Foundation 4 - Santification & Holiness
What is sanctification & holiness?
Definition: To separate from the world and consecrate oneself to God. In other words, to be set apart for God's use. To sanctify anything is to declare that it belongs to God. It is the process by which a life is made morally holy. The transformation of the believer's life and character follows naturally from his consecration to God, who is morally perfect. In other words, the road to holiness from sin to holy like God.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NKJV) - Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you [is] faithful, who also will do [it].
1 Thessalonians 3:13 (NKJV) - so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV) - But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
Romans 6:10-12 (NKJV) - For [the death] that He died, He died to sin once for all; but [the life] that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV) - Then He said to [them] all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV) - Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Definition: To separate from the world and consecrate oneself to God. In other words, to be set apart for God's use. To sanctify anything is to declare that it belongs to God. It is the process by which a life is made morally holy. The transformation of the believer's life and character follows naturally from his consecration to God, who is morally perfect. In other words, the road to holiness from sin to holy like God.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NKJV) - Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you [is] faithful, who also will do [it].
- Sanctification has to do with both a past work (the cross) and present work (the morally transforming work of the Holy Spirit).
- We have been sanctified as saints (the people of God). God claims the saints (true believers) as His own. All who call Jesus their Lord and are living for Him are sanctified. It is the only way to be sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2,30).
- We will continue to be sanctified as we walk in obedience to God's Word and will for our lives.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 (NKJV) - so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
- The Apostle Paul prayed that God would establish the hearts of the believers that they might be blameless and holy (sanctified) at the return of the Lord Jesus.
- We are not to be conformed with this world. We are to be transformed (changed) by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).
- It is God's purpose that the church should be finally presented to Him without spot, wrinkle, or blemish, but instead holy (Ephesians 5:27).
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV) - But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
- Sanctification is a work of Holy Spirit which involves human response. We have to respond to Holy Spirit (John 14:26).
- Without the believer's willful obedient response to the sanctifying work of Holy Spirit there will be no spiritual growth in their spiritual life (Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 3:15, Hebrews 10:23)
- We are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1). This is done by responding to Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:10-12 (NKJV) - For [the death] that He died, He died to sin once for all; but [the life] that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
- God commands us to never let sin reign in our mortal bodies, thereby obeying it's lusts. God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7).
- We are to focus on moral purity through Holy Spirit. This includes abstaining from sexual immorality (sins) (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5).
Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV) - Then He said to [them] all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
- There are important disciplines relating to sanctification in the life of a believer:
- The believer is to deny himself (soul life) and take up his cross daily. The Cross is a place of death, where my will and God's will cross, with God's will consuming mine.
- We are to present our bodies to God as living and holy sacrifices (Romans 12:1).
- We are not to allow the world to influence and form our values, worldview, and convictions (Romans 12:2).
- We are to allow the Word of God to dwell within us richly (Colossians 3:16).
- Daily we are to reckon (credit) ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord and to love Jesus with all our hearts, soul, minds, and strength (Romans 6:11, Mark 12:30).
- Be filled with Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
- Devote yourself to prayer (check out the Prayer page for more information)
- Live to give by serving, blessing, and encouraging your neighbor. By living to give and not to get, you are imitating Christ, fulfilling the will of God for your life (Philippians 2:3-8).
1 John 1:9 (NKJV) - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- God sanctifies believers in different ways including:
- The convictions of Holy Spirit concerning wrong behavior. Conviction of sin begins when one realizes that his behavior is wrong. Immediately after conversion (accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior) one's conscience becomes sharply sensitive to identifying wrong behavior from right behavior. By agreeing with one's conscience, addressing sin by its rightful name and repenting of it, one is continuously transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ Jesus (1 John 2:1-2, Romans 12:2).
- Growing in understanding and revelation that the believer gains as he reads, studies, and meditates on the Word of God. Many times God's Word becomes like a mirror, reflecting back to the believer his need to be changed and conformed to the image of Jesus. When God imparts truth to us, it never condemns, but always liberates (Romans 8:1, John 8:31-31).
- Through prophetic utterance (i.e. prophecy, words of knowledge, prophetically anointed teaching). An example in the Scriptures that follow is one of the prophet Nathan who spoke to David regarding his sin. After hearing, David was repentant for what he had done (2 Samuel 12:1-13, Psalm 51:2-4).
- Through correction communicated by other members of the Body of Christ (Proverbs 27:5, Proverbs 27:17, 2 Timothy 4:2, Matthew 17:15-21).
- Through the manifest presence of God. By walking close to God, dwelling in His presence, the believer is continuously being transformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV) - Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
- The completion of the sanctification process in the life of the believer takes place at Christ's return.
- In the fifth foundation, we will learn about our adversary, the devil, who causes trouble all the way until he is defeated after Christ's return. Do not worry, you can overcome him.