Sanctification; Set Apart for God
The Continuing Work of the Holy Spirit

1.  The word "sanctify" means to "set apart."  The word "sanctified" is past tense.  It means something has been set apart.

2.  The Bible speaks of four different kinds of sanctification, because there are four different ways in which Christians are set apart.  

note:  Some people use the term "practical sanctification" instead of "personal sanctification."  I use the word "personal" because the Holy Spirit deals with each of us in very personal ways as individuals.  

3.  By preparatory sanctification we mean the sovereign work of God to set someone apart for His purposes before that person has ever been saved - or even before he has been born!  God said to Jeremiah,  "Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you as a prophet unto the nations."  (Jeremiah 1:5)  Similarly, Paul said, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood," (Galatians 1:15-16)  God set Jacob apart before he was born.  (Genesis 25:23)  Samson and John the Baptist were also set apart before they were even conceived!  (Judges 13:3-5) and (Luke 1:13-17)  Preparatory sanctification means the Holy Spirit prepares the hearts of people to receive God's salvation, and plan, and purpose for their lives.

4.  Before we go on to discuss the other ways in which Christians are set apart, we need to look at some of the things Jesus said about Himself.  He called Himself the One "Whom the Father sanctified, and sent into the world."  (John 10:36)  God set Jesus apart before the foundation of the world to do the work of redemption.  Jesus was completely obedient to His Father's will and set Himself apart for the same purpose.  "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."  (John 17:19)

5.  The instant you believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ - you were saved - and sanctified (set apart as belonging to God - for His purpose).  You were set apart by the Holy Spirit coming to live right inside of you, and God gave you a new heart.  Those were the terms of the New Covenant made by Jesus' blood.  You have been positioned in Christ.  (Ezekiel 36:26-27) This is called positional sanctification.     .  

"Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate (outside the city walls of Jerusalem)." (Hebrews 13:12)  "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."  (Hebrews 10:10)  

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians he said that they had been sanctified (I Corinthians 6:11)  But we know that many of them were still locked in habitual sins they just could not seem to overcome.  Paul said they were carnal (I Corinthians 3:3), but then he added, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."  (I Corinthians 12:13)  These Corinthians were believers, Christians, and saints - but they were not acting like it.  There were disputes and divisions among them.  They were covetous, and carnal.  Some apparently even got drunk on the communion wine (I Corinthians 11:20-21).  Yet God's grace was so great that they did not lose their position in Christ.  They were still sanctified - set apart as belonging to God.  Paul wrote, "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?"  (I Corinthians 6:19)

note:  The word "saint" means "one who has been set apart."  The believers at Corinth were saints, but they needed to grow.

6. That growth is called personal sanctification.  Personal sanctification is the continuing process by which a believer becomes more and more like Christ.  It is the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives conforming us to the image of God's Son.  "...till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;"  (Ephesians 4:13)  

It is this personal sanctification that is of utmost concern to every believer.  By the work of positional sanctification God has given us His Holy Spirit - and a new heart that wants to obey. But sometimes we just don't know how to obey.

7.  But the Bible tells us how.  It is by the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We have a Helper - a personal Advocate.

8.  The Holy Spirit, calls, gathers, enlightens, cleanses, keeps, and matures every true believer in Christ.  He does not let go of us.  He is the voice of the Good Shepherd.  He calls us by the gospel, gathers us into fellowship with other believers, comforts, guides, teaches, heals, and delivers us, and instills in us the ways of God.  If necessary, the Holy Spirit will also convict us of sin, and correct us.  

note:  God can use people to convict you of sin, but sometimes they are wrong.  Check with God's Spirit and with His Word.  Do not carry a false sense guilt.  You've been forgiven.  But... if any man does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ the righteous.

9.  As saints our position is in Christ.  Our condition needs to become the same. 

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification... (I Thessalonians 4:3)

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet ( fit ), for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.  Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."  (II Timothy 2:21-22)

10.  The Holy Spirit is always active in your life to make your condition more nearly the same as your position.  You need to let the Holy Spirit do His work.  Stop resisting Him. 

11. I think it is a good idea to keep in mind the purpose of our calling.  Remember that we were set apart for a purpose...  "That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."  I Peter 2:9 

12.  Do you mean that the purpose of becoming Christ-like is to proclaim the praises of Him who called me out of darkness into His marvelous light?  Yes, that's exactly it.  Personal sanctification has a purpose.  God's purpose is always redemptive.  

13.  God wants us to be like Christ in every way.  Not just in purity from sin, but also in love, and in extending ourselves to others, and in power, and in ability to set other people free.  Christ-likeness, is the goal.  (Sanctification is the continuing process)  God wants to take us that far, but our human nature continues to interfere.  Even Paul said that he hadn't arrived yet, but He would press on towards the goal.  (Philippians 3:12)  We can always get closer.  God wants us to know His love, His power, and His glory,  because He wants to use us to reach others.  That's why the Holy Spirit is so persistent and insistent.  

14.  Here's a story.

A pastor who had studied the Hebrew language went to Israel as a tourist.  He borrowed a car, but it broke down.  So he took it to a garage to be repaired.  After it was fixed, the mechanic said, "Your car has been sanctified, and made righteous."  Then he explained, "Your car now works the way it was meant to work."

The Holy Spirit is like that master mechanic.  He is the One who knows how we were meant to work.  We were meant to live in grace and glory.  But we don't know how.  We were meant to be for miracles, signs, and wonders.  But we don't know how.  We were meant to have unbroken fellowship with the Father - and with each other.  But we don't know how.  We were meant to walk in love.  But we don't know how. 

15.  Our shattered and broken lives need to be repaired.  How silly if the car fought back and said, "No, I don't want to be fixed."  But we are like that sometimes.  We would rather eat stale bread, than bread from heaven.  "The old wine is better," some say.  But they will never work the way they were meant to work. But what if we really badly want to be fixed?  Can we stop fighting against the Holy Spirit and let Him do His work?  Can we yield to Him?

16.  It helps to be in love with God.  Spend time with Him.  Give the Holy Spirit the freedom to do whatever He wants to do in your life.  You belong to God.  You were bought with a price.  

  • Reckon yourself to be dead to sin, but alive to God.  (Romans 6:11)
  • Be a hearer and doer God's Word  (Matthew 7:24-25) 
  • Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)
  • Walk in love (I Corinthians 16:14)
  • Practice the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)
  • Surrender your life, your will, and your mind to God. (Matthew 22:37)
  • Quench not the Spirit  (I Thessalonians 5:15)
  • Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God  (Ephesians 4:30)
  • Fight the good fight of faith  (II Timothy 4:7)
  • Remember what God has spoken to you.  (I Timothy 4:14-16)
  • Stay in fellowship (Hebrews 10:25)
  • Practice the gifts of the Spirit (I Timothy 4:16)
  • Let the Holy Spirit correct you, lead you, guide you, and teach you.
  • Let all bitterness go
  • Become obedient to every word of God
  • Be thankful

17.  When trials come your way, give God a chance to work.  That is one reason why God allows trials.  They are learning experiences.  How you respond to the trials is your witness to the world.  What is the Biblical response to death, attacks, tragedies, arguments, etc?  A friend of mine puts it this way.  "When the enemy makes an attack, don't run from God.  Run to Him."

note:  Not all trials come from God.  Sometimes things happen that are not of God.  Wars still happen, and shootings still take place.  "But now we do not yet see all things put under him." (Hebrews 2:8b). Yet even in these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, and spared not His own Son.

18.  In every difficult situation you can trust the Holy Spirit to work.  I know that He will, for He is faithful.  I know that He will give you joy, and peace.  There have been many times in my life when the Holy Spirit just took over.  To my surprise, I had wisdom beyond my years, or I had great faith, love, joy, peace, comfort, or understanding and counsel.  A good friend of mine says it this way,  "The Holy Spirit always shows up."  We can rely on Him.  Jesus said the Holy Spirit would "abide with you forever."  (John 14:16)

note:  Although personal sanctification requires my willing participation in the process, I am quite sure that the Holy Spirit does His work in spite of me most of the time.  He just gives me patience, faith, love, and trust etc.  It is of His grace.  I guess the essence of personal sanctification is this: stop fighting the Holy Spirit, and let Him do His work. 

19.  Last, but not least, the Bible speaks of perfect sanctification.  The day will come when we will stand perfected in heaven with Christ.

"Now unto Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy: To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever, Amen." Jude 24

This is not just a possibility.  It's a promise.  In fact, it is a written guarantee. 

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