SANCTIFICATION.

Source?: www.booksataglance.com

Sanctification is another work of God’s grace in salvation, which takes place in the heart of the sinner the moment he is born again. Before going to the cross, Jesus prayed for the sanctification of His disciples.

What is sanctification?

a. Sanctification means to set apart something or somebody for holy use. In salvation God through the Holy Spirit set those who accepted Christ apart for Himself, and plant in them the principle of holy living, hatred to sin, worldly system of living and love for righteous living.

b. Sanctification also means to make holy, to clean from sins and moral corruption, so that the believer will be prepared for divine service and partaking of holy things. Sanctification involves the total person, that is, his soul, spirit and body (will, intellect and emotion).

How does it happen?

Positional sanctification takes place the moment a sinner is saved; God sets him apart for himself on the ground of Christ’s sanctification. 1 Corinthians 1:30;

Progressive sanctification has to do with spiritual development. At conversion one is made holy (or perfect), but in his daily life he will be striving for perfection.

Look at what Apostle Paul has to say about it:

I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. All of us who have grown to be spiritually mature should think this way too. And if there is any of this that you don’t agree with, God will make it clear to you. Philippians 3:12-15 (ERV)

After the rapture when the entire body of Christ is caught up; all our imperfections are made perfect by his enduring grace. This corrupt body shall then put on incorruption. The bible says we shall be like Christ at his appearance.

Beloved, sanctification is progressive. It is expected of us to mortify the deeds of corruption on our body as Apostle Paul said.

In Galatians 2:20, Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

This changes everything!