Sanctification is the process of a person or thing
being sanctified. It simply means to be made holy, purified, or set apart for
God’s use. A perfect example and picture of sanctification is God’s
sanctification of Israel. This expression is evident especially in the book of
Leviticus, where it is mentioned at least 10 times.
So what does it mean to “be sanctified?”The Greek word
used for “sanctify” or “sanctification” comes from the word hágios, which
means holy. The noun (sanctification) and verb (sanctify) forms therefore mean
“the act or state of being holy” or “to make something or someone holy.” The
root of this Greek word word is the root “hág-,” which refers to chastity or purity.
So, the essence of the word “holy” (and therefore “sanctified”) is “to be pure
and chaste.” In the Christian experience, this could more accurately be applied
as “to be made pure and chaste before God” or “the activity of pursuing purity
and chastity before God.” This is a theme that is rather prevalent and will be
traced throughout Scripture.
The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament means “to consecrate”
and also stems from a connotation of purity. It is used most frequently in the
Pentateuch, as God commands for items to be purified for use in the tabernacle.
He also says in Leviticus 21:8 that He, who is holy, sanctifies. It is closely
related to the word used for “holy,” which has a connotation of separation.
Using the aforementioned information, sanctification can be
defined as “the act or state of being purified and set apart for use by the
Holy God.”
SANCTIFICATION: A THEOLOGICAL STUDY
Now that there is a working definition of sanctification, the
theme can be traced throughout Scripture. Before doing that, however, the theme
and command of sanctification will be explored in relation to the Triune God
for whom, to whom, and through whom sanctification exists. Each person of the
Trinity will be discussed in His role in sanctification.
Before going into the unique role that each person of the Trinity
plays in sanctification, it would be beneficial to discuss the nature of God
and how that nature relates to sanctification.
His
Holiness: Of all of the magnificent characteristics of God, none plays a
role more closely related to sanctification than His holiness. The holiness of
God is the most important of all attributes when discussing or contemplating
the character of God, for all His actions and motives are rooted in and shaped
by His holiness. As A.W. Pink said, “God swears by His holiness because it is a
fuller expression of His nature than
anything else.” [1]
It is most difficult to define God’s holiness in general because He is holiness. He embodies it. Outside of
Him there is no picture or definition of holiness. Because of this, God’s
holiness cannot be observed in a manner similar to any other being. Therefore,
the topic of God’s holiness will be approached from 2 aspects of His holiness:
the divinity and purity thereof.
On
the subject of the divinity of God’s holiness, it is to be said that God’s
holiness is divine in the sense that there has been, is not, and will never be
any other being that shares this aspect with God. God’s angels are holy, but
only because God is holy and they are preserved as His pure servants. The bride
of Christ will be presented to God as holy, but only because God is holy and
purified the Church through His Son Jesus. God is the definition and embodiment
of holiness. In that aspect, no other being can possibly share this attribute
with Him as if they had it in common. We see this holiness expressed in Isaiah
6 as the angels shout “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!” These
angels, having known all their existence nothing but the very presence of God,
had become very intimately acquainted with this exclusivity of God’s awesome
holiness, and it led them to proclaim it throughout the temple of Heaven. They
limit this proclamation solely to God; for He is the only being worthy of such
a proclamation.
As for purity, the same predicament as
that of holiness can be stated, but it is a bit easier to define purity “outside”
of God, meaning that although God is the ultimate, perfect picture of purity,
he is not the definition of purity. Purity can be defined as “the state of
being that is absent of all defilement.” Purity is similar to the color white
or the presence of light, for if there be any speck of any hue in the midst of
that white, then it is no longer white. Likewise, the presence of light is only
experienced in its fullness when there is no shade or filter, nor any hindrance
to that light. Using this definition, it should be stated that to say God is pure
is to say His nature and character is absent of any defilement whatsoever. The
purity of God’s holiness is amplified when considered in light of two of the
most fundamental attributes of God’s being, His eternality or infinity, and His
immutability. When viewed in light of these fundamental aspects of God’s
nature; a proper statement of God’s purity says that God is eternally and infinitely pure in his holiness. This is an important observation,
for it does not simply mean that God is
pure; but that God has always been pure
and will always be pure. His purity
is infinitely resistant and immune to all contamination and therefore His
holiness is resistant and immune as well. The purity of God’s holiness is
displayed in Habakkuk 1:13, “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and
cannot look at wrong.” This purity causes God to be so disgusted and angered by
evil that He cannot bear to look at it. The relationship presented here between
God and wrong is the reason God is pure; for if God cannot simply look at
wrong, how could He exist as an impure being at all?
Holiness
is like purity, except it is a more abstract and also grander term. Holiness is
not simply a physical or scientific term, but one of moral and religious
implication. To close the gap between the two terms, holiness is the absence of
all moral and religious impurity. When meshed with God’s divinity, it can be
understood that God is the only being infinitely and eternally devoid of any and all
moral, religious, and material defilement. This is the definition of
God’s holiness.
His Sovereignty: As David prays to the Lord in the presence
of all the officials of Israel in 1 Chronicles 29, he says this “Yours, O Lord,
is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty,
for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom,
O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all (verse 11).” In this verse, David
communicates the undeniable reality that God is the sovereign Lord of the
universe. The particular result of God’s sovereignty discussed here in 1
Chronicles is that God is in control. He regulates and dictates everything that
takes place in every realm of existence. A picture is being painted here in
which all rulers and authorities are all in submission to God (not necessarily
in will, but in that He works all things and uses all things in accordance with
His plan), who stands above them all in a position of majesty, glory, and
power.
A
similar reality is communicated in Isaiah 46:10, where He says “My counsel
shall stand and I shall accomplish all my purpose.” Here the sovereign God
speaks of His dominion over everything that happens in the realm of time. His
purpose and plan is seen here as ultimate, immutable, and inevitable. Whatever
He has deemed to take place will take
place and will accomplish its purpose
for taking place.
Using
the ideas communicated in these verses of Scripture, God’s sovereignty is
defined as “the reality that everything is controlled by the independent,
omnipotent authority of God.” The sovereignty of God has a specific
relationship to sanctification in that God is sovereign over sanctification.
God chooses what is holy and what makes something or someone holy. This is a
necessary result of the aforementioned fact that God is the standard and
embodiment of holiness. Therefore, only He knows what is truly holy and
sanctified.
His Supremacy: Romans 11:36 is
the epitome of this doctrine. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all
things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” This verse is the connecting link
between all of Romans chapters 1-11; which is essentially the most thorough
explanation of the Gospel in all of Scripture, and the implications thereof in
chapters 12-16. In this book Paul starts out explaining God’s case against
humanity. He speaks of how His creation has suppressed the truth in
unrighteousness and worshipped the creature instead of the creator (1:18-25).
He speaks of how there is not one righteous individual on the planet (3:10-18,
23) and how God will repay everyone for their deeds (2:6) and that repayment is
death (6:23). This is the plight of humanity. There is an infinitely righteous
and just God who must judge the sinful corruption of humanity. To make matters
worse, because of the reality discussed in chapter 3 (verses 10-18) and the
beginning of chapter 8 (verses 5-8), there is absolutely no possible way man
can reach God.
The situation was hopeless, but then Paul reveals the beautiful reconciliation of man to God through Jesus Christ. He tells the Romans of the sacrifice Christ made and how through His resurrection there is life. He speaks about how in Christ there is righteousness and life in the Spirit. In the verses preceding 11:36, Paul had just shown how God, in His infinite wisdom, decreed a solution for wretched, filthy man to be reconciled and unified with an infinitely pure God; all while maintaining the infinitely high standard of His justice and righteousness. The only words that should be uttered after this presentation of the Gospel are those of Paul in the closing of chapter 11: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Because of God’s infinite beauty, wisdom, majesty, grace, power, and all of His other incredible attributes, He is to be praised! God is the generator, vehicle, and purpose of all creation. He is to be magnified in all things. This is the definition of His supremacy.
The situation was hopeless, but then Paul reveals the beautiful reconciliation of man to God through Jesus Christ. He tells the Romans of the sacrifice Christ made and how through His resurrection there is life. He speaks about how in Christ there is righteousness and life in the Spirit. In the verses preceding 11:36, Paul had just shown how God, in His infinite wisdom, decreed a solution for wretched, filthy man to be reconciled and unified with an infinitely pure God; all while maintaining the infinitely high standard of His justice and righteousness. The only words that should be uttered after this presentation of the Gospel are those of Paul in the closing of chapter 11: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Because of God’s infinite beauty, wisdom, majesty, grace, power, and all of His other incredible attributes, He is to be praised! God is the generator, vehicle, and purpose of all creation. He is to be magnified in all things. This is the definition of His supremacy.
The
relation of His supremacy to sanctification is simple. Sanctification is
generated by God, accomplished through God, and exists solely for Him to be
magnified.
God’s
holiness, sovereignty, and supremacy are three of His fundamental attributes
which are extremely relevant to sanctification.
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