What is Sanctification? It is the second blessing, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the witness of the Spirit.
Matthew 3:11: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
Sanctification is the second blessing. John came first, preaching repentance and baptizing those who believe in water. The water was an outward symbol for an inward cleansing. A cleansing of sins committed. Jesus came preaching repentance, and telling the people of the bread of life (John 6:35), of living water (John 7:38), of the Holy Ghost (John 14:26), and power after the Holy Ghost has come (Acts 1:8). This baptism of the Holy Ghost would follow after repentance. It is not a natural consequence of repentance, it is not coupled with repentance. It does not begin at repentance. It is a second, distinct blessing that must follow repentance. It must be sought after you have repented, sought as a necessary work of God in your life that will save you from sin and hell. For no one is truly saved at repentance, you are only saved when you are sanctified, and you are sanctified when you are baptized by the Holy Ghost. Jesus said that ye must be born again, and to be born again takes the water (repentance), and the Spirit (sanctification). Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5).
2 Timothy 1:13-14: “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”
The Holy Spirit dwells within a believer that has repented, surrendered, and invited the Holy Spirit to come in. The Holy Ghost dwelling within is the power of Christ dwelling within, and that power can keep you from sin. Repenting and living without the Holy Spirit will yield only more repenting. Sinning and repenting, condemnation and recommitting. Repenting and being sanctified by the Holy Ghost will yield holiness of heart, and holiness of life. It will free you from all sin; namely the will to, want to, and practice of sinning. It will keep you free from sin.
Hebrews 10:14-17: “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”
The Word and the Witness guide the life of a sanctified person. It is no longer what I say, or my family says, or even what my church says; but what does Christ say? The law is no longer on tables of stone, but it is written on our hearts. Spoken to us by the Word and the Witness. The Holy Ghost dwelling on the inside, testifying to us that we are children of God, joint heirs with Christ. That we have been redeemed, and are walking in the light of the truth of the gospel. That we are citizens of heaven, and pilgrims on earth. It is our evidence of fellowship, unity with Christ, and assurance of a home in heaven.
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