THE CHRISTIAN’S SANCTIFICATION
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
In that wonderful prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ, He prayed for His disciples, “Father, sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy Word is truth.” (John 17:17).
This prayer was uttered before Christ went to the cross and offered Himself without spot unto God. (Hebrews 9:14).
What is the meaning of the truth in Hebrews 10:10 and 14: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all?” “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified?”
Christ offered Himself once for all on the cross. Is it true that by that one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified? The Word of God says, “Yes.”
The Scriptures state this plainly. Then we must conclude that the believer, who meets God at Calvary, is sanctified once-for-all, because that “the worshippers once purged should have no more conscience of sins.” Hebrews 10:2.
This does not mean that the sanctified person (saint) will not be conscious of imperfections, or consider himself sinless, in word, thought or deed. (I John 1:8 to 10). But before God his defiled conscience is forever cleansed. Such is the efficacy, power and value of the precious shed blood of the eternal Son of God.
And Hebrews 10:26 does not say that if a person sins after he receives the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more forgiveness of sins. This is explained in Colossians 2:13 and I John 1:9 and 2:1. But Hebrews 10:26 says, “no more sacrifice for sins.”
“Jesus, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12).
“Elect” through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” (I Peter 1:2).
The word sanctified, also translated “holy”, means separated by God unto God, for God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Every one thus separated is a saint. Some saints do not behave as becometh saints, but no one becomes a saint by behaving, only by believing. (I Corinthians 1:1 and 2 and 3: and I Corinthians 6:19 and I Corinthians 6:5 to 7).
Saints are instructed to walk as becometh saints. (Ephesians 5:1 to 4). But they become saints by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8 to 10 - I Corinthians 6:11).
Now let us read and believe II Thessalonians 2:13 and I Corinthians 6:11: “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through SANCTIFICATION of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are SANCTIFIED, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Salvation is the result of believing the truth and God’s work of sanctification of the believer by the Holy Spirit.
No one is saved who is not first sanctified. In I Corinthians 6:11 note the order, washed, SANCTIFIED, justified.
The believer is saved without works; but unto good works, in which he should walk because he is saved. (Ephesians 2:8 to 10).
In such Scriptures as II Corinthians 7:1, as the “twelfth chapter of Romans and the third. chapter of Colossians and others, saints are exhorted to a holy walk and conversation. But remember that believing sinners are saved by faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ. Now read, Hebrews 13:12; “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.” He suffered to bring sinners to God. (I Peter 3:18). After the believer is sanctified once-for-all (Hebrews 10:10 to 14) he is called to a life of separation and service.
Posted By – Cecil Spivey
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