Sanctification: God's Grand Plan
For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
The heavenly Father has a grand plan for the life of every person and it can be summed up in the word sanctification. If you have never been certain of the term’s meaning, you are not alone—many people are unclear about its definition. However, believers should understand it because the word defines them.
In its verb form—sanctify—the term means “to make holy” or “to separate.” So when something is sanctified, it is separated from its former common usage and is dedicated for sacred purposes.
The Old Testament mentions a number of things that the Lord sanctified: He made the seventh day holy, set aside the Levite tribe as priests, and even consecrated places like the Holy of Holies inside the tabernacle And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from his work of creation. Gen. 2:3; Numbers 3
The heavenly Father still sanctifies people today. Before a person places his faith in the Savior, he is spiritually dead and in fact, an enemy of God:
Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God’s anger just like everyone else. Ephesians 2:1-3
If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Romans 5:10
But the moment someone chooses to trust in Jesus Christ, his sins are wiped away, and he is adopted into God’s family. That individual is set apart as a child of God, with a sacred purpose. This means believers are not here to chase after personal gain but to serve the Lord and bring Him honor and glory.
As members of God’s family who are called upon to reflect His glory, believers are referred to as “saints.” We are given this moniker—which shares its root with sanctification—not because we live sinless lives, but because we live a life consistent with the One we represent.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org. Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2009 All Rights Reserved.
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