Page 134 - TH200 Abundant Life A4 Final

Abundant Life in the Son: A Study of Salvation

The literal meaning of sanctify is “to make holy or consecrate.” It
communicates the idea of “to separate or set apart,” especially from
what is profane or secular (worldly). The word is often used to refer
to how one should behave, and this shows the very close relationship
between being set apart and personal holiness.

When speaking of God’s holiness, we see a twofold separation:
God is both highly exalted over His creatures and creation and
separate from them (Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 40:25–26; 57:15). Though
His handiwork appears in all creation, He is unlike anything else.
And nothing may be compared to Him. That is why we refer to
His majestic holiness, which speaks of His exaltation above all His
creation. God is also separate from sin. He cannot tolerate sin in any
form. Thus He requires that we obey His moral laws. If we would
truly become His, then we must be pure in thought, word, and
action (Psalm 24:3–4). This complete separation from sin refers to
His ethical holiness.

As we read Isaiah 6:1–5, we see examples of God’s majestic holiness
and His ethical holiness. In this same context, note what happened to
Isaiah when he drew near to God and recognized His infinite holiness.
The prophet reacted to God’s majestic holiness with a sense of his own
insignificance or worthlessness. Second, he felt the sense of his own sin
in the presence of God’s ethical holiness and purity. James 4:8–9 tells us
what we must do when we draw near to God. Entering His presence, we
have a deep sense of sin and great sorrow for it.

If you were to enter a room which was filled with intense lighting,
every piece of your clothing would be highly visible. If you were wearing
a white suit and had a spot on it, the spot would be seen by other people
in the room. But if you were to leave that room and walk in the dark,
who would know the difference? In the same way, the closer we draw
to God the more we are aware of sin and the greater our desire to be
sanctified or set apart for His service. It is this concept of ethical holiness
that provides the basis for our understanding of the biblical teaching on
sanctification. Sanctification is the work of God’s grace in us by which
we are renewed in our total being to reflect the character of God. As this
work of grace progresses, we are enabled to overcome our sinful nature
and live uprightly.

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