BELIEVER AND HOLY LIFE

Dr. K.C. Johnson

Sanctification is one of the most misinterpreted doctrines of the Bible. Most of the believers do not properly understand this doctrine and they keep themselves away from the biblical teachings. They are not able to grow in their spiritual life and live a holy Christian life. This writer hopes that a study of the doctrine of sanctification would help many to understand this subject in a better manner.

I. Sanctification

The study of this doctrine should begin with a reference to the holiness of God.

A. Holiness of God

Holiness is one of the communicable attributes of God. This is also one of His moral attributes. Holiness of God has been given more significance in the Bible than any other attributes of God. God is more described with the adjective 'holy' (Ex. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; I Pet. 1:15,16). The triune God is holy.

God the Father is holy (Lev. 11:44,45).

God the Son is holy (Heb. 7:26; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5).

God the Holy Spirit is holy (1 Cor. 13:14).

God is righteous (Ps. 119:137; Jer. 23:6; 1 John 2:29) and just (Ps. 103:6; Zeph. 3:5). These two attributes are two branches of His holiness. Righteousness is the legislative branch and justice is the judicial branch. In God's righteousness we see His love towards holiness and in justice we see His hatred towards sin. The criterion for believer's holiness is the holiness of God (1 Pet. 1: 15-17; Lev. 11: 44,45; 19:2).

B. An Introduction to Sanctification

The Greek word used for "to sanctify" is 'agiazw (hagiazo). The root meaning of this word is "to set apart" or "to separate." Sanctification is the sovereign work of the All mighty God in which He sets apart a person, place, or thing to fulfill God's purpose. Holy means that which is "separated." Sanctified means that which is "separated from unholiness." Saint means "separated unto God." The basic idea of all these three words is "separation."

Let us examine the biblical portions that describe sanctification with this meaning.

1. A day can be sanctified (Gen. 2:3).

2. A mountain can be sanctified (Ex. 19:23).

3. A building and the materials therein can be sanctified (Ex. 29: 42-44a; Numb. 7:1).

4. A house can be sanctified (Lev. 27:14).

A study of the above mentioned passage makes it clear that sanctification means setting apart or separate for the holy things. A day or a mountain or the Tabernacle or a house can not commit sin. However, an unholy person or thing may enter into them. Therefore, sanctification here doesn't mean a holy estate in which sin can not enter. "Separated for God" is the main idea expressed in all the above passages. The following verses would make this idea very clear.

1. Isaiah 66:17- "They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD." Here the Lord Jehovah speaks about those who set apart themselves for unholy things.

2. John 17:19- "And for their sakes I sanctify myself." Here we see the prayer of Jesus Christ who is holy and impeccable. This statement means that Jesus Christ separated Himself for the task for which He has come.

3. Ezekiel 36:23- "And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes." Here sanctification is mentioned in connection with God the father and it means separation.

4. Jeremiah also expressed the same idea of setting part in Jer. 1:5- "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

Let us analyse the doctrine of sanctification by keeping this fact in our mind. The three aspects of sanctification is given in the following chart.

Positional Sanctification	Progressive Sanctification	Perfect Sanctification
Past aspect of Sanctification God saved us From the penalty of sin Sanctification of the spirit Justification	Present aspect of Sanctification God is saving us From the power of sin Sanctification of the soul Sanctification	Future aspect of Sanctification God will save us From the presence of sin Sanctification of the body Glorification

C. Positional Sanctification

All born again believers have positional sanctification. The very moment in which a sinner believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, he is sanctified. This sanctification is the positional sanctification.

The triune God involved in positional sanctification.

1. God the Father has sanctified us. Jude make this fact clear in verse 1- "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called."

2. God the Son had sanctified us (Heb. 10:10,14; 13:12).

3. God the Holy Spirit had sanctified us (1 Cor. 6:11).

Believers who were sanctified by the work of the Triune God are addressed as Saints (Rom. 1:3; 1 Cor. 1:2). Only selected individuals are declared to be saints in the denominational churches; that too after their death. All believers are saints according to the teachings of the Bible; that too when they are alive. Paul states about the Corinthian believers that they were carnal men with several short comings (1 Cor. 3:1-5). But he addressed them as "them that are sanctified" and "saints" (1 Cor. 1:2). This explains the fact that a believer does not become a saint on the basis of his spiritual maturity, but on the basis of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That means God sanctifies a sinner the very moment in which he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is positional sanctification. This is never repeated, nor lost.

D. Progressive Sanctification

Progressive Sanctification is a biblical doctrine as significant as the positional sanctification. This is also known as the practical sanctification. When positional sanctification is only the work of the Triune God, there are several human responsibilities involved in the progressive sanctification. Progressive sanctification does not mean sinless perfection.

Some teach that as a result of progressive sanctification a believer can attain sinless perfection. They twist Christology in order to arrive at such explanations. They teach that Jesus was peccable. Jesus could commit sin in his humanity; Though he lived in a body similar to us, he did not commit any sin; and he got victory over sin. They further teach that believers also can attain victory over sin. This is not the teaching of the Bible. Jesus was impeccable (not able to sin). His humanity was perfect (Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5). Moreover, even in a believer's life sin is not completely eradicated (1 John 1:8,10). Those who hold such false doctrine could not present such a 'saint.'

Following Bible passages teach progressive sanctification.

1. 1 Thessaloniance 4:3,4- "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour."

2. 2 Timothy 2:21- "If a man therefore purge himself from these (depart from iniquity-verse 19; works having the quality of wood and of earth-verse 20), he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

3. Hebrews 12:14- "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Compare this with 1 John 3:2,3- "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

4. 1 Peter 1:14-16- "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

E. Perfect Sanctification

Perfect sanctification is the completion of believers' sanctification. This is the last step of sanctification. We can not attain this sanctification as long as we live in this body. Like positional sanctification this is completely the work of God. We receive the perfect sanctification at the time of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for the church in the mid-air.

1. Apostle Paul writes about this sanctification in 1 Thess. 5:23,24- "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."

2. Jude had written his epistle to "them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called" (Jude 1)-this is positional sanctification. Those who had received this positional sanctification will be presented "faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24)-this is the perfect sanctification.

II. THINGS TO PONDER IN ORDER TO RECEIVE

PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION

(Remaining part of this study will be uploaded in a week)