to be like Christ in all
ways and in all things.
Now, Jesus Christ was sanctified.
By whom? By His Father, (John 10:36) and by Himself (John 17:19).
Now if Jesus needed to be sanctified, then how much more do His
followers need to be sanctified.
Secondly, you cannot live a holy life unless you are sanctified. And if
you do not live holy, then you shall not see the King on His return.
(Heb. 12:14).
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man
shall see the Lord:”
BY WHOM CAN I BE SANCTIFIED?
Sanctification is so crucial to a believer that God the Father, God the Son
and God the Holy Spirit all have a part to play in bringing it to pass.
That is the Trinity is involved in the work of sanctification: God the
Father (1 Thess. 5:23-24),
God the Son (Eph. 5:26) and God the Holy Spirit (11 Thess. 2:13).
The Trinity is willing to sanctify you, but are you willing to be
sanctified?
HOW CAN I BE SANCTIFIED?
There are various ways by which a believer can be sanctified.
First, you can be sanctified by the Word of God. (John 17:17).
In other words, to be sanctified, you need to spend much time the Word
of God.
The Word of God will reveal to you that in the New Testament alone
there are 103 different sins listed. When you know your enemies (i.e
sins) you will know how to avoid them.
Of course, sanctification is also to be obtained by the blood of Jesus,
(Heb. 13:12). The Word of God reveals the sin, the blood of Jesus
cleanses it away.
The third means of sanctification is through a heart surgery, (Ezek.
36:26).
As long as our hearts remain stony, we cannot live a holy life. But once
they are replaced by hearts of flesh, it becomes easy to do the will of
God.
Finally, we also have a part to play, (11 Cor. 7::1).
God never forces His will on any man. It is those who voluntarily yield
unto him their story hearts who can obtain hearts of flesh in exchange.
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF SANCTIFICATION?
The results of sanctification are many.
First and foremost, once you are sanctified, it becomes easy to live a
holy life.
Secondly, you now become a vessel unto houour fit for the master’s use.
This is as a consequence of your holiness which follows once you are
sanctified.
Thirdly, as soon as you become a vessel unto honour, you will start to
bear fruits (Rom. 6:22, Gal. 5:22-23).
Fourthly, once you start to bear fruits, you will get more and more
perfect, so that day by day you approach the perfection of Christ Jesus.
(Jn. 15:2, Heb.10:14).
Finally, you have a guarantee of an inheritance beyond the grave (Acts
26:18). In other words, there is an inheritance in heaven, reserved for
only those who are sanctified.
Infact all the glories of heaven are reserved for only the sanctified since
the unsanctified will never get to heaven.
For heaven is holy and no unclean thing will be allowed in to defile its
beauty.
Are you sanctified?
Do you wish to be?
Are you willing to part with sin and uncleanness?
Then the Trinity is willing to sanctify you wholly. Why not talk to Jesus
about it now?
FURTHER READINGS: The following passages will tell you more
about sanctification. Ps. 4:3, Ex. 40:9-11, Lev. 27:14-16, Num. 8:17,
Rom. 6:19, 1 Cor. 6:11, Phil. 3:12-14, James 4:7, 1 Pet. 3:15.
