Sanctification -

Sanctification Through Christ

“We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10

Sanctification is through the body of Jesus Christ. The body of Christ on the cross is the final sacrifice for the remission of all sin. There is no other sacrifice but Christ, and He sat down on the right hand of God, [see Hebrews 10:12]. The death of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. We cannot within our own self achieve justification, sanctification, or glorification. These three processes are worked through the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. This can only be achieved through the body of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and won the victory over death. Jesus said, “it is finished.” Sin and disease are finished in the name of Jesus.

Back in the 1980’s, I had written in my Bible the definition for sanctification. I did not fully understand what it meant, and I wondered how many Christians or Believers truly understand its meaning. I feel that somehow the meaning has been lost through the years of watering down what it means to be Holy before the Lord.

Sanctification is to separate from the world and consecrate oneself unto God.  To sanctify means that it belongs to God.  Sanctification is through the redemptive work of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.  From Inge's Bible notes.

Sanctification is the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit. In otherwards, we cannot accomplish this in our own self-will. The work is done through faith in Christ Jesus. To be Holy is to be separated unto God. Thus, sanctification is separation from the world to dedication unto God. Through faith, a person becomes partakers of the divine nature of God. In 1 Thessalonians chapter four verse three we read the following:

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:”

1 Thessalonians 4:3

Sanctification is the will of God, and we should know how to hold ourselves in the process of becoming a vessel of honor for God. A vessel of honor is one who is pure in their mind and heart. They do not withhold any imperfections of sin before the Lord. They communicate and surrender all weaknesses to God through prayer daily. All is open before the Lord and nothing is withheld. Thus, they are clean before the Lord. Myer Pearlman stated, “cleanliness is a condition of holiness.” Israel as a nation was sanctified by the blood covenant sacrifice through the priesthood of Aaron’s sons.

“And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.” Leviticus 8:12

The sons of Aaron who were chosen had to go through a washing, sprinkling of blood, and be anointed with oil before taking the office of a priest, [see Leviticus chapter 8]. Today, through the blood of Jesus we are made clean in order to have fellowship with God. As believers in Christ, we are also sanctified. We are washed clean of all sin, and this is where many stop in their consecration to God. Many do not move ahead in surrendering their all to God. However, God wants us to follow Christ and be sanctified. To be a clean person and have an open dialogue with God.

An open dialogue is talking to God on a daily basis. This is what prayer is all about. It is not a ritual or law; it is the freedom of an open dialogue with God. It is open communication with God. It is being consecrated to the service of God. Brother Lawrence, a French monk, practiced this daily and one can read about it in his book titled, “The Practice of the Presence of God. God has called us unto holiness and not uncleanness, [see 1 Thessalonians 4:7].

Sanctification involves possession by God, for we were bought with a price through the blood of Christ. Sanctification changes our position to being a child of God whereby we can cry “Abba” father. Sanctification is progressive in that we follow Christ and are in the process of taking on the divine character into the image of Christ. Sanctification is practical in righteous living every day for the glory of God.

Sanctification is the work of Grace to be free from sinful habits. What you cannot do God through the Holy Spirit is able to make the change within you. How wonderful this is to be free and holy before our Lord God. We must believe that it is finished. It is finished, because Christ died on the cross and has given us the victory over sin and death. We are sanctified through the word of God, and we are one in the Lord. Just meditate on this and read what Jesus said in John 17:16-22.

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit

“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:”

2 Thessalonians 2:13

God has chosen us to salvation, which is freedom from sin. Sanctification is the process of becoming holy in the sight of God. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that brings sanctification to those who believe in the truth of the Gospel of Christ. We are bound to give thanks to God for the process of the Holy Spirit that we were chosen to be saved from sin through the process of the Holy Spirit converting each one of us into the image of Christ through our faith in Christ.

Inge Schultz

August 4, 2024

The Fruit of the Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

Juicy sweet fruit in a bowl, but how does that relate to the Holy Spirit? Fruit in this passage of scripture is from the Greek word “Karpos,” which means fruit of the trees. I always find it interesting in deciphering a moral or spiritual lesson of what is written in the Bible. What about the word “Spirit”? The Greek word is “Pneuma,” and at the end of Galatians chapter five, the word Spirit is capitalized. This means it is talking about a personality, a person with a character. This is the Holy Ghost, the third person of the Trinity. The Christian character is produced by the Holy Spirit working in us and not by our own self-effort. The Apostle Paul is talking about the character of the Holy Spirit and the fruit it produces. The Holy Spirit will always point to Christ. The character of Christ is love, joy, peace, and so forth. There is no other law that will produce good fruit in which we live and walk.

We are to be conformed into the image of the Son [see Romans 8:29], so we will have the Son’s character working through us to reveal good fruit ready to be picked from the tree. The Spirit helps us to become free from our sinful habits and to become more like Christ. This is the sanctification process of every Christian. The continual renewal by the Holy Ghost inside believers in order to be set apart for Christ. 1st Thessalonians 4:4 states, “that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor.” This is the will of God that we are set apart for the Lord. We are being changed from glory to glory into the image of Christ. Paul exclaims, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” We must not abuse that liberty we have in Christ and go against anyone and do them harm [see Galatians 5:13]. We are not to be consumed by doing evil to another person. What did Paul say in verse 14 of chapter 5 in Galatians, “for all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

In order to bear the good fruit of the Spirit one must receive essential nutrients. The conditions of a fruitful life for a Christian are cleansing, abiding, and obedience. Some of us need daily cleansing of unwanted dirt in our life. Abiding and obedience go hand and hand together. With Obedience comes abiding in Christ who is the true vine. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” Just think about how the father God is pruning, lifting up the vines that have fallen, and wrapping them up around the trellis to tie them up. The Father is the vinedresser, and Jesus is the true vine to where we are brought to the Father. How amazing that our heavenly Father comes and takes part in caring for those who are abiding in the vine.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:4

We abide in Christ through faith. And it is through faith that we ask for help to have our heart cleansed on a daily basis. There is not a day that I do not ask God to forgive me for my behavior of complaining, getting angry, or acting selfish. Sometimes we ignore our behavior, but he wants us to take those things to the Lord in prayer. Abiding in the vine is also seeking God’s word. Reading the word daily to feed our mind and spirit for renewal of who we are in Christ. We are to meditate on the will of God that we may “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” [see Romans 12:2]. Jesus said, “if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you,” [see John 15:7]. Jesus goes on to say that we are to continue in His Love. This is where obedience comes into the picture. Read and ask, and it shall be done unto you. Ask for His love to rule your heart and serve one another through the love He has given us. Abide in Christ and stay connected into the vine and you will find that love, joy, and peace will come forth in your life.

To abide in Christ is to put to death all things related to the flesh such as indecent behavior, fornication, envy, hatred, hostilities, idolatry, and witchcraft, [see Galatians 5:19-21]. Those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts, [see Galatians 5:24]. This means to take up the cross daily and put to death anything that is contrary to the will of God. Through prayer we put to death these things in the name of Jesus. We ask God to cleanse us from the power of these things that would control our life. We are no longer servants to uncleanness and iniquity, but through the cross of Christ we have become servants of righteousness unto holiness, [see Romans 6:10]. Whatever you yield yourself to is what you will become. Christ has raised us up from death to newness in life. The apostle Paul states, “our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin,” [see Romans 6:6]. This is the victory we have in Christ Jesus. Dead to sin in the body, but alive unto God. Yield yourself to the Holy Father and allow him to be your vinedresser. Remember, it is Jesus through the Father who sends us the Holy Spirit as our comforter, [see John 15:26].

Take time to read the following scriptures: John 15:1-14, and Galatians 5:13-26. As you mature in your walk with God, you become the fruit that others see and enjoy. This is your testimony of the goodness of the Lord, how the Father who is the vinedresser, takes care of you. Let us forever stay within the vine and allow the fruit of the Spirit to come forth in our everyday living as a child of God.

Sanctification by Faith

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.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13

What about Sanctification? Sanctification is a word that is not often spoke about, yet it is one of the most important aspects of a Christians position in Christ. A. B. Simpson, founder of Christian Missionary Alliance spoke of the “Fourfold Gospel,” which is Jesus Christ as the Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. Have you ever thought about Jesus as your sanctification? The Greek word for sanctification is “hagiasmos,” which means separation, or setting apart. Did you know that this is “the will of God, even your sanctification?” [see 1 Thessalonians 4:3]. As a young adult, I learned about the importance of being set apart for a special purpose. I did not know what that special purpose was at that time, but I did know that I was saved through the blood of Jesus Christ. That Christ was my savior who rescued and delivered me from danger and destruction. The power of God literally saved me from death more than once in my life.

The apostle Paul was thanking God for those who were at Thessalonica. God had chosen them to receive salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. They accepted the truth about Jesus Christ that he came in the flesh, died, and arose from the cross. Christ death on the cross and resurrection has freed us from sin. This brought reconciliation to God and the purification through the Holy Spirit. The process of being made holy and pure is what sanctification is all about. It is God’s will for each Christian to continue in the process of sanctification. This process is done through faith in Christ, and it is worked through the Holy Spirit. The aspect of sanctification is vital to every believer in Christ in that it establishes our position with God. It is why Peter stated, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” [see 1 Peter 1:16]. To sanctify is to be made Holy. It is hard for us to believe that we can be holy. Holy in our actions and in our conversations. Just look at the apostle Paul’s life. Paul a Pharisees was persecuting Christians in Rome. Listen to what Paul said about what he done.

“For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted it.”
Galatians 1:13

Noticed how Paul did not deny what he had done in the past. He had persecuted the church of God and wasted it. A voice from heaven asked Paul the question, “Why do you persecute me?” “I am Jesus whom you persecute.” [see Acts 26:14-15]. Just think about it if you persecute a brother or sister in the Lord, you are persecuting Jesus. It was Jesus who revealed this to the apostle Paul. It is clear that God had chosen Paul for a specific purpose and that purpose was to make him a minister and a witness of the truth about Jesus, [see verse 16 of Acts chapter 26]. Oh! What a witness Paul was to the early church and look at verse 18 in chapter 26 of Acts.

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
Acts 26:18

Open our eyes and turn us from darkness to light, oh Lord, from the power of Satan to God. That we may receive the forgiveness of sins. Take note of the end of the verse that states, “sanctified by faith that is in me [Jesus].” These are the words of Jesus Christ. We are all sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus. Why, because Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, [see Hebrews 12:2]. Our faith is in Jesus who is the object of our faith. Sanctification takes on two essential points. The first point is the objective which is in the person and the finished work of Jesus. The second point is the subjective which brings provision by the working of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the agent in the process of sanctification. God has called us to holiness which means the state of being holy. Are you continuing to be in the state of holiness? Can you see how the apostle Paul’s life was changed from hostility and ill-treatment of Christians to loving them in Christ Jesus.

Every Christian should be changed in their actions and characteristic from hatred, rage, hostility, and anger to the characteristics of Christ, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, and temperance. As Christians we continue to be sanctified through the word of God. Jesus prayed to the father for those who believed that they would be sanctified through God’s truth. [see John 17:17]. We must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, [see Hebrews 11:6]. The body of believers in the church is subject unto Christ. We are now under the control of Christ through the Holy spirit and not under the power of Satan. We yield ourselves to God the Father because Christ has reconciled us unto God.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”
Ephesians 1:4

It may be hard to understand that God has chosen us before the foundation of the world and that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. We all should have similar experiences on how we have been changed in our actions to the characteristic of Christ. Sanctification is a process that is worked out daily in our Christian walk because it is by faith, and that is how we are set apart unto God. If we purge ourselves daily of unwanted actions and or feelings, we will be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and ready for the master’s use and prepared to do every good work, [see 2 Timothy 2:21]. This reminds me of a song written by A.A. Whiddington and Albert B Simpson titled, “Not I, But Christ.”

Not I, but Christ, be honored, loved, exalted.
Not I, but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard.
Not I, but Christ, in every look and action.
Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.
- Refrain:
  Saved from my sin and myself, dear Lord,
  Saved to be filled with Thee.
  Self-crucified, so now not I,
  But Christ, that lives in me.

Remember it is not I, but Christ in every thought and word.

What House will you Build

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. What house will ye build me? saith the Lord.”
Acts 7:49

What house will you build for the Lord? Did not the Lord make all things with his hand? Maybe we forgot that God has laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of His hands [see Psalms 102:25]. Yet in verse 26 of Psalms 102, it states it shall perish, but thou will endure. How is it that we will endure, but the earth will perish. What is the meaning of the Lord asking what house you will build me? Here in Acts chapter seven, we have Stephen who was full of faith and power and did miracles among the people [see Acts 6:8]. Stephen is addressing the Sanhedrin on Israel’s past and what God has done. In 1st Kings chapter five we read that because of wars on all sides that the house of the Lord could not be built. There had to be a time of rest for the Lord’s house to be built. A time where peace will reign without adversary or evil occurring. Can you imagine what that would be like? Yet, God promised there will be a new heaven and earth and those who belong with Him will have peace for a 1000 years, which is known as the Millennium.

Isaiah, apostle Peter and John have all stated that a new heaven and earth will be created, and the former earth will not be remembered [see Isaiah 65:17]. Some call this a supernatural act of God, yet this is what the apostle Peter said that he was looking for. The promise of the coming new heavens and earth where righteousness dwells [see 2 Peter 3:13]. Peter said this after explaining how the Lord will come like a thief in the night and the heavens will melt with fervent heat along with the earth. Then Peter asked, “what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” What manner indeed! Where is the house of the Lord? It is not in the many buildings we call churches. Churches are a place for Christian religious activities. Church buildings are not the house of the Lord. Churches are to be a place of worship, but they are not the house of the Lord. This may be shocking to hear, but the house of the Lord is where the Holy Spirit resides in individual hearts.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
2 Corinthians 5:1

The earthly house is our physical body which will dissolve, and we will have a new body that is not made with physical hands but with the hand of God. Our physical body is temporal whereas our heavenly body is eternal. Remember the Spirit of the living God is to reside in the stony heart of flesh and not in stone tablets or buildings. It is the Spirit that gives us life [see 2 Corinthians 3:6]. The ministration of the Spirit is to be more glorious in those who have believe. God has given us the earnest of the Spirit which now resides in our heart. This is eternal and it is the new building of God. It is the spiritual house that is being built up in Christ. This is a holy priesthood, a birthright for those who believe in the son of God. They can now have access to God through Jesus Christ. That is why the apostle Paul implores us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. This is total surrender to the will of God and allowing His Spirit to dwell within our physical body.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:5

A spiritual house that is acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. Every believer is born of the Spirit and indwelt by the Spirit of God to where the believers body becomes a temple of God. That is why the apostle Paul exhorted to the Corinthians, “know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” Because you were bought with a price through Christ death. Christ died for our sins and through Christ resurrection we receive eternal life. We must not defile the temple of God. We must be separate from those who are unclean. God is calling us to be separate, a people of God who through the Spirit has mortify the deeds of the flesh [see Romans 8:13]. We must not deceive ourselves, for the temple of God is holy, which you are [ 1 Corinthians 3:17-18]. We must allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and have His way within our hearts. Let us not become stiff-necked like the Israelites under Mosses. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God,” [Romans 8:14].

I found it interesting to note that in 2 Chronicles chapter 6 in verse eight God told David that even though He desired to build a house for the Lord, that David did well in that it was in his heart. It was in his heart the house of the Lord. This is the key of where you will build your house for the Lord. Yes, our God knows the secrets of the heart of men.

Trust not in oppression and become not vain in robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”
Psalms 62:10

Whatever happens in the world today, we can have the peace of God within our hearts. It is Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of God and our Father [see Galatians 1:4]. Now is the time to cleanse our house from all fleshly desires and separate ourselves unto God. That we may be a building of God. We must become living stones desiring the word of God and growing by the word that we may be rooted in good solid ground. We must present our life, our bodies as a spiritual sacrifice that is acceptable unto God. Asking God to purify our minds and to guide us with His Spirit is the will of God. Allowing his Spirit to help us to hear the word of God will change us from glory to glory, this is sanctification.

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 3:18

May we witness the ministration of the Spirit under the law of Christ which has hath made us free from the law of sin and death. Let us build our house on the foundation that is on a rock, which is Christ Jesus. May we grow into the living stones chosen of God and precious in His sight.