“For this is the will of God, your sanctification…For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.”
I Thessalonians 4:3a, 7, NKJV

Whenever we come across a passage that mentions the will of God for our lives, it warrants our full attention. In this instance, God’s Word uses the terms sanctification and holiness, which may sound like lofty theological terms, but essentially mean that we are to be set apart, living to please God.

A quick check at dictionary.com tells us that holiness means: dedicated or devoted to the service of God; consecrated. And looking up sanctification, it says: to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate. It can also mean: to purify or free from sin. We get the word sanctuary from the same root, meaning a sacred or holy place, a refuge. The two concepts of holiness and sanctification are closely related terms. Sanctification is simply the process of becoming holy. One unknown author said it is “the Christianizing of the Christian”.

A Life‐Long Journey

“And having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness…so now present your members
as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.” Romans 6:18, 19b, NASB

Once we become Christians, and are given the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13‐14), we are taken through a life‐long process in which God makes us holy, like Him. Being set apart to Him essentially means we are aiming to not sin (through the help of the Holy Spirit) and to live a life that is honoring to God. We make ourselves separated from sin and separated unto God.

In Leviticus, the Israelites were told multiple times to consecrate themselves and be holy because the Lord was their God and He is holy (Lev. 11:44‐45; 19:2; 20:7; 20:26). In 1 Peter, we’re told not to conform to our former ways, before we were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, but as obedient children we are to be holy “in all your behavior”…”like the Holy One who called you”. Peter then quotes Leviticus 11 when he gives the basis of why we should live holy lives, “because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:14‐19, NASB).

Time and again the Bible calls Christians to holiness. Here are a few more reasons it gives for living our lives as set apart to Christ.

  • We are to be imitators of God, as His beloved children (Eph. 5:1).
  • We are called to “live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received” (Eph. 4:1, NIV).
  • We are “made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” when we cleanse ourselves from evil desires (2 Tim. 2:19‐22). In other words, God can then use us for the building of His kingdom.
  • Through our behavior, we are witnesses to those around us, in hopes that they too will come to a saving knowledge of Christ (1 Peter 1:14‐16; 2:12, 2:15, 3:1‐2).

This process of sanctification continues until we reach Heaven and have glorified, perfect bodies which cannot sin. In Exodus 31:13b, we see that God is the One who sanctifies us. So what tools does God use to transform us while on this earth?

    • The atoning work of the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross (Hebrews 10:10).
    • The transforming ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Romans 15:16).
    • The Word of God which cleanses and instructs us (Ephesians 5:26‐27; John 17:17‐19).
    • The encouragement and accountability of fellow believers (1 Thess. 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; Proverbs 27:17).

Our Response

“…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts…”
1 Peter 3:15a, NASB

God isn’t asking us to change our habits so we’ll be able to live holy lives. It goes beyond habits and it goes beyond anything we can accomplish in our own strength. Sanctification is an inward change that has an outward effect. It takes the Holy Spirit changing our hearts in order to change our habits. Even so, living a life that is at odds with the ways of the world can be a struggle. How do we stay committed, as “slaves of righteousness“?

    • Bible study & prayer (Matthew 4:4; Romans 15:4; Mark 14:38)
    • Confessing sins, keeping a good conscience (1 Peter 3:15‐16; Romans 6:22; Psalm 51:2, 7)
    • Renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1‐2)
    • Living out our faith daily (Titus 2:11‐14; Isaiah 1:16‐17)
    • By not losing heart in doing good (Galatians 6:9)

Are there any things in your life that are causing you to not be set apart to God? Any unconfessed sin in your life? Any habits that you need to break, through the help of the Holy Spirit?

Sanctification is a day‐by‐day process. Make the commitment today to rely on God’s grace to bring about change in your life. When you fail, don’t be discouraged but remember that God knows our weaknesses. He has declared that holiness in our lives is His will, and He will never give up on accomplishing His will (1 Thess. 5:23‐24).

Digging Deeper

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from 
glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 3:18, NASB

To dig deeper, take a few moments and read Ephesians 4. As you’re reading this chapter, list the ways that we are to be imitators of Christ and the worldly desires we must abandon in order to be set apart for Christ.