What does it mean to be sanctified? How are we sanctified?
The apostle Paul wrote to the Christian congregation at Corinth but specifically to a special group of believers everywhere. The apostle Paul knew that his writing would be circulated among the believers living in his time and in the future. So, he chose very specific wording to identify his group of listeners.
1 Corinthians 1:2… To the assembly of God (G1577), which is in Corinth, to those sanctified (G37) in Christ Jesus, called to be holy (G40), with all that are in every place calling on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours.
I would like you to focus on a few of these Greek words the apostle Paul used. We will be using the Strong’s concordance to define these words.
First, we will start off with the word translated as assembly. G1577 Ekklesia it is a religious gathering or more specifically a compound of called out ones.
Next, we have the word sanctified G37 Hegiasmenis and it means to set apart, purify, or consecrated.
Lastly, we have those called to be holy as G40 Hagiois as sacred, pure, blameless or saint.
So, in this particular letter the apostle Paul was focusing on believers who were called out for the purpose of being set apart, blameless, and pure as saints.
Most people who were followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and who call upon his name are not called out to become holy. What does this mean to be called and how are we sanctified?
In another letter the apostle Paul gave us the definitions and expressions to help us understand the process of sanctification and being called out for the purpose of being a saint.
Colossians 1:9-20… That is also why we, from the day we heard [of it], have not ceased praying for YOU and asking that YOU may be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, 10 in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing [him] as YOU go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God, 11 being made powerful with all power to the extent of his glorious might so as to endure fully and be long-suffering with joy, 12 thanking the Father who rendered YOU suitable for YOUR participation in the inheritance of the holy ones in the light. 13 He delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, 14 by means of whom we have our release by ransom, the forgiveness of our sins.
The sanctification requires us to know very specific and accurate knowledge. It is a specific wisdom with spiritual comprehension. It is the understanding, a knowing of what God is asking of the person that is being called out, to become a saint.
Here we understand that to be called out means that you are to participate in the inheritance and delivered from the authority of darkness. That you are going to work a good work in the name of our Lord. You are to be producing something that is pleasing to God. The apostle Paul also says that we are released and forgiven of our sins so that we may be sanctified in Christ and by Christ.
Process of Becoming Sanctified
We have already established that it takes very specific and accurate knowledge of truth along with spiritual comprehension to become sanctified.
What is the process of becoming sanctified?
Accept that God’s word is truth, and we are bathed in it. John 17:17, Ephesians 5:26
We have to accept the good news of God, that by means of Christ Jesus there has been made a way for us to approach God. That Christ is the Mediator of the New Covenant. Ephesians 2:17-22, Hebrews 8:6
We have to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of lords, act in faith and call to him inviting him into our life. Philippians 2:9-11, John 14:23
We need to understand and appreciate the value of his blood sacrifice. Hebrews 12:24-25
We have to accept the new covenant and prepare our hearts to receive the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Let us face it, many of us were alienated from God. We did not understand his ways, and we were without Christ in this world. We did not even understand the process of salvation.
Ephesians 2:11-13… Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:11… Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
We then have to live in a way that people can see Christ working in us and with us.
Hebrews 12:14-15… Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. 15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.
We need to pursue peace with everyone. We have to live a clean and moral life to be able to see the Lord. We have to guard our hearts allowing no bitterness to take root and that it should defile us before the Lord.
So, now let us look at what the apostle Peter had to say about becoming a saint.
1 Peter 1:13-19… Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep a clear head, and set your hope completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed. 14 As obedient children do not be shaped by the desires that used to influence you when you were ignorant. 15 Instead, be holy in every aspect of your life, just as the one who called you is holy. 16 For it is written, “You must be holy, because I am holy.” 17 If you call “Father” the one who judges everyone impartially according to what they have done, you must live in reverent fear as long as you are strangers in a strange land. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things like silver or gold that you have been ransomed from the worthless way of life handed down to you by your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of the Messiah, like that of a lamb without blemish or defect.
First, the apostle Peter calls our attention to keeping a clear head, and having a mind set on the coming grace of God. We are to keep ourselves clean, holy, and ready to be judged by the Father of heaven.
Remember that with the blood of Christ we have been purchased. The apostle Peter also called attention to what was spoken by the Father himself so long ago. That we need to be holy because He is holy. Leviticus 19:2
Leviticus 20:26… Be my holy people because I, the Lord, am holy. I have separated you from other people to be my very own.
It is important to realize that God has separated a people away from the rest of mankind to be his own. What are the consequences of not being clean or holy before God?
Deuteronomy 23:14… For Yahweh, your God is walking about in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to hand your enemies over to you before you, and so let your camp be holy, so that he shall not see in it anything indecent, and he shall turn away from going with you.
Can you imagine having the Lord in your life and then you decide to do something that is inappropriate or offensive to God and he should not be there for you because of your uncleanness. That would be heartbreaking.
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