SANCTIFICATION (Gr-hagiazo) (Heb-gadai)– to be called out (set apart) for righteous living; to be sacred, consecrated, dedicated.

The current religious catchword in this era of religious correctness is “inclusion,” meaning that the object of all religious undertakings is to assure everyone involved that “I’m O.K; you’re O.K; we’re all O.K., it’s all good, we’re all the same. If you believe you are right, then you are right in spite of all Biblical evidence to the contrary.” The idea that all people are equal in the eyes of God is not Biblical. A cursory reading of Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26, along with the entire New Testament, dispels this notion in no uncertain terms. The oft-used word “if” repeatedly differentiates between those who are God’s people and those who believe they are God’s people. The former group, as we will see, have been sanctified–set aside by God for personal holiness and holy living–while those in the latter group refuse to answer His call to such a lifestyle. Let us examine the concept of sanctification as it applies to those who claim to be God’s people. Almost to a person these people “know” that God stresses inclusion rather than segregation–exclusion. “Come as you are, stay as you are, God accepts you just as you are” is the mantra heard around the church world. “Mix and mingle” is the church motto. Both Biblical and secular history prove that when good and evil “mix and mingle” evil always wins in terms of influence on personal and group behavior. It is for this reason that God commands his people to be very selective when it comes to spiritual endeavors and associations. Let us now examine His Word in order to separate His Biblical Truth from Satan’s church fiction.

The words “sanctify,” “sanctified,” “sanctification” and sanctifieth” are mentioned 142 times in the Holy Scriptures. Sanctification is used in reference to a variety of entities such as items, places, periods of time and the spiritual status of individuals. In this series we will concentrate our study on God’s sanctified people which He calls the Church of God (not to be confused with the protestant denomination of the same name). I will mention that God commands His people to sanctify His weekly and annual Sabbaths as well as periods of fasting.

To introduce the subject of sanctification I will paraphrase and condense a number of Bible passages concerning the subject. Sanctification of the saints is the will of God by which He leads seekers unto obedience to His Word. Sanctification is designed to produce personal and group righteousness. It is the reward for those who remain near to Him spiritually. Sanctification is designed to make those who truly embrace Him into one, observable church, which automatically separates them from Satan’s religious people Biblically known as “heathen.” Sanctification is accomplished by maintaining strict obedience to God’s Truth–the Bible–His will in written form–and is administered by both Father and Son through the power of the Holy Spirit. Only those who have been truly sanctified will enter the Kingdom of God at the return of Jesus Christ to earth. Sanctification is the life walk that identifies God’s people to whom He has promised eternal life in His earthly kingdom and rulership of the universe. See God’s Very Elect–Future Caretakers Of The Universe. L.J.