The Sanctified Life

"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

I have found and maybe you have too that Christianese spoken as the language of the Church. This language becomes the koine (common) language and many words and phrases roll off the tongue without much thought as to the meaning, we just sound like Christians because we speak the language. Sanctification is such a word. We speak it, expecting people to understand the definition. There is where the problem lies; the definition. What does that word mean?  We say the word, we even say we are it, and yet far too many Christians have little insight as to it true meaning and how we are sanctified. What is your understanding of this word? How do we become sanctified? Is sanctification a progressive work that we must do? What is the definition of sanctification?

When salvation comes to us by our faith in Jesus as Savior and Redeemer we receive "righteousness from God" (Romans 3:22a). "...And the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:26b). "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the Law" (Romans 3:28a). Therefore, we are justified not by works (observing the Law and any other legalistic venture) but by faith. Ok! Justification comes at salvation, what about sanctification? "...But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11b). The above words of Paul indicate that sanctification comes from God. Therefore it is a free gift, no works can obtain this gift it is given freely. "But I do not feel sanctified, I still sin, and do things wrong," you say. True enough we all feel that way at times because we forget, or the Christianese language is so ordinary that we do not think or remember who we are. Sanctified, defined, from the Greek word, hagiazo,"Set Apart, made holy, opposite of koinos which is the profane, common, for God. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

All I can say is, "Hallelujah,' because God is working in me bringing me to fully understand who I am. I feel like when the November ballot is over and the "new President" is elected, that is who I am now, only I haven't fully taken office until January 20th. Little by little as that day approaches I become more Presidential. That is us we are becoming more as to who we are; sanctified. It is demonstrated in our daily lives. Isn't that great news? Don't you want to just stand up and shout? Our God is Great and Loves us that much. I want to tell others, how about you?

Daily Prayer:

Father, thank you for saving me and for seeing me through the blood of Jesus shed upon the cross. I know you see me sanctified, justified, by His blood. Help me Holy Spirit to remember who and whose I am. May my life so represent you that others want we I have received from you; everlasting life.           Amen