Sanctification: a change of service – to God (John 13:1-17) (Joshua 24:14-15)

Definition of the term:  Sanctification is a two-fold doctrine and can be understood better in this manner:

(a)  Immediate Sanctification – consecrated, set apart for sacred use or service.  (John 10:36)

(b) Progressive Sanctification – purify afresh; make Holy. (1 Corinthians 6:11) (John 17:17)

John 13:10 – “Jesus saith to him, “He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.”

There are two different Greek words used in this verse for the word we have in the King James Version Bible as “…washed…” and “…wash…”.  The first word simply means, ‘The big bath’; the second word could be understood as, ‘The tidy-up wash’.

(a) Washed:  This denotes being bathed completely spotless; sanctified; set apart for sacred service to God – and it’s a ‘…once for all time…’ wash. (Hebrews 10:10)

We are cleansed from all sin by the precious Blood of Christ Jesus.   (Titus 3:3-6) (1 Peter 1:18-19)

We are PASSIVE in this act of God’s sanctification; it is done according to His free grace.  (Ezekiel 36:22-23) (Hebrews 10:3-25)  Praise God!

Sanctification:  Sanctification in this ABSOLUTE sense is performed by God in His gracious act of Salvation – we are ‘born again’. (John 3:3-8) (Jonah 2:9)

Christ’s righteousness is imputed unto us by God-given faith. (John 6:37) (Acts 4:12)

This act of Sanctification has primarily to do with the believer’s STANDING before God, in Christ Jesus.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The believer is thus deemed PERFECT, sinless; not guilty; Holy; righteous; etc.; a son or a daughter of God; joint-heirs with Christ; beloved of the Father; with immediate access to God in prayer and acceptance before God’s Holy throne of grace – a new creature in Christ indeed!  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour!  Praise His gracious Name! Amen.  (Hebrews 7:25)

(b) Wash:  This word denotes being washed (or purified afresh) DAILY, as we walk as pilgrims through this barren land.  We are personally and individually ACTIVE in this progressive sanctification process.             (John 15:3) (Galatians 6:5)

Therefore, this sense of PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION implies the sense of having a daily tidying up; a constant cleansing exercise which must continually follow the main bath to keep the believer Spiritually clean in his/her actual STATE.  It is therefore, the believer himself who is held responsible for this sense of his/her SANCTIFICATION. The Lord commands us as believers: “Be ye Holy for I am Holy.”  (1 Peter 1:16)
(1 Peter 3:10-16)

Practical Reality of Sanctification:  In our State we are, and shall always remain, “…unprofitable servants…”. (Romans 3:10;22-23)               (Romans 7:14-24)  (Luke 17:10)

Sin separates us from God’s Holy fellowship – but NOTHING can ever separate us from His Family!  (Isaiah 59:1-2) (Romans 8:28-39)

We, as born again, Spiritually regenerate believers have a STANDING in Christ.  However, if there is unconfessed sin, or consistent impurity of habits, in the believer’s life – the believer shall seldom receive real Spiritual power to serve the risen Lord Jesus.  (Hebrews 12:14) (Acts 1:8)   (Ephesians 5:18)

Holy Spiritual power to serve the Lord Almighty will only be imparted to those who are sincerely seeking to sanctify themselves to receive it!  Therefore, be Holy, “…be filled with the Spirit.”  (Ephesians 5:18)

We must strive to be:
                 (a) ‘…vessels of honour…’. (2 Timothy 2:15-21)                
                 (b) ‘…conformed to Christ – not the world.’. (Romans 12:1-2)

Question: How do born again believers PREPARE to be filled with the Spirit?
Answer:  By PROGRESSIVELY SANCTIFYING the vessel (i.e. our hearts) desiring to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

Conclusion:

Sanctification: Sanctification is, therefore, a two-way doctrine.  God sanctifies us once for all time in our STANDING before Him and in His Holy sight – by clothing us in Christ Jesus.  (Hebrews 12:14)      (Habakukk 1:13)

Our duty thereafter then, as Christians, is to progressively, “…grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  – as to our actual STATE daily. (2 Peter 3:18) (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When the almost inevitable sins do come into our lives, and cause a hindrance to our fellowship, service, and worship – they must be:

(a) confessed: (1 John 1:7-9) (Psalm 51:5)

(b) forsaken:   (Philippians 3:1-10)

(c) and the vessel ‘washed’: (Ephesians 5:26) (John 15:3)

Prayer and the Word:

Prayer to God and the Word of God are the Christian’s passport to a CLOSE SANCTIFIED walk with the Lord God.  We must keep short accounts with God concerning personal sins; and be SANCTIFIED daily by Bible study and quiet times in God’s Holy Presence.  (Psalm 16:11)

In the above manner, we shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost, as promised, to win souls for the Master – Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 11:30)

Our lives shall then be victorious lives of personal sanctification.  We shall have continual victory over Satan, and self, and sin.  (Exodus 17:8-16)

Go to then, Blood-bought Christian warrior, live in this Scriptural state of Sanctification.  Amen, and amen.  Praise God, amen.