Sanctification Explained

What exactly is sanctification? Most people have heard the word but know next to nothing about it. But once you've studied the scriptures, it's not a mystery anymore.

Sanctification means to be set apart for God. Psalms 4:3 (King James Version) says, "But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him."

Likewise, we read of an example in Acts 13:1 and 2 (Bible in Basic English). "Now there were at Antioch, in the church there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon who was named Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, a relation of Herod the king, and Saul. And while they were doing the Lord's work, and going without food, the Holy Spirit said, 'Let Barnabas and Saul be given to me for the special work for which they have been marked out by me.'"

Being clean ceremonially was also important to our Lord. Leviticus 22:1-3 (BBE) recalls, "And the Lord said to Moses,' Give orders to Aaron and to his sons to keep themselves separate from the holy things of the children of Israel which they give to me, and not to make my holy name common: I am the Lord,' Say to them, 'If any man of all your seed through all your generations, being unclean, comes near the holy things which the children of Israel make holy to the Lord, he will be cut off from before me: I am the Lord.'"

The descendents of Israel were also sanctified from the rest of the world's peoples. When dedicating the temple, Solomon prayed in 1 Kings 22:53 (BBE), "For you made them separate from all the peoples of the earth, to be your heritage, as you said by Moses your servant, when you took our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God."

Sanctification is Christ's way of preparing us for heaven. From taking on our sin when we became his adopted children to the day when he presents us to the Father, we've been sanctified by his work and power. Colossians 1:21 and 22 (BBE) reads, "And you, who in the past were cut off and at war with God in your minds through evil works, he has now made one, In the body of his flesh through death, so that you might be holy and without sin and free from all evil before him:"

It's Christ who sanctifies us and not our own works. Let's accept his magnanimous gift without thinking we have to earn it.

In the event that Christ doesn't return for us by Saturday, I hope to post about that blessed event and a great Carly Simon song.

What is Consecration?

Another fancy word Christians use is consecration. It means to be set apart or to set something apart for sacred use. Since God wants us to be different from the world's people, he gave us this order to keep us from sinning.

Genesis 6:9 (BBE) shows how even the ancient people were meant to stand apart from sinners. "These are the generations of Noah. Noah was an upright man and without sin in his generation: he went in the ways of God."

We also note that Abraham believed God. Paul noted in Romans 4:3 (BBE), "But what does it say in the holy Writings? And Abraham had faith in God, and it was put to his account as righteousness."

Those who follow the Lord are especially selected for and by him. Psalms 4:3 (KJV) describes this well. "But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him."

We see too that God separated priests and other people for holy tasks. Exodus 28:3 (BBE) says, "Give orders to all the wise-hearted workmen, whom I have made full of the spirit of wisdom, to make robes for Aaron, so that he may be made holy as my priest."

Moreover, we're to be examples to the world of our Lord and how he changes our lives for the better. One example is when Paul and his traveling companions worked to support themselves. They could have taken up a collection but they decided it would be better to fund there own mission trips. As 2 Thessalonians 3:9 (BBE) says, "Not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves an example to you, so that you might do the same."

Non Christians will also recognize true believers because they love each other. As Jesus said in John 13:35 (BBE), "By this it will be clear to all men that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another."

We also rebuke the world by not following them to destruction. As we read in 1 Peter 4:3 and 4 (BBE), "Because for long enough, in times past, we have been living after the way of the Gentiles, given up to the desires of the flesh, to drinking and feasting and loose behaviour and unclean worship of images; And they are wondering that you no longer go with them in this violent wasting of life, and are saying evil things of you:"

I'll be writing more about this in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? We are to be lights to the world but some of us are Christians in name only. What a poor example for a watching world to see.

On Saturday, I'll write about a wonderful song which shows how all of us should be to others.