Word of the Week- Sanctification "hagiasmos"

The Greek word for sanctification is “hagiasmos (hag-ee-as-mos’)." This word is used 10x in the KJV. It means consecration, purification, and sanctification of the heart and life, to live holy unto God. This is a personal dedication to the interests of Jesus!

Sanctification is separation from the secular and sinful, and set apart for the sacred and holy, for God’s special use.

2 Timothy 2:21 (NKJV)
“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

This is only made possible by the atoning work of Jesus Christ, through the cleansing of His Blood, and by the power of the Holy Spirit!

The general meaning of sanctification is "the state of proper functioning." To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its creator. Hearing aids are sanctified when used to improve hearing, and eyeglasses are sanctified when used to improve sight. Biblically speaking, things are sanctified when they are used for God’s purpose. Mankind is sanctified when he or she lives according to God's design and purpose!

Mankind cannot sanctify themselves. It is the Triune God who sanctifies. The Father sanctifies;

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NKJV)
“But of Him [the Father] you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

By the Spirit;

2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV)
“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,”

1 Peter 1:2 (NKJV)
“elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

In the name of Christ;

1 Corinthians 6:11 (NKJV)
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

However, our faith is not merely passive. Paul calls for active trust and obedience when he says;

2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 (NKJV)
“Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Peter reminds believers to be diligent in making their calling and election sure.

2 Peter 1:10 (NKJV)
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;”

The word “sanctify” in the Greek means “to set apart,” and the word “sanctification” refers to the setting apart process. Hagiasmos can refer either to a state of being set apart from sin and the world unto God (referring to the initial part of salvation) or secondly can refer to the process by which a saint becomes progressively more set apart to God. So, sanctification in one use takes place at a moment in time (the New Birth and is synonymous with justification), but in the other use sanctification is a continuous process which is lifelong and ends only when believers are glorified. The Holy Spirit is the agent in effecting both aspects of sanctification.

The pre-salvation work of the Spirit is spoken of in Scripture as the sanctification of the Spirit. It is the setting-apart work of the Spirit in that He sets the unsaved person apart from his unbelief to the act of faith, from his standing in the first Adam which brought him sin and death, to a new standing in Jesus Christ, which brings him righteousness and life. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of Truth to convict men of their sin, righteousness and the judgment to come, to point them to safety in the "Ark" of Christ and to set them apart from the world.This is often referred to as positional sanctification.

John 16:8-11 (NKJV)
“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

A sanctified person has also been set apart for service. The Holy Spirit both marks us for God’s service and empowers us to render that service.

Sanctification:
Used two ways in the New Testament
1. Our initial salvation experience:
      a. A point in time event; our eternal position in Jesus
2. Our daily maturity towards Christlikeness:
      a. A daily progressive process that we must all partner with the Holy Spirit in

This is God’s primary purpose in every believer's life, nothing else including ministry works should take its place.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NKJV)
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”