13th April, 2022.

THE BELIEVER'S SANCTIFICATION Pt.2

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

SANCTIFICATION IN TWO-FOLD

In the new testament, there are two ways in which sanctification was presented to us. The first sense in which sanctification is presented to us is that every believer is already fully and eternally sanctified because of his faith in and his union with the Lord Jesus Christ: "By the which will WE ARE SANCTIFIED through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all"(Hebrews 10:10 KJV). The tense is in the past. This is what bible scholars call "Positional Sanctification". By reason of your position in Christ as a believer, you're already sanctified. You didn't do anything to merit this other than the faith you put in the finished work of Christ: "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14 KJV). Hallelujah!!! I'm sanctified and blood washed. This is something to be thankful for: "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth"(2 The2:13).

The second sense in which sanctification is used in the new testament is that believers should be sanctified. It is presented as something to be done: "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;"(1 Thes 4:3 NIV). Did you see the phrase "Should be sanctified"? In the first sense, it was presented as something that is done or a fait accompli. Now, the scripture is saying again that we should be sanctified. Bible scholars call this "Progressive sanctification". For anyone to be used in God's service, this type of sanctification is required: "Therefore, if anyone cleanses( sanctify) himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work"(2Tim2:2, Emphasis mine).

Some of the new testament themes often have two sides to it. Just like sanctification; you have been sanctified but again you have to be sanctified. It is expected of you to live a sanctified life. Often times, dwelling on the positional benefits of being in Christ( which doesn't have our input) and not considering the other side of the coin where our input is needed is what breeds libertinism. Running with a side of the truth without considering the other side is much more dangerous than total ignorance of the truth. All believers are sanctified but experimentally we are not fully sanctified; this is a progressive work of God in our lives that will change us into the likeness of Christ until we see Him and are then (and only then) “conformed” to His image (Romans 8:29). On daily basis, your cry and mine should be "Sanctify me Lord". Our desire should be like that of Paul for the Galatian brethren: "My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you" (Galatians 4:19 NIV).