Sanctified: A Point in Time & a Process
Last week we saw the distinction between what we were (the past) and what we are in Christ. We have been washed, sanctified, and justified. In that blog posting I made the comment, “Sanctification is both a moment in time reality, and it is a journey, a process.” One reader inquired about that, and rather than respond directly, and at that time, I decided to expand on the idea in its own blog posting.
Defined
The word, sanctification, is drawn from the Greek term ἅγιος (hah-gee-os). From hagios we draw words like holy, sanctified, saint, consecrated. It is a term of separation or distinction. Something that is hagios has set aside for a special purpose. Hagios places and objects are sacred and not to be profaned.
Consider the region to which the Jews were headed following their exodus from Egypt and a life of slavery. It was characterized as “the holy land.” It had been consecrated as a land for them to inhabit. The inner chambers of the tabernacle and the temple were designated “the Holy Place,” and “the Holy of Holies.” These chambers were set apart from the rest of the temple for special purposes. Items within the temple were holy, set aside for specific uses. Jerusalem was a holy city because the temple was there. So, Jerusalem was holy, the temple was holy, and the inner chambers of that temple in that city were holy, and specific items inside that temple, in that city were holy.
Holy People
It is not only inanimate objects that are hagios. If you are in Christ, you are hagios, holy, sanctified. You have been called out of one life, and set aside for another life, a life of purpose. It is for this reason that scripture refers to you as a saint,1 one set aside for a specific purpose. At the time you responded to that call, you were set aside, made holy, a saint. (Put simply, “saint” just means sanctified one.) For me, this happened on January 16, 1983, at roughly 3:00pm.
So you are hagios; you are holy. You have been set aside. That happened at a specific time and in a specific place. Then, and there, you were washed, justified, and sanctified.
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
– John 17:14-17, ESV
Holy Process
Sanctification is also a process that will continue through the rest of your days in this life.
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
– John 17:14-17, ESV
Everything in that excerpt from Jesus’ prayer in John 17 speaks of having been separated. It happened. It is done. Yet, Jesus then asks that we be sanctified. That’s a request for future sanctification. Yes, we were separated, set aside as a position and for a purpose. Now we are being sanctified as a process. It is something God is doing within us.
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
– Hebrews 10:12-14, ESV
We were perfected, and now we are being sanctified.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
– 1 Thessalonians5:23, ESV
Life in Christ is a journey up a down escalator. It is imperative that we keep walking, stepping, moving, being sanctified. If we fail or refuse to do so, we soon find ourselves at the bottom. If we are not growing in Christ, we are dying.
The apostle Paul says that in all things we are to grow up in Christ who is the head of the body.2 We’re not just “hanging out” here. We are growing, maturing, being sanctified. We crave growth. We crave spiritual nourishment.
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
– 1 Peter 2:2-3, ESV
Consider the growth Paul prayed for in his letter to the church at Colossae.
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
– Colossians 1:9-12, ESV
Nothing in that prayer represents a stagnant life. This is why the apostle Peter calls us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.”3 It is also why he tells us to supplement our faith with virtue, and our virtue with knowledge, and our knowledge with self-control, and our self-control with steadfastness and our steadfastness with godliness and our godliness with brotherly affection and our brotherly affection with love.4 We are a people in process.
Paul expressed his gratitude at what God was doing in the Philippian believers. God began the work in them and he continues to work in them.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
The writer of Hebrews calls us to “strive for hagiosmon” (holiness).5 Striving requires focus and effort. One of the surest ways to accomplish this continuous sanctification is continuous time in God’s Word. Jesus prayed that we would be sanctified in the truth, and completed that thought, saying, “Your word is truth.”6
Summary
Prior to life in Christ, we were separated, yes, but that was a separation from God.7 At some point, we responded to the gospel of God’s grace and the kingship of Jesus, and we were separated again, this time for God’s purposes. Since that time we have been in process, a refining through which we are “being sanctified.”8
There is a day coming when the battle raging within us9 will be over, and we will be like Christ, for we will see him just as he is.10 Oh, glorious day!
1. John 17:14-17, Acts 9:13, 9:32, 26:10, Romans 1:7, 8:27, 12:13, 16:15, 1 Corinthians 6:1-2, Philippians 4:21-22, Colossians 1:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, Hebrews 6:10, 1Peter 2:9, Jude 1:3, Revelation 5:8
2. Ephesians 4:15
3. 2 Peter 3:18
4. 2 Pete3r 1:5-7
5. Hebrews 12:14
6. John 17:17
7. Isaiah 59:1-2
8. Hebrews 10:12
9. Galatians 5:17
10. 1 John 3:2
