SANCTIFICATION Introduction -sanctification means to make holy, purify or consecrate; to set apart, to separate -The process of being made holy resulting in a changed life-style for the believer. -examples from the Old Testament: oCertain times are sanctified in that they are set apart especially to the Lord: the sabbath, the various festivals, the year of Jubilee. oThe land of Canaan, as well as Jerusalem, was holy to the Lord and was not to be polluted by sinful conduct. oThe tabernacle/Temple and all the objects related to it were holy.
oThe priests and Levites who functioned in the sanctuary, beginning with Aaron, were sanctified to the Lord by the anointing of oil. Illustration -A coal miner was walking home one day from working all day in the dirty coal mine. A young girl gave him a beautiful flower. He was happy and took the flower home.
He put it in a vase on the table, and started to admire the flower. Then he realised that the vase was dirty. And so he cleaned the vase. As he sat admiring the flower, he saw that the table was dirty. So he cleaned the table. As he sat admiring the flower again, he saw that the floor was dirty.
So he cleaned the floor too. Finally, he ended up cleaning the whole house. This is what sanctification means. After we have received Jesus into our life, He will begin to clean us up from within. Message -Sanctification is Gods will for us V 1 Thes 4:3 -Sanctification involves the sanctification of body, soul and spirit V 1 Thes 5:23 -Sanctification involves both God and us oJesus is our Sanctifier V Heb 2:11; God our Father is our Sanctifier too V Jude 1:1 oOur part V purging ourselves V 2 Tim 2:21 ,XBe a vessel unto honour and sanctification for the Masters use ,XOur confession brings forgiveness and cleansing V 1 John 1:9 -The means of sanctification: oHis word V John 17:17,19 oHis Spirit V 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thes 2:13 oOur faith V Acts 26:18 oGods discipline V Heb 12:10 oBlood of Jesus V Heb 13:12 Conclusion -Examples of the Corinthian Christians V 1 Cor 6:9-11 V forgiven and sanctified from their former life-styles -Gods promise V He is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless V Jude 1:24
