A word study on Sanctification

Following the pattern below, I will be doing a word study on ‘Sanctification’

WORD STUDY

Word studies are necessary because the Bible was not originally written in the English Language. Words written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic do not always have exact equivalents in English. Knowledge of the original languages is a great help in studying the Bible. Word studies allow us to discover the original meanings of the words that appear in our English Bible.

Thomas D. Lea, in his book, God’s Transforming Word: How to Study Your Bible, gave six-step guidelines for doing Word Study. They are;

a.     Select a word to study

b.     Define the word

c.     Discover the Bible usages of the word

d.     Define the Bible meaning

e.     Summarize what you have learned

f.        Plan applications

1.      SELECT A WORD TO STUDY

The word in question in this study is “SANCTIFICATION.”

2.      DEFINE THE WORD

Webster’s 1822 Dictionary defines sanctification as, “The act of making holy. In an evangelical sense, the act of God’s grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God”.

Its synonyms are; consecration, hallowing, dedication and purification. To be sanctified is to be holy. Synonyms of holiness are; sanctity, sacredness, piety, godliness, saintliness, devotedness, devotion, etc.

Its antonym is desecration.

3.      BIBLE USAGES

Passages where this word can be found

2 Thessalonians 2:13, I Corinthians 1:30, I Thessalonians 4:3, 4

Bible Definition of Sanctification

Sanctification means to be holy. It has root words such as qados, qodes (to cut off, to separate, to set apart) in the Hebrew language. In Greek, it has root words such as hagos, hagiazo (object of awe). Sanctification is sometimes represented with words like consecrate, holiness and holy. It means to be set apart or separated unto God.

References where words like consecrate, holiness, holy and sanctify are expressed below

Sanctification	Sanctify	Consecrate	Holiness	Holy
2 Thessalonians 2:13	Ephesians 5:26	Exodus 29:9	Hebrews 12:14	I Peter 1:14-16
I Corinthians 1:30	Hebrews 13:12	Leviticus 8:33	I Thessalonians 4:7	Ephesians 1:4
I Thessalonians 4:3	John 17:17		II Corinthians 7:1	Colossians 3:12

General comments on these verses

Sanctification	2 Thess 2:13	The Spirit of God gives us the enablement to walk in holiness
	I Corinthians 1:30	Jesus is made unto us sanctification
	I Thessalonians 4:3	We are called to live pure lives free from sexual immorality
Sanctify	Ephesians 5:26	Jesus died so that we might be sanctified
	Hebrews 13:12	Jesus died so that he might sanctify the people with His blood
	John 17:17	Believers are sanctified by the Word. Jesus prayed for our sanctification
Consecrate	Exodus 29:9	(Consecrate)Set apart Aaron and his sons for the Levitical ministry.
	Leviticus 8:33	Set apart
Holiness	Hebrews 12:14	Holiness is a prerequisite for getting to heaven
	I Thessalonians 4:7	God has called us unto purity, not uncleanness
	II Corinthians 7:1	We are exhorted to a life of separation from all filthiness and pressing forward in the life of holiness.
Holy	I Peter 1:14-16	We are called to live a life of holiness because God is holy
	Ephesians 1:4	We have been chosen to be holy from the foundation of the world
	Colossians 3:12	We are called to consciously walk in holiness.

4.      DEFINE THE BIBLE MEANING

After examining these verses, it was discovered that the word, “sanctification” always refers to two things. It refers to something being separated to God for holy use (consecration or dedication) and purification (making holy in terms of purity of life required of believers as in Heb. 12:4).  In referring to the exhortation to a life of sanctification, the Message Bible calls it ‘purity of life’; the Good News Bible calls it, ‘holy life’.

5.      SUMMARIZE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE WORD

Sanctification is composite of two things. First, it comprises a personal dedication to a life of holiness. This is required by the Lord from only believers. The second part is the work of God in the life of believers to give them the grace to be holy. Jesus prayed for us to be sanctified. Apostle Paul prayed for the sanctification of the Thessalonians’ believers. The promises of God on sanctification are in Titus 2:14, Leviticus 20:8, Ezekiel 36:25, 26 etc. We are to consciously dedicate or consecrate ourselves to a life of purity and seek God for the fulfilment of promises of holiness revealed in the word of God. Hebrews 13:12. God sanctifies the consecrated believer as he seeks the Lord in prayer.

6.      PLAN APPLICATIONS

This refers to how the study is applied to one’s personal life. There are four ways the study can be applied. They are listed and expressed below;

a.      TO MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD: God demands full consecration to Him and a life of holiness.

b.      TO MY LIFE: I must live a life of holiness and consecration because He that has called me to salvation is holy. Holiness is required to make it to heaven.

c.       TO MY RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS: All sins against men are also against God. Holiness is required in my relationship with others.

d.      TO THE CHURCH: God is no doubt coming for a holy church. She would be one without spot or wrinkle. The church must be prepared for heaven.