1 Peter 1:2

Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

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What is Sanctification?

Sanctification means to make holy (i.e., morally pure, spiritually whole, separated from evil and dedicated to God and His purposes), to consecrate (i.e., to set apart) and to separate from the ungodly patterns and practices of the world. it involves being set apart from sin so as to have intimate companionship with God and serve Him effectively. In practical terms, sanctification involves an ongoing process of spiritual growth, development and maturity by which God refines us spiritually, prepares us for His purposes and involves us in His plans.

What Santification Entails

(1) In addition to the word "sanctify" (1Thessalonians 5:23), the Biblical standard of sanctification is expressed in such terms as "love the Lordyour God with all your heart ... soul ... mind" (Matthew 22:37), "blameless and holy" (1Thessalonians 3:13), "perfecting holiness" (2Corinthians 7:11), "love which comes froma pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1Timithy 1:5), "pure and blameless" (Philippians 1:10), "set free from sin" (Romans 6:18), "died to sin" (Romans 6:2), "in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness" (Romans 6:19), "obey His comands" (1John 3:22) and "overcomes the world" (1John 5:4). Such terms describe the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who accept God's forgiveness and spiritual salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. That work of the Spirit includes liberating us from the power and slavery of sin, seperating us fron the sinful patterns and practices of the world, renewing our nature and character to be like Jesus Christ, producing in us the fruit-the effects and character traits-of the Spirit and enabling us to live in a way that influences others to follow Christ (John 17:15-19, 23).

(2) These aspects of sanctification do not suggest absolute perfection, but an ethical righteousness-relating rightly to God and doing right according to His principles that are shown by moral purity, godly obedience and blameless character (Philippians 2:14-15; Collosians 1:22). With God's help and spiritual enablement and our identification with Christ's death, we are set free from sin's power (Romans 6:18). We should, therefore, no longer be swayed by sin's influence because we have the power for spiritual victory through our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, we are able to resist and overcome the temptation to defy God (1John 2:1; 3:6), even though we never reach a place in this life where we are completely free from temptation and the possibility of sin.

(3) Sanctification was God's will and purpose for the israelites in the Old Testaments. They were to live holy and sanctified lives, separrated from the wicked and spiritually corrupt lifestyles of the nations around them (Exodus 19:6; Leviticus 11:44). In a similar way, santification is a requirement for all of Christ's followers. God's Word teaches that "without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

(4) God's children achieve sanctification by faith and dependence on God, by identifying with Christ in His death and resurrection (John 15:4-10; Roman 6:1-11; 1Corinthians 1:30), by the personal sacrifice and shed blood of Christ, by studying and applying God's Word and by the spiritual renewing life-transforming work of the Holy Spirit in their minds and hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Romans 8:13).

(5) Sanctification is both a work of God and a work of His people (Philippians 2:12-13). In order to accomplish God's purposes of spiritual growth, development and maturity, Christ's followers must participate in the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work by refraining from evil, by purifying themselves "from everything that contaminates body and spirit" (2Corinthians 7:1) and by keeping themselves from being polluted morally and spiritually by the world (James 1:27; Romans 6:13, 19).

(6) In the new testaments, sanctification is not pictured as a slow proces of giving up sin little by little. rather, it is presented as a definite and decisive act by which the believer-by God;s grace-is set free from the control of satan and makes a clear break with sin in order to live for God (Romans 6:18; 2Corinthians 5:17). At the same time, however, sanctification is described as a lifelong process by which a follower of Christ continues to put to death the natural impulse towards sin, is progressively transformed to be more like Jesus, grows in grace, exercise a greater love for God and others and fulfills God's purpose for his or her life.

(7) True santification requires that believers maintain a close personal relationship with christ, participate in fellowship with other Christians, devote themselves to prayer, obey God's Word, be sensitive to God's presence and care, love what is right and hate what is wicked and wrong, put sin to death, submit to god's discipline and continue to obey and be filled with and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14; Ephesians 5:18).

(8) At times, sanctification may involves a definite crisis experience or exceptional encounter with God after one's initial experience of spiritual salvation (Isaiah 6:1-8). in such an instance, a follower of Christ may receive a clear revelation of God's holiness-His purity, perfection and seperation from evil-as well as an awareness that God is calling him or her to a unique task. This would involve setting oneself apart in a greater way from sin and worldliness in order to get closer to god and become better prepared for his divine purposes 92Corinthians 6:16-18).

Inconclusion, such awareness should characterize all Christians' lives, as they present themselves to God as living sacrifices, reserved for His purposes and honor. As a result, they receive from the Holy Spirit the needed grace, purity, power and victory to live holy lives pleasing to God (Romans 6:19-22; 12:1-2). God the Father delights in transforming sinners into saints-"holy ones"-so as to have a pure and blameles bride (i.e., the church) for His Son, Jesus (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
Shalom.

[NIV Study Edition Bible]

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