Would any of you hyper-moralists vote for our slave holding Founding Fathers if they somehow ended up in our time? Would you choose Rubio over Jefferson because Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemming secretly were in love and having sex? Would you be accusing him of rape? Washington smoked pot from time to time. Are you going to go with Rubio over him________________
This digest does not define sanctification except as a work of grace. I assume that it assumes that the reader knows, which should not be assumed. First we should say what the Bible says about sanctification.
Dollas, explain what is sanctification, thanks.
The Bible speaks of sanctification in three ways. First, is positional. That which is set apart by/to God is considered sanctified; so in Gen 2:3 and the other 61 times “sanctified” is mentioned in OT. This was accompanied with a cleansing from defilement when needed.
Second, is provisional. Jesus introduces this aspect of sanctification when He prays for His disciples to be “sanctified” (Jn 17:17). For our sakes He “sanctifieth” Himself so that we may be sanctified (Jn 17:19). This sanctification is in addition to separation and cleaning; for Jesus said His disciples were already separated (Jn 17:16) and clean (Jn 15:3). So, whatever Jesus sanctified Himself to is what He has provided for us. According to Hebrews 13:12,13, His sanctification was His suffering crucifixion so that we too may be sanctified and bear His reproach: crucifixion. Does the Bible speak of believers being crucified? Yes, it calls us to take up the cross (Lk 9:23, etc), crucify the flesh (e.g, Gal 5:24, Col 3:5), and reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God (Rom 6:12). Christ died to sin so that we may reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God (Rom 6:10,11). Such death frees from sin (Rom 6:7), with sin having no reign in our mortal body (Rom 6:12).
Third, is practical or progressive. It is continuing in our separation and freedom from sin (Rom 6:6), with perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord (e.g., 1 Cor 7:1,2). This requires discipline: yielding our bodily members to do what is right and not what is unclean and lawless (Rom 6:12-23).
These aspects of sanctification parallel the holiness of God, who is separate from sinners (Heb 7:6), free from sin (1 Jn 1:5), and perfect in love (Mat 5:43-48). We are to approximate His holiness: “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet 1:15,16).