WE BELIEVE THAT SANCTIFICATION IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD, WE ARE MADE PARTAKERS OF HIS HOLINESS; THAT IT IS A PROGRESSIVE WORK; THAT IT IS BEGUN IN REGENERATION; AND THAT IT IS CARRIED ON IN THE HEARTS OF BELIEVERS BY THE PRESENCE AND POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE SEALER AND COMFORTER, IN THE CONTINUAL USE OF THE APPOINTED MEANS – ESPECIALLY, THE WORD OF GOD, SELF-EXAMINATION, SELF-DENIAL, WATCHFULNESS, AND PRAYER.
I. “WE BELIEVE THAT SANCTIFICATION IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD, WE ARE MADE PARTAKERS OF HIS HOLINESS.”
2. He tells them it is God’s will for them to be sanctified.
3. Saved people become partakers of God’s holiness by sanctification.
2. The words “saint, sanctuary, holiness, and sanctification” are from the same root work, which means “to set apart”, or “to cause to pass over”.
3. By comparing Exodus 13:2, with Exodus 13:12, we get the Bible meaning of the word sanctify.
b. In verse 12 the same command is repeated but instead of the word sanctify, the words “set apart” (margin: ‘‘to cause to pass over”) are used.
c. The thought is that of separating from and setting apart to or causing to pass over to.
d. The firstborn Israelite was separated from the other children in the home and considered the peculiar possession of the Lord on the ground that the death angel passed over the house, sparing the fate of the first-born Egyptian. (C. D. Cole)
2. Ruth the Moabitess sanctified (set aside) herself for honorable purposes.
3. Rahab the harlot was set aside for evil, then set aside for good.
4. Isaiah 66:17 “They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the garden behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together saith the Lord.”
b. The word “purify” speaks of ceremonial cleansing, not actual (spiritual) cleansing.
c. It is obvious that the appearance of purity can be vastly different from actual purity.
2. A car could be “set aside” (sanctified) for racing. This car should not be driven on the street.
b. Hebrews 13:12 states, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”
c. II Peter 1:2 states, “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.”
d. All of the above verses speak about our being separated unto God for the salvation of the spirit; the forgiveness of sins.
b. The remainder of this message will be to explain progressive sanctification as taught in the Bible.
c. Ephesians 2:8-10 gives the proper progression of sanctification.
2) Salvation of the spirit is entirely a work of grace from God.
3) After salvation, we save our lives by obeying God’s Biblical commands.
4) Philippians 2:12 – We “work out” (perform, accomplish, or achieve) our spiritual salvation in these physical bodies (which is the salvation of the life – the salvation of the body is accomplished at the resurrection).
2. I John 1:8-10 states, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
3. I spoke to a young lady one time that told me she doesn’t sin any more.
b. To her, a sin was against God, while a mistake is an error of the flesh that affects only people.
c. A mistake is physical, fleshly, and has nothing at all to do with the spirit.
d. A mistake would be turning left when you intended to turn right.
e. A mistake would be saying one thing, but you meant to say another.
f. Those things are mistakes, they are not sins.
g. But if God told you to do one thing and you did another, or you did not follow him perfectly in this body, that is a sin.
b. These verses are speaking about the eternal spirit, not the temporary body or mind.
c. These verses do not contradict I John 1:8 and 10.
d. These verses can give the believer much confidence in this life, while never relating the thought of sinless perfection.
2. Eternal – Hebrews 10:14 states, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
b. He is eternally perfect.
b. The love of God will cause us to have boldness in the day of judgment.
c. There is no need for the saved, scripturally baptized, progressively sanctified person to have fear of the judgment.
d. Because as he is, so are we in this world.
2. II Corinthians 7:1 – “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
3. II Corinthians 13:9 – “For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.”
4. Ephesians 1:4 – “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
2. Proverbs 4:18 states “The path of the just is as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Progressive sanctification)
3. II Peter 1:5-18 – Believers are to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ and this is what sanctification is, growing in the things of God and getting away from the things of the world.
2. Hebrews 6:1 – “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”
3. Philippians 3:12-16 – “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”
2. The Spirit of God who brings about the New Birth keeps on working in the life of the saved.
3. Those who profess to be saved and continually and habitually practice sin have never been born again!
b. An increased desire for the Word will mean a decrease in the desire for sin.
3. Romans 8:5 “They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
b. The Spirit of God works in us the grace to work it out.
2. Philippians 1:9-11 – “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”
3. Ephesians 1:13-14 – “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
4. Ephesians 4:11-12 – “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
5. I Peter 2:2 – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
6. II Peter 3:18 – “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
7. II Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”
8. Luke 11:35 – “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.”
9. Luke 9:23 – “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
10. Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
11. Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
12. Ephesians 4:30 – “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”