The Process of Sanctification

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
 

Dear Friends and Members of IBC,

After our baptism service on Sunday, I thought it might be profitable to talk about further steps in the Christian-walk. The process of being sanctified is an important, lifelong one, that it is helpful for us to have some understanding of.

There are probably some words that we hear quite a lot at church, but are never completely sure what they mean. I would guess that one of these words is ‘sanctification’ or ‘sanctified’. Sanctification and holiness are quite closely related. In the Old Testament, we see that God required the Israelites to keep many laws before they could bring a sacrifice, serve in the temple, or be together in a community, as a way of showing that they were holy, that they were set apart. This was also the same for certain tools and objects that were used in the temple. To sanctify something means to set it apart for a special purpose.

Now, there are two things to try and grasp. Firstly, as Christians, we have already been sanctified, we have already been made holy – “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). So, in one sense, sanctification is an event, something definite that has already happened. When God looks at you, He sees what His Son Jesus has already done for you and declares you righteous. You have been made holy. But secondly, sanctification is also a process, you are progressively being made holy – “for by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14). God has set you apart, and He is now in the process of making you more into the image of His Son Jesus.

The process of sanctification is one in which you are slowly being made into what you already are.

We have a part in this sanctifying process. When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, when we are shown parts of our lives that are not pure, not blameless, that we want to keep for our own pleasure, then we have the responsibility to turn from these areas, and put sin to death. We confess our sins when we realise them, and joyfully accept His forgiveness. We pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to grow in godliness, to help us live according to His Word, and to obey God’s commands. We deny our selfish desires and choose to think of others, instead of ourselves. Understanding that we have a part to play in subduing the sin in our lives and then choosing to act accordingly is an important step for renewed followers of Jesus.

God loves us so much that He won’t allow us to settle for the fleeting pleasures that we are often so easily pleased with. He is like a Master Silversmith who won’t stop until He sees His own image reflected back on the silver coin that He is making.

God bless you
James