Authors Note: The following outline was inspired by a lecture by Marty Pickup during the 1996 Florida Lectures. Much of the material in the first part of the outline is derived in part from a review of that lecture. The applications at the end of the lesson are my own. I believe that an application of the fundamental principle of Sanctification would go a long way toward solving the moral and doctrinal problems that presently trouble the people of God. It is to a very great extent a failure to recognize and heed the call to holiness which is the cause for the present troubles. As such, I believe the following study to be important and timely.
Introduction:
I. A study of the theme of Sanctification:
- A. It is both extremely interesting, and very practical for us.
B. We live in an unclean, unholy society
C. We are called to be sanctified (separate) as children of God
(II Corinthians 6:17-18) Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.’
- D. I am convinced that a thorough understanding of sanctification, and an acceptance of the obligations it entails for us will go a long way to solving many of the problems that are found among God’s people today!
1. Let us begin by understanding that the the blessing of sanctification experienced by us as Christian far outstrips that found under the Old Covenant God had with Israel
Hebrews 9:13-14, For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
2. Additionally, that greater blessing bestows upon us greater responsibility
Hebrews 2:1-4, Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
3. This will be important as we describe the concept of sanctification as revealed in the Old Testament, and then make applications to our lives as Christians
Discussion:
I. Definition: Sanctification
A. Sanctify – (hagiazo) To render or declare sacred or holy, consecrate… (2) to separate from things profane and dedicate to God to consecrate (Thayer)
B. Sanctification – (hagiasmos) “…is used of (a) separation to God… (b) the course of life befitting those so separated…” (Vine)
C. Sanctification should be viewed in two senses
1. An absolute sense, as a completed activity. A Christian is sanctified, or set apart
2. A relative sense, as a process that continues with a view to service. In effect, because a Christian has been set apart from the world as holy, his life must be an example of sanctification
(II Corinthians 7:1), Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Note: for further study on this point, please see Neo-Calvinism In The Church of Christ, edited by Tom Roberts. pages 4-45)
II. The Holiness of God
- A. The Bible speaks of the holiness of God many times, it is His Nature
1. A defining characteristic of God, perhaps above all others in emphasis in the Old Testament
Isaiah 6:3, And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
2. He is unique in his Holiness. The Bible never speaks of God as becoming Sanctified. Holiness is not something God attained. It is not something he can lose. It is what He is!
Exodus 15:11, “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
B. He is different from all other living things in a number of important ways
1. He only has a divine nature
Isaiah 43:10 10 “You are My witnesses,” says the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.“
2. He alone is holy in power. When God exerts His divine power, he demonstrates His holiness
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
3. He is morally perfect
James 1:13, Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
C. God alone is intrinsically holy. However, other things (and people) can attain a measure of holiness, derived from God
1. This is called sanctification… God setting something or someone apart as holy, in order to serve him. We must recognize that this is God’s purpose for us as Christians
III. Sanctification in the Old Testament
- A. Things sanctified (set apart as holy) by God
1. Lord’s Word, angels, heaven, mountains and cities where God appeared, etc. (cf. Ps. 105:42; Deut. 26:15; Job 15:15; Ex. 3:5
2. Nation of Israel (As God’s chosen people)
Exodus 19:5-6, ‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
3. Certain ones among the Israelites: Priests, prophets, kings. (cf. Ex. 30:29-30; 2 Kings 4:9; Ps. 16:10) Nazarites (Num. 6:8). The firstborn, both man and beast (Ex. 13:2)
4. The sanctuary of God (Both Tabernacle and Temple) Perhaps most visible symbol of holiness
“Non-Israelites had to keep their distance from the sanctuary. Israelite laymen could approach to a designated point. The priests could enter the sanctuary itself, but they were forbidden from going into the most holy place. On the Day of Atonement the high priest was permitted to enter the inner sanctum, but his duties there were brief and came only once a year. If the high priest entered at any other time, he would die (Lev. 16). In reality, therefore, even the holiest person in Israel was excluded from the presence of the Lord. The sanctuary in Israel was both a symbol of God’s desire to dwell with man and, at the same time, a constant reminder of sinful man’s exclusion from God.”
(Martin Pickup, Sanctified in Christ, Florida Lectureship Book, 1996, page 32)
B. A very clear emphasis in the Old Testament of the difference between the holy and the unholy
1. Clean and unclean animals (cf. Lev. 11)
2. Touching a dead body, leprosy, giving birth, certain biological conditions made a person unclean (cf. Lev. 12, 15)
Note: Being and unclean person resulted in exclusion from the community… It was a serious thing… In this condition, it was unlawful to worship at God’s sanctuary.
3. Sowing two different seeds in the same field, yoking together different kinds of animals, (cf. Deut. 22:9-11; Lev. 19:19)
Note: Some of the above we would have trouble understanding as unacceptable. Some would not be considered inherently wrong. Nevertheless, it was proscribed by God under the national law of the Jews. One was considered IMPURE, and unworthy to be presented before God in that state!
- C. Another type of uncleaness, SIN1. An Israelite became impure when he sinned against His God!
Psalm 106:39, Thus they were defiled by their own works, And played the harlot by their own deeds.
Isaiah 64:6, But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
2. A sad fact is that the history of Israel is marred by continual, flagrant rebellion against God
D. Unholy conditions necessitated either Sanctification, or Judgment
1. God could, and often did sanctify His people, by cleansing them of their defilements
2. Whether it was ceremonial uncleanness, or moral impurity, sin and guilt offerings had to be offered
Leviticus 5:1-6, ‘If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter — if he does not tell it, he bears guilt. ‘Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, he also shall be unclean and guilty. ‘Or if he touches human uncleanness — whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it — when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty. ‘Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it — when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters. ‘And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing; ‘and he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him
3. Interesting that no distinction was made in this matter between the ceremonial uncleanness, and moral sin in this matter
4. The Message: GOD’S PEOPLE MUST BE HOLY BEFORE HIM!
5. SOMETIMES, THE TRANSGRESSIONS WERE TOO GRAVE, TOO REBELLIOUS, AND IT BECAME NECESSARY (BECAUSE OF HIS NATURE) FOR GOD TO EXERCISE JUDGMENT
6. For crimes such as murder, homosexuality, incest, … punishment was death (no sacrifice)
7. Law of Moses contained no provision for the sanctification of those willful or defiant in their sin
8. God demonstrated His holiness in His judgments against Israel
Isaiah 5:16, But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.
9. NOTE: Israel’s status as “God’s chosen people” did not exempt them from God’s judgment, in fact, it made it all the more necessary
Amos 3:2, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
IV. Sanctification in the New Testament
A. The Old Testament serves as a teacher for us as we examine the concept of holiness in the New Covenant we have with God B. As Christians, we are saints (sanctified)
1 Corinthians 1:2, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1. Note, he called them sanctified, despite the fact that they were failing in their walk
2. In fact, the reason for his admonitions is that God had set them apart as holy for his service, and they were not living up to that calling
3. Christians are a special people
1 Peter 2:9, But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
4. If the call to holiness was so stringent in the Old Testament, are not our obligations even greater in the New?
Hebrews 2:1-4, Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
C. Sanctification in the New Testament means that you are set apart from sin, and dedicated to the service of Christ
Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
- D. There is a difference between the concept of holiness in the Old Testament and in the New Testament
1. The definition is much more narrow in the New Testament
2. It is only a spiritual covenant, not a national one as well
Matthew 15:10-20, When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? “Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. “These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
3. Remember the Lord’s injunction to Peter
Acts 10:15, And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”
4. The sphere of holiness in the New Testament has reference to morality, and obedience to the doctrine of Christ… not the ritualistic purity and impurity of the old
- E. Sanctification under the new covenant is of a higher order
Hebrews 9:13-15, For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
1. Therefore, the demand for holy behavior is also of a higher order
1 Peter 1:14-16, as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Ephesians 1:4, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
1 Timothy 2:8, I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
2 Corinthians 7:1, Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Romans 6:19, I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
V. The application: A Holy Life!
A. Morally
1. Social Drinking – Time and again I have forcefully brought home the sin of the use of alcohol and other drugs. Their are a number of arguments that proponents use to try to justify the so-called “moderate use of alcohol”. However, no man can be justified, in light of the call to holiness of God’s people, in supporting an industry or personally using a substance that has destroyed so many lives, and destroys so completely the Christian’s influence. DRINKING SOCIALLY IS SINFUL, AND VIOLATES GOD’S CALL TO SANCTIFICATION
2. Immoral Dress – Men and women, boys and girls, understand that you must not allow yourself to be swayed by fashion. Short hems, short shorts, tight fitting, sensual and slinky clothing. Clothing that has “sex appeal”, though often worn by Christians, is completely inappropriate. What you wear must not be mandated by what makes you look “good”, and brings the approval of society or the opposite sex, or even yourself. What determines acceptable and desirable dress is it’s acceptableness before the Almighty.
3. Mixed Swimming – Wearing bathing suits in public is immoral. It does not cover the body sufficiently to be considered moral attire. There is no justification for a Christian to be seen in public, or semi-private situations in such attire. I know of some Christian couples and friends who would not swim at a public pool, but will nevertheless dress this way in each other’s presence. I know also that it has led to other sins such as marital infidelity. It is without justification as we see God’s call to holiness.
4. Dancing – Moving the body in the lascivious motions of the modern dance. Holding closely the opposite sex with the accompaniment of music. This is immoral. It is impure. Rationalizations abound (often spouted by young Christians who want to participate). The movie a few years back, titled “Dirty Dancing”, explains it well. Why is it that the world recognizes the sensual, sexual nature of the dance, while Christians sometimes seek to deny it? God calls us to holiness!
5. Gambling – This is rapidly becoming a scourge on our society, and it will work its evil among many in the Lord’s body as well. Once again, the world recognizes the evil of gambling,and revels in it. It is a “vice”, and leads to addiction, broken homes, ruined lives. It is not to be countenanced by children of God.
6. Man/Woman Relationships – Men and women, both married and unmarried. You must be completely virtuous in your relationships with one another. Familiarity and coarseness, the unwise cultivation of close friendships and relationships with the opposite sex separate from your spouse, even simply being “alone” in various situations. All of these constitute unwise practices which can lead to lasciviousness and sexual sin. Remember this: No Christian MEANS to allow such things to happen. The call to sanctification demands fleeing temptation and the appearance of evil. This is among the greatest dangers of our permissive society. I can call to mind many situations that I am personally aware of (among Christians): Affairs, Lascivious actions, premarital pregnancies, apostasies. And ALL OF THEM THOUGHT THEY COULD HANDLE IT!! You Can’t! Be true to your God, and flee those dangerous situations.
B. Reverence at Worship
1. Tardiness – Seldom is tardiness excusable, and yet it is habitual to many. It shows a lack of dedication. We are set apart as holy for service to God, tardiness shows a lack of caring.
2. Inattention at Bible Study and Worship – Same as above. Shows a lack of care for the special time we have together as His called out people
3. Dress – Especially when before the congregation (Special dress for the priests)
4. Decorum during the Lord’s Supper – What is a special and solemn activity should not be marred by inattentive and disruptive behavior
C. Doctrinal Purity
1. Much sophistry is presently being propagated by those who wish to fellowship false teachers, and those who persist in certain sins. This call for toleration in an of itself violates God’s call to sanctification. Accept no explanation of any text, or any technical argument which violates this most basic of tenets. God’s people must appear pure before Him! Any doctrine which teaches otherwise is inherently false, and should be exposed!
1 Thessalonians 5:23, Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: The Bible’s message to sinful man:
Hebrews 12:14, Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
