Sanctification-An Introduction

Sanctification-An Introduction

The Greek Word for sanctification is the same one translated “holy.” The word is ἁγιάζω (hagiazō) and it means, Hallow, Holiness, Holy, Sanctification, Sanctify, Consecrate. It is the same Greek word translated “saints,” which means “holy ones.” Both sanctify and holy mean “set apart.” We typically assign “holy” a sense of pure and perfect. I think this is largely because we often use holy as a description of God.

Dictionaries include meanings for sanctify such as the following.

Set apart as or declare holy; consecrate.

Make legitimate or binding by religious sanction (as in love sanctified by marriage).

To free from sin; purify.

Holy, according to dictionaries, includes definitions such as dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred.

A practical example of sanctification is your toothbrush. Your toothbrush is sanctified for a very specific use. It is holy unto the brushing of your teeth. It is not to be used by anyone else. It is to be used only for its intended purpose.

A question often arises about whether sanctification is already accomplished in believers or there is work remaining to be done. Is sanctification completed in us, or is it in process?

The short answer is that you are sanctified. The moment you believed God you were set apart to Him. You were sanctified. You were made holy. We find this clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 6:11 “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” (NASB95) This is said another way in 1 Corinthians 1:2 “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:” (NASB95). In this passage the word hagiazo is translated twice. Sanctified is used in the first case, and the second translates it as saints.

Some find reason to doubt that sanctification has already been done because of verses such as 2 Timothy 2:21 “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (NASB95). This would seem to indicate that there is something one must do to become, or perhaps to remain, sanctified. It is important to remember that sanctification means set apart. Paul is talking to Timothy about how to council his congregation about reasons for godly behavior. We have choices and it is good for us to choose godly behavior and do the good works Father has planned for us to walk in. (see Ephesians 2:10) This passage is talking about what we do, not our state or our relationship with God. Doing good things, cleaning up and setting our behavior apart, is good for us. It fits us as holy ones and makes us more useful in sharing the good news.

Hebrews makes our sanctification clear in several places.

Hebrews 2:11 “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,” (NASB95)

Hebrews 10:10 “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (NASB95)

Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (NASB95)