We are sanctified by the Triune God. The Father sanctified us in His Son but through His Spirit. The gracious act of sanctification involves the union of the Triune Godhead. There is one God who sanctifies us and we are to understand the distinction of the Three Persons. We teach the Trinity in Unity and the Unity in Trinity. The Trinity is one God as it is taught in the book of Deuteronomy. We ought not to make ungodly preferences. Christ is lovely and gracious but some misunderstand that the Father alone is for justice. However, Christ is just but He is also lovely and gracious. People also depreciate the Spirit. When it comes to the Trinity they always act in unity. By their essence, the Trinity is united in their deeds. The Trinity’s love for the chosen is one and indivisible. This is in the case of sanctification. Sanctification is the work of the Spirit; however, the Father and the Son are not devoid of this work of holiness. The work of sanctification is the work of the Father, of the Spirit and of the Son. We were made in His image and the Triune God was involved in the creation of men. We are called as God’s workmanship which He ordained that we should walk in them.
God values true holiness because the Godhead wants the church without “spot, or wrinkle or such thing.” Anyone4 who stands against holiness of heart is in direct conflict with Almighty God. Holiness is an architectural plan when God builds His spiritual temple. Scripture speaks of the beauty of holiness. The only thing that is beautiful is holiness before God. The devil defiled himself and it violates holy, holy, holy. The cry of the cherubim is the greatest song the creature offers. The Trinity accepts this song because God is holy. Holiness is His choice treasure. Holiness is the seal on the heart and holiness is the signet ring upon His right hand. God can’t cease to be holy because He is pure, righteous, and holy. Those who consider themselves to be followers of Christ are to set a high priority on a godly life and holy conversation. The blood of Christ is the foundation of our hope. We ought to never speak disparagingly of the Spirit’s work. It is our inheritance for the saints. Prize holiness of life and make it a way of life to hate evil. Prize it so it would flow in your life as a royal priesthood, a holy nation a peculiar people. We ought to praise Him because He called us out of darkness into a marvelous light.
My intention is to enlarge upon sanctification in this time. I use the term sanctification as theologians understand it. Sanctification in the Bible is understood in various ways. We must understand how the Bible uses the term sanctification. It has a wide meaning. It has been well said that the Bible is not systematically arranged. Systematic divines provide truth for common life. The Bible is a hand book to heaven. It is a guide to eternity. It is meant for the farmer as well as the scholar in the classroom. It is meant for the small child as well the educated adult. It is meant for the humble and the ignorant man to renew his mind. God has not given us a scientific book but He has given us His own Word for a practical way for daily use and edification.
The meaning of sanctification is the pursuit of holiness. The Bible is the key book to give us a proper understanding of holiness as a way of life. The Old Testament helps us understand the New. The New also helps us understand the Old as well. The Bible teaches self-interpretation when Scripture interprets Scripture which was used by the early church fathers to interpret Scripture. A goldsmith ha a rule of a diamond cut diamond and so it must be the rule of divine Scripture. It must be studied in its own light. The Old Testament uses the word sanctify very often but it is used in three senses. Let us consider the first one.
Sanctification means to be set apart. It means in the Old Testament a setting apart. The legitimate use is for God’s service alone but a life changed by God is never isolated. It touches and infects all it comes in contact with. The Bible calls it to be sanctified or holy. The book of Exodus says to sanctify unto me all firstborn. The firstborn of men and cattle are God’s possession but the firstborn of Egypt were destroyed. Levi was set apart for the representative of the firstborn. Levi was set apart to minister day and night. The seventh day in the book of Genesis says it is set apart. The seventh day was meant to be for rest and to serve the Master. Leviticus 27:14 speaks of the set apartness of a house or a field because it is God’s. The produce of the field on the occupation of the house was set apart for holy use. There was no special thing done but it was set apart for God for sanctification. In Exodus 29:44 God sanctifies the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar. It means it was set apart to be his house which is the special place of his abode. It is where bright light of the Shekinah might shine forth between the wings of the cherubim. It is the precious and glorious evidence where the Lord God dwelt in the midst of God’s people.
