Thessalonians Words ~ Day 12: Sanctified

Day 12: Sanctified

Sanctification is the process where something or someone goes from being unholy to being holy; it is consecrated - set apart- for service to God. This consecration to God's service is what marks them as holy. Sanctification and holiness are sometimes used interchangeably in the New Testament. 

Sanctification in the New Testament is both an indicative and an imperative. An indicative is a statement of fact. We could also call it positional. We are sanctified at a particular moment in time. Hebrews 10:10 says, "By the will of God we have been made holy [sanctified] through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Our position before God in Christ is that of sanctified people, holy and blameless in His eyes.

Yet the process of sanctification is ongoing and, thus, we see throughout the New Testament the call -the imperatives, commands - to continue to do the things that sanctify us, to live holy lives. As we see in Hebrews 10:14, "By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." We have been made holy and are continually called to be made holy. It is both who we are in Christ and what we are called to become and do in Christ.

So in the Thessalonians letters we then see both prayers and calls for the Thessalonians to continue to become sanctified, as well as reminders that they are holy.

"May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones." 1 TH 3:13

"It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable." 1 TH 4:3-4

"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." 1 TH 4:7

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."  1 TH 5:23

Here is the catch though, it is impossible in human strength for sanctification to take place and to grow. Sure, we are the ones who must make the decisions to live in manners that are holy and pleasing to God. But as we see in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, God loves us and calls us to be saved "through the sanctifying work of the Spirit". And it is His Spirit at work in us and through us that enables us to live a holy life and become more and more sanctified. We are sanctified and we are becoming sanctified. 

Please continue to go through the Bible Study Techniques and tool tutorial pages. Go through them slowly and get to know the tools and sites and then try going through a small passage of Scripture on your own using these study techniques and tools. I would love to hear how you did either n the comment section below or in The Words Facebook group. Of course, you are free to email me as well! marybrack@gmail.com. New techniques and tools will be added in a few days.