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Sanctification and Holiness

The word "sanctification" means "being made holy." The word itself shows, therefore, that sanctification is not our own work (though we become active in sanctification), but God's work in us.

This holiness, we have seen, is not optional but vitally necessary. Without it no person can see God (Heb. 12:14). He is the HOLY ONE (Is. 40:25, 41:14, etc.), and no one can stand in His holy presence without being holy (Ps. 24:3-5).

But what is holiness?

The basic idea of the word is that of separation. To be holy is to be separate. Thus, in the OT Israel was a holy people, separate from the other nations (Lev. 20:24-26). Among the Israelites themselves the priests were "holiness to the Lord" (Ex. 28:36) because their whole life was separate for God's service in the temple (I Chron. 23:13).

Now the church is that separate and holy nation, and is also a nation of priests (I Pet. 2:9). The members must, therefore, be holy (I Pet. 1:15, 16).

Holiness, however, always has two parts to it. It is always both separation from something, and separation unto something. Both are important.

Believers are called first to be separate from both wickedness and wicked persons (II Cor. 6:14-18, Eph. 5:11-12). They cannot go out of the world (I Cor. 5:9-10), but must nevertheless separate themselves as much as possible from the company, the fellowship, the deeds, and the life of the ungodly. Above all they must keep themselves pure, "unspotted from the world" (Jas. 1:27).

This separation between the church and the world, between believer and unbeliever, between light and darkness, is sometimes referred to as the "antithesis". II Corinthians 6:14-15 describes that antithesis.

II Corinthians 6 also speaks, however, of the fact that we are separated unto God (vss. 16-18). Without this, holiness is not complete.

To be separated unto God is to be consecrated and dedicated to Him, just as the priests were in the OT. It is being set apart for God's service with our whole life - our time, our possessions, even our body.

Nor is this a part-time thing. To be holy, separated and consecrated to God, is not just for the Lord's Day or for a few hours on the Lord's Day. Our whole life has been purchased by Christ, belongs to God, is consecrated to Him, and must be lived in holiness. We must be holy in "all manner of conversation" (I Pet. 1:15).

To that we are called. Because God is holy (I Pet. 1:15-16), because they are chosen and redeemed unto holiness (I Pet. 1:18-19, Eph. 1:4), because God has sent them His Holy Spirit (I Cor. 3:16-17) holiness is demanded of us. That call to holiness is heard repeatedly in Scripture. It is, as someone wrote, a serious call.

Have you heard it?

Have you obeyed it?

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Additional Info

  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 16
Hanko, Ronald

Rev. Ronald Hanko (Wife: Nancy)

Ordained: November 1979

Pastorates: Wyckoff, NJ - 1979; Trinity, Houston, TX - 1986; Missionary to N.Ireland - 1993; Lynden, WA - 2002

Website: www.lyndenprc.org/sermons/

Contact Details

  • Address
    317 North Park St.
  • City
    Lynden
  • State or Province
    WA
  • Zip Code
    98264
  • Country
    United States
  • Telephone
    360-354-4337
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