Sanctification - Day Four

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

According to this verse from Hebrews, sanctification is not a choice that Christians can choose if they would like it, but rather it is a requirement. Without it, we will be separated from God.

The idea of sanctification is not a New Testament only idea. It was God's will for the Israelites in the Old Testament as well. They were to live holy or sanctified lives, separated from the lifestyles of the nations around them. Look at these verses:

you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
Exodus 19:6

As part of God's purpose for the Israelites in bringing them out of Egypt, they were to be a "kingdom of priests" (i.e., set apart and consecrated fro God's service) and a "holy nation." Likewise, believers in Christ must be a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:5-9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10; 20:6) and a holy people, i.e., a people separated from the world's ungodly ways and walking in God's righteous ways and holy will. (Note from The Full Life Study Bible).

I like how this ties the Old Testament in with the new. Sanctification has always been God's will for His people. He longs for us to be set apart for Him.

The other part that struck me in this note is that we are to be "separated from the world's ungodly ways" and instead, "walking in God's righteous ways." So often I hear people say that it's impossible to "live in this world and not of it." That sin is just a part of life. Remember, we will be forgiven of our sins if we repent of them, but we do not have to sin. God wants us, through His Holy Spirit, to become stronger than the sin around us. Please don't wake up every morning expecting to sin. Yes, we all will sin, and God knows this, but don't use this as an excuse for your actions. If you are knowingly sinning, and continue in that sin, you are lying to yourself.

I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground.
Leviticus 11:44

The instructions concerning clean and unclean (i.e., proper and improper) food were given apparently for health reasons, but also as standards to help Israel remain a people separated from the ungodly society around them (Deuteronomy 14:1-2). These dietary instructions are no longer binding on New Testament believers, for Christ fulfilled their significance and purpose (Matthew 5:17; 15:1-20; Acts 10:14-15; Colossians 2:16; 1 Timothy 4:3). However, the principles embodied in those instructions are still valid today.

So what does this mean for us?

(1) Christians today must distinguish themselves from their surrounding society by eating, drinking, dressing so as to honor God with their bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20; 10:31), and by rejecting all unholy social customs of unbelievers. They must be "holy in all they do" (1 Peter 1:15).

(2) The detailed emphasis on ceremonial cleanliness highlighted the necessity of moral separation of God's people in thought and deed from the surrounding world (2 Corinthians 7:1). All aspects of life must be regulated by God's will (1 Corinthians 10:31). (Note from The Full Life Study Bible).

"Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
Leviticus 19:2

Because God's people must be like him, he calls them to express his divine nature by being separate from the ungodly customs and sins of the surrounding nations and by serving him in love and righteousness. This call to holiness was first given to Adam and Eve, who were created in God's image in order to reflect God's character (Genesis 1:26). Every generation of believers should "be imitators of God" (Ephesians 5:1) and "be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy" (Matthew 5:48; Romans 12:1-2). (Note from The Full Life Study Bible).

As you can see, God, from the very beginning, has wanted us to be sanctified! This is His will for us!

and said: "Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.
2 Chronicles 29:5

In order for God's people to experience revival and renewal, four things are indispensable:

(1) Confession of specific sins. We must recognize those areas of our lives where we have departed from God's will and word and must confess those specific sins (Psalm 51:3; Matthew 5:24).

(2) Purifying the house of the Lord. The church is God's house under the new covenant (2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Timothy 3:15). Whatever in the church's doctrine, worship and lifestyle, that clearly offends God's will as revealed in Scripture must be removed. Likewise, the individual believer, as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), must be purified from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

(3) Renewal of the covenant. We must renew our dedication to God, his kingdom and his righteous cause on earth, and we must express a sincere desire to turn from the evil of the world and to resist sin.

(4) Proclaim a blood sacrifice for atonement. We must appropriate by faith the blood atonement of Jesus Christ, who suffered on the cross to save and sanctify his people (Hebrews 9:11-14). (Note from The Full Life Study Bible).

In each of these verses, it is clear that God wanted his people to live holy and separate lives. I know it's hard to separate yourself from the world, but when you know that God wants you to live a life that is different than the rest of the world. He does not call us to live this separate life as a punishment, but so that He can protect us from personal hurt and destruction to our lives.