Threefold Sanctification

We believe that there is one true and living God - "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God." And we rejoice to recognize the sacred Trinity -"There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." Nowhere is the union of the three divine persons more clearly displayed than in their gracious acts for our salvation. The three persons of the eternal Godhead work together to produce: a church without "spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." As this is true with regard to our justification, it is true with regard to our sanctification.

Jude plainly tells us that we are "sanctified by God the Father" (Jude 1). One meaning of the word "sanctify" is simply "to set apart". In the Old Testament, the firstborn was sanctified to God, or set apart. So also were the seventh day, the tabernacle, the altar, and the cities of refuge. Thus our Lord Jesus Christ was sanctified, or set apart, by God the Father, as our Redeemer King. Thus we under-stand Jude's statement to mean that God the Father has set apart his people, or sanctified them. In the eternal decree of election, God the Father separated unto himself a people who were to be sanctified unto him forever. By the gift of his Son, he redeemed us from among men that we might be holy. And by continually sending forth his Spirit, he fulfills that purpose. In this sense, all of God's elect are perfectly sanctified already. They were set apart before they were created, in covenant election, legally set apart by the purchase of Christ, and manifestly set apart by the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit.

Paul tells us that we are "sanctified in Christ Jesus" (I Cor. 1:2). Here the meaning is that, in Christ, God regards, treats, and declares that his people are holy. A holy God cannot have dealings with unholy men. If ever he looked upon us in our-selves, he would surely slay us. But he looks upon us in the person of his Son, our covenant head, and declares that we are holy. He looks upon the deeds of Christ as ours, and his perfect obedience and sin-less life as ours. Because we are regarded by God in Christ, he regards us as holy as his own Son!

But we must never fail to see, with Peter, the necessity of our sanctification through the spirit (I Pet. 1:2). The word "sanctification" also means to "actually purify and lake holy". This is begun in regeneration. The Holy Spirit implants within us a new heart and a new nature. And throughout the course of our life upon the earth, he is conforming that new man to the image of Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit within us. He will continue this good work until he brings it to perfection in heaven. The ultimate and sure end of our sanctification is our glorification.

Now, my brothers and sisters, if God has chosen us to be holy, and Christ died to purify us with his blood, and the Holy Spirit dwells within our hearts to make us like Christ, what shall our response be to this great grace? Shall we say, since it is all of God's grace that we are redeemed, justified, and sanctified, we will continue in sin? Perish the thought! With our eyes fixed upon Christ, trusting his merits alone, let us "follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord". And be assured, my friends, that the sanctification of God's elect is not a possibility. It is a certainty.

So let our lips and lives express

The holy gospel we profess;

So let our works and graces shine,

To prove the doctrine all divine.

Thus shall we best proclaim abroad

The honors of our Savior God,

When his salvation reigns within,

And grace subdues the power of sin.

Don Fortner