What Is Sanctification? It Is Christ

 Picking up from last week, endeavoring to unpack this topic of sanctification, and answer the question: What is Sanctification?  

It is Christ.  It is important to understand that the blessing of sanctification is the manifestation of Jesus Christ in the heart and lives of the Christian.  Listed below, I add a few verses to illustrate this, with accompanying comments.  

John 17:17-19: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

                    Mankind is sinful, God is holy, therefore we need a Savior.  Someone, or something, to bring us back to God.  Christ is/was that Savior.  Our salvation had to come through sacrifice.  Christ separated himself, sacrificed himself on the cross, so that we might be sanctified.  To be sanctified is to be separated unto God for a holy purpose.  Christ is the way, the truth and the life no man can come to the Father but by me (John 14:6).  He was sanctified, so that we might be sanctified, and we are sanctified through Him.  

Acts 26:18:  “ 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.”

To obtain an inheritance you need three things: first, the death of the testator (writer of the will and testament).  Second, you must be an heir (one who has the legal means to obtain the estate/inheritance), and finally, the executor (one who is responsible for following through on the terms of the testament).  Christ the author of the testament being the Word himself.  He is the death of the testator, dying on the cross of our sins.  He is the executor of the testament by the person of the Holy Spirit living in our hearts by faith.  Who grants unto us that we are heirs of God and joint heir through Christ.  All of this gives us an inheritance of the saints in light.  This is not possessed in part, but the whole when you possess the Holy Ghost.  It cannot be said that we are a child of God, and yet still sinning (Hebrews 10:26).  It cannot be said that we have the Holy Spirit and are committing sin (1 John 3:8).  It’s all or nothing.  Now or never.  If you hear his voice harden not your heart (Hebrews 3:15).  Unity with the Father comes through the Son, unity with the Son comes through the Holy Spirit, and the indwelling of the Spirit frees from all sin. Holiness within will produce holiness lived out, and this is sanctification.  Sanctification will set you apart for the service of God.  

Ephesians 3:16-17: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”

 Christ did the work, now we must place our faith in Him.  Faith is the currency of heaven.  The same faith that a child has, so must we.  Do you believe Christ is the Son of God?  Do you believe that he died for you?  That he was resurrected by the power of God?  That he ascended on high, and is at the right hand of the Father?  That he is ready to send the Holy Spirit to sanctify and dwell within your heart?  Repentance leads to forgiveness, and forgiveness prepares the inner man for the Holy Spirit.  By believing in Christ, you believe all that he said he is, and he said he is the spirit of truth, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost (John 14:16,26 & John 15:26).  Do you believe that he will dwell within to make you holy and keep you holy?   Holiness is taking Christ at his word. 

Colossians 1:27: “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

                     A sanctified person's hope shifts from the seen to the unseen.  From their strength to Christ’s strength.  They no longer "think" they are saved, but they know they are saved.  They have a hope that is secure, a confidence that is grounded in the risen Christ who is manifested by the Holy Spirit. A part of what is up there, abounding in your heart down here, which affirms that you're going there.  Jesus Christ on the inside to show us the way.  A Savior who teaches, guides, strengthens, and leads.  Who calls us to: "follow me."  Our hope of glory, and in this hope we trust.  

What is Sanctification?  It is Christ.  Christ in you the hope of glory.