2. To cleanse from corruption; to purify from sin.
Sanctification.-The act of making holy.-Webster.
Holy.-Whole, entire, or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper, and disposition; free from sin, and sinful affections.
Holiness.-The state of being holy.-Webster.
In the above definitions, the following facts are clearly set forth: (1) That sanctification, holiness, and perfection are synonymous terms referring to the same experience. (2) That all who have attained to this grace or experience are fully delivered from inbred depravity. This is in perfect harmony with God's word. Holiness and sanctification are both derived from the word hagiasmos, in the Greek; hence, signify the same state.
Perfection, as applied to redeemed souls, denotes the complete moral restoration of man from the effects of the fall. It is the state of being freed from sin. This state is entered by the work of sanctification. "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us."-Heb. 10:14, 15. Christ "sanctifies the people with his own blood."-Heb. 13:12. And the "blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin."-1 John 1:7. In harmony with the above, we will use these terms interchangeably.
Sanctification Taught
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." - 1 Pet. 3:15.
"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. ... Neither pray I for these [the disciples] alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." - John 17:16-20.
"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification." -1 Thess. 4:3.
"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth." -- 2 Thess. 2:13.
"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." -Psalms 29:2.
"Be ye holy; for I am holy."-1 Peter 1:16.
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord."-Heb. 12:14.
"For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."-1 Thess. 4:7.
"Walk before me, and be thou perfect."-Gen. 17:1.
"Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God."-Deut. 18:13.
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."-Matt. 5:48.
"Finally, brethren, . . . be perfect."-1 Cor. 13:11. "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."-2 Cor. 7:1.
"Go on unto perfection."-Heb. 6:1.
In these texts the following truths are clearly taught:
1. That it is the will of God for all believers to be sanctified.
2. That God calls all believers to sanctification.
3. That Jesus prayed the Father to sanctify all believers.
4. That all believers are positively commanded to attain to this experience.
5. That without this experience, no man shall see the Lord.
Provisions for.
God is just and reasonable. He would not demand of us what we could not attain to. By examining the Word we find that perfect provisions have been made for the sanctification of God's people.
1. God himself. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."-1 Thess. 5:23, 24. "Now the God of peace, . . . make you perfect."-Heb. 13:21. "It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect."-Psa. 18:32. "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me."-Psa. 138:8.
2. The Word. "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth." "That they also might be sanctified through the truth."-John 17:17, 19. "All scripture is given . . . that the man of God may be perfect," etc.- 2 Tim . 3:16, 17.
3. The Ministry. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints."-Eph. 4:11, 12.
4. Faith. "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." -Acts 26:18. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."-Heb. 12:2.
5. The Holy Ghost. "That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost."-Rom. 15:16.
6. The Blood of Christ. "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified."-Heb. 10:14. "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ."-Heb. 13:20, 21. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate."-Heb. 13:12.
Surely man is without excuse, since such provision is made for his entire sanctification. Believer, is your soul hungering and thirsting for a deeper experience; for more fullness of joy ? If so, look at the foregoing provisions made to give you an experience that will satisfy every longing desire of your heart. Think of it! God the Father, the inspired Word, the living ministry, the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, his perfect sacrifice, and precious blood, all vouchsafe to you this wonderful experience. We further call the reader's attention to the fact that all the above scriptures teach directly opposite to sanctification being received by a gradual growth.
Effects of
The terms "sanctification" and "perfection" very often stagger people because they take too broad a view of them. Sanctification does not make us perfect Gods; but perfect people here on earth. Yet it does not make us so perfect that we cannot err in judgment, or make a mistake. It does not place us where we are never tried or tempted, or can never backslide. No. Let no one get that idea. But we do affirm that it makes us perfectly free from sin -pure, "even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3); "righteous, even as he is." Read Matt. 6:33; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 3:7. And, thank God, this experience can be retained and lived "all the days of our life," on condition that we obey God.
"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate."- Heb. 13:12. "For if the blood of bulls, and of goats, . . . sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ . . . purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God!"-Heb. 9:13, 14. "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.
"Knowing this, that our old man carnal nature] is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."-Rom. 6:6.
"For he that is dead ["dead with Christ," ver. 8] is freed from sin."-Ver. 7. "For in that he died, he died unto sin once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."-Ver. 10, 11. "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."-Ver. 18. "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"-Ver. 2.
Could any language more emphatically teach absolute freedom from sin? This experience restores the soul in the perfect image of God. All who attain to this "precious faith" partake of the "divine nature" (2 Peter 1:1, 3, 4); namely, are "partakers of his holiness."-Heb. 12:10. "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."-Eph. 4:23, 24. "Ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."-Col. 3:9, 10.
Here we see that the image of God is "righteousness and true holiness." This image is restored in full salvation. We are "made the righteousness of God in him [Christ Jesus]."-2 Cor. 5:21. "For we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."-2 Cor. 3:18. First, we are raised from guilt and shame, into the glory of justification; and from that degree of glory we are changed into the fullness of his glory, into the very image of the glory of the Lord. From "glory to glory." This is not received by a transition from earth to heaven, but "by the Spirit of the Lord." He is the sanctifier. Rom. 15:16.
Sanctification also effects a perfect unity among the people of God. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.... That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one."-John 17:17, 21- 23. "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren."-Heb. 2:11.
Carnality is the root of all sectism and division. 1 Cor. 3:1-3. Sanctification takes out this "root" (Read Heb. 12:15; Matt. 13:15), and thus removes the cause. The result is, God's people flow together in a perfect unity. The fruits of this unity are: "one heart and one soul" (Acts 4:31-33); "one mind" (2 Cor. 13:11; 1 Pet. 3:8); "all speak the same thing" (1 Cor. 1:10); all have "one faith" (Eph. 4:5, 6), "one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17); all "strive together" (Phil 1:27), "rejoice together" (1 Cor. 12:26), "assemble together" (Heb. 10:25), and "see eye to eye" (Isa. 52:8). All belong to but "one" organized body, or church-the "church of God." Read John 10:16; Rom. 12:4, 5; Eph. 4:4; Col. 1:24.
Weighed by the above scriptures, sectarian holiness professors are found wanting, and will be wanting in the day of judgment. But in order to cover their "nakedness" these professors say, "We are one in spirit; one internally, but not one externally." Shame on such crookedness. They profess to be one in spirit, but confess that they outwardly bear the fruits of division. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Jesus prayed for a unity among his people that would be outwardly manifested, so "that the world might believe."
The secret of this unity is, "God above all, and through all, and in you all;" and "God is love." Eph. 4:6; 1 John 4:8. "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love."-Col. 2:2. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." -John 13:35. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" - Rom. 8:35.
Time of Receiving
There are different ideas extant in the world concerning the time of receiving this experience. Some say, at death; others, in death; and there are those who place it at the resurrection. This being an important point, we will carefully examine the Word upon it. Sanctification is a state of grace included in God's uttermost salvation, and the Word plainly tells us that the time to receive it is "now." 2 Cor. 6:2. When Jesus prayed for the sanctification of all believers, he said, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world" [That was not the object.] "but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." -John 17:15. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."-1 Thess. 5:23.
The coming of our Lord will be the hour of the general resurrection of all the dead. 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; John 5:28, 29. This being true, the above scripture positively refutes the theory that sanctification is received in the resurrection, or is only attainable at death. It clearly teaches that God bestows his sanctifying grace upon man here, and that it preserves him, body, soul, and spirit from all evil, even "unto" the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, the retaining of this experience is conditional. On the part of man perfect obedience is required. Again, we have already clearly proved that in sanctification man is perfectly delivered from all inbred depravity or sin, and is restored into the perfect image of God.
The question under consideration is, When is this attainable ? Let the Word answer. "But now [not at death, in death, or at the resurrection] being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."-Rom. 6:22. "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."-Ver. 18. "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead ["dead with Christ," verses 8 and 10] is freed from sin."-Ver. 6, 7. "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"-Ver. 2.
"Little children, let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness, is righteous, even as he [God] is righteous." -1 John 3:7. Where? Ans.-"For the grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." -Tit. 2:11, 12. "And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he [God] is pure."-1 John 3:3. Where? Ans.-"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world."-1 John 4:17. "The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life."-Luke 1:73-75.
We could multiply texts of scripture, but we deem these sufficient. We will now notice that men in the past have attained to this experience, and lived it in this world. Paul writing to the Corinthian brethren addressed them thus: "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints."-1 Cor. 1:2. "But ye are sanctified . . . by the Spirit of our God." -1 Cor. 6:11. While many of the Corinthian brethren were "yet carnal," some of them had gone on to the "second grace" and were sanctified.
Jude addressed his epistle to sanctified saints. "Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctifiedby God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ and called."-Jude 1.
"Howbeit, we speak wisdom among them that are perfect."-1 Cor. 2:6. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation."-1 Pet. 2:9. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling."- Heb. 3:1. "I charge you by the Lord, that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren."-1 Thess. 5:27.
Paul's testimony. "Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded."-Phil. 3:15. "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"-Rom. 6:2. "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and unblamably, we behaved ourselves among you that believe." -1 Thess. 2:10. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."-Gal. 2:20.
God is no respecter of persons. His salvation is for "all people." It is placed on record that men in the past were sanctified, and lived holy and unblamable lives in this present world; and, thank God, this experience is attainable, and can be lived, and enjoyed today: "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." -Acts 2:39.
Sanctification Fits Us For Heaven
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."-Heb. 12:14. "Peace be pursuing, and sanctification, without which no one shall see the Lord."-Revised, Rotherham's, and Interlinear Translations. "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."-Matt. 5:8. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace."-Psa. 37:37. "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world."-1 John 4:17 "So an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."-2 Peter 1:11.
Before closing this chapter, I believe it will be to the glory of God to answer a few questions, which very often arise in the minds of those seeking light.
No. 1 Question-Since infants have hereditary sin in their hearts (and no sin can enter heaven), how can such be saved who die in infancy?
No. 2 Question-People who were justified, and lived to all the light they had, yet died without having light on sanctification-are they lost?
No. 3 Question-Can a person retain an experience of justification, and refuse or neglect to seek the experience of entire sanctification, when they have received proper light upon it?
Answer to No. 1--They are in a state of innocency, and are not accountable. Though possessed with an unrighteous nature, for this they are not responsible. It is hereditary. It came through the fall. The blood of Christ atones for this sin, and the child sweeps through to Glory. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." -John 1:29. All children who die in infancy are saved. Jesus said, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven."