Hi Lahad

I believe the word ' sanctification'  means so much more than what I understood it to be in my RF mind-set. My first thought was 'set apart'  then I thought about it and searched the scriptures for myself (always the best thing to do, as you know!)

When referring to us as being sanctified I would say we've been made acceptable, made holy, cleansed, made right by calling on the name of Jesus.  Hebrews 10:10 "For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time" 

Therefore to be sanctified we would need to call on the name of the Lord and accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord of our lives (which also brings repentance into the picture).  This then raises a question - if we are sanctified, are we ever 'unsanctified'  by not remaining in right standing with God, or are we sanctified forever even if we stop believing?  Hmmm...

Hebrews 10:8 (NLT) First, Christ said, " You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them (though they are required by the law of Moses) 9 Then He said, ' Look I have come to do your will."  He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time. 11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our HIgh Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet.  14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

By His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus sanctified us and all who believe on His name. 

I love Him so much, and when I reflect on what He did for me, I find myself crying tears of gratitude and love.

Urch x

Reply to : Lahad

Lahad, you asked what I thought sanctification means and I have given you my thoughts on what I perceive it to mean.  However, it then led me on to other thoughts and questions and subsequent searching of scriptures. Some feedback from you would be great - will you share with me your view/knowledge of what it means to be sanctified?  Ian, I'm sure you can also explain it well scripturally, your comments please?  

urch

Reply to : Didaktikon

Morning teacher,

Thanks Ian, the implications of the biblical meaning are obviously HUGE, but imagine how wonderful it would be if we could be set apart wholly for God's use and purpose. Unfortunately, life intrudes!  And if (theologically) the word refers to the biblical meaning, but includes the concept of "growing in holiness/spirituality, then 'sanctified' means much more than just 'set apart' - it really means to devote oneself to the things of God on an on-going basis.

Have checked out what Ordo Salutis (had never heard of this term before) means and found this explanation in which the word sanctification is described as 'God's separation of one from the lure of sin'.

Question: "What is the Ordo Salutis?"

Answer: "Ordo Salutis" is the Latin for "the order of salvation" which deals with the steps or stages in the salvation of a believer (e.g. election, foreknowledge, predestination, redemption, regeneration, justification, sanctification, glorification - see especially Romans 8:29-30). There is disagreement within the Church concerning this order, and about the causal connections between them. Before discussion, it might be helpful to provide some basic definitions of many of the terms involved:
Foreknowledge: God's knowing (in this sense) prior to salvation those who would be saved.
Predestination: God's choosing before time all who would be saved.
Election: God's choosing of all who would be saved.
Regeneration: God's renewing of one's life (not physically - but as opposed to the spiritual death caused by sin) (Titus 3:5).
Evangelism: The communication of the Gospel by which one can be saved (Matthew 28:19).
Faith: Belief and trust in the message of the Gospel (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Conversion: One's turning to God based on the Gospel (Acts 26:18).
Perseverance: One's continued true belief - remaining in the state of salvation (Jude 1:24).
Repentance: One's turning from sin to God (Acts 26:20).
Justification: God's freeing of one from the penalty of sin - the pronouncement of "not guilty" on a sinner (Romans 5:9).
Sanctification: God's separation of one from the lure of sin (2 Timothy 2:21).
Glorification: God's final removal of all sin from the life and presence of one (in the eternal state) (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17).

Cheerio, Urch