Sanctification

The Greek word for “sanctify” is hagiazō and it means to separate, dedicate, consecrate, or purify. This word can have multiple meanings and the definition may slightly differ depending on context but it all relatively means the same. If we are sanctified, we have been separated as a special people and purified from sins in the eyes of God. 

Associated closely with sanctification is washing. Since washing is seen as a cleansing method, it is often associated with the idea of spiritual sanctification. When we speak of spiritual cleansing we mean a clean heart and one that has been freed of sin. This would be a believer in Christ. However, the idea of sanctifying comes long before the New Testament and appears several times in the Old Testament. 

Genesis 2:3- Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy– separating/marking one day as special. 

Exodus 13:2- Consecrate to me every firstborn male– setting apart the firstborn as special to God. 

Exodus 19:14- After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes– washing their clothes symbolized their cleansing and dedication to God. 

Exodus 29:21- And take some blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated– sacrifice was necessary to purify and cleanse. 

Jesus was one to first use this language in the New Testament during his prayer for us in John 17:17. Jesus prays, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Jesus asks the Father to sanctify us, to purify and set us apart by His truth. He then explains what the truth is, His word. The promises, the gospel of God, is what sanctifies and purifies us. We later learn in 1 Corinthians 6:11 that the promised Holy Spirit given by God is what purifies us. This is still connected to what Jesus said about His word and promises. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come and when we receive the Holy Spirit we are sanctified believers and thus are justified and claimed righteous in God’s eyes. 

All of this purification and separating for holiness is all made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus as Hebrews 10:10 declares, “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”. 

When we believe in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit, we are sanctified or set apart and purified in the eyes of God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This allows us to be justified and made righteous also in the eyes of God. Belief in Jesus and repentance are keys to becoming sanctified but it is a matter of the heart whether we accept God’s gracious and free gift.