What does it mean to be sanctified?

Answer

To be sanctified is to be “set apart.” Synonyms for sanctified include holy, consecrated, and hallowed. The Bible mentions things being “sanctified,” such as Mount Sinai «And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. », (Exodus 19:23), and gifts to the temple «Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? », (Matthew 23:17); days, such as the Sabbath «Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. », (Exodus 20:8); names, such as God’s «After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. », (Matthew 6:9); and people, such as the Israelites (Leviticus 20:7-8) and Christians «that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, », (Ephesians 5:26).

For something to be sanctified means it is set apart for a special purpose. Sinai was set apart from all other mountains for the giving of the Law. The temple in Jerusalem was set apart from all other locations for the worship of the one true God: “I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there” «For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. », (2 Chronicles 7:16).

Things that are sanctified are reserved for God’s purposes and should not be used for mundane tasks. The night Babylon fell, King Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. This act is described in (Daniel 5:2). It was one of Belshazzar’s final acts, for he was killed that night by the invading Persians. God’s name is “hallowed” as mentioned in (Luke 11:2), and any flippant or disrespectful use of His name is considered profane.

Jesus spoke of Himself as being sanctified in John 17:19; in other words, He is holy and “set apart” from sin. His followers are to be similarly set apart from sin and for God’s use, as stated in (1 Peter 1:16).

People who are sanctified are born again and therefore part of God’s family. They are described as such in (Hebrews 2:11). They are reserved for God’s use and experience “the sanctifying work of the Spirit” in their lives.Rough sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. », (1 Peter 1:2). They abstain from sexual immorality «For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: », (1 Thessalonians 4:3). They understand they have been “called to be his holy people” «unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: », (1 Corinthians 1:2).

To be sanctified means that God has been at work in our lives. Under the Old Testament Law, the blood of a sacrifice was required to set things apart unto God: “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood” «And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. », (Hebrews 9:22). Blood was sprinkled on tabernacle furniture, on priestly clothing, and on people. Nothing was considered sanctified until it had come in contact with the blood. This was a picture of the spiritual application of Christ’s blood for our salvation—we are “sprinkled with his blood” «elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. », (1 Peter 1:2). Just as the temple of old was sanctified for God’s use, our bodies, temples of the Holy Spirit, are set apart forGod’s holy purposes “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”, (1 Corinthians 6:19).

To be sanctified means that God’s Word has had an impact on us. It is “through the word” that God purifies us and makes us holy (Ephesians 5:26; John 17:17).

God invites us sinners to come to Him “just as we are” and receive His mercy and forgiveness. When we are saved, the Holy Spirit begins His remarkable work of transforming us into the image and likeness of Christ. To be sanctified means that God loves us too much to let us remain the same.

The apostle’s prayer is for all believers, everywhere: “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” “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.”, (1 Thessalonians 5:23).