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THE TEXT ITSELF AND BRIEF NOTES ON THE WORD `HOLY'
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Sanctification is mediated to the believer through channels that take their rise in the finished work of Christ.
(1) Those thus sanctified were hopelessly vile and unclean.
` Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind, nor theives, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of
God. And such were some of you: but ye are WASHED, but ye are SANCTIFIED, but ye are JUSTIFIED in the name
of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God' (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
There can be no possible doubt in the mind, after reading that awful list of sins, that sanctification, like
justification and salvation must be by grace.
(2) Those thus sanctified are sanctified by the blood of Christ.
`Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate'
(Heb. 13:12).
`By His own blood' He purchased the church (Acts 20:28).
`By His own blood' He justifies (Rom. 5:9).
`By His own blood' we have redemption (Eph. 1:7).
`By His own blood' we have been made nigh (Eph. 2:13).
`By His own blood' we have peace with God (Col. 1:20).
` For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the
purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself
without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?' (Heb. 9:13,14).
(3) Those thus sanctified find their sanctification in union with Christ.
` For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one' (Heb. 2:11).
` But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord' (1 Cor. 1:30,31).
(4) Those thus sanctified by the blood of Christ, and in union with Him, are sanctified by the Spirit.
` Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ' (1 Pet. 1:2).
` We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth' (2 Thess. 2:13).
(5) This sanctification of the Spirit is by means of `the truth'.
` Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth' (John 17:17).
` That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word' (Eph. 5:26).
(6) Those thus sanctified in Christ, by blood, through the Spirit, by the word, without works or effort on their part,
receiving by grace the root of the matter, are expected to produce `the fruits of holiness' as they grow in grace.
` Yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness ` ye have your fruit unto holiness' (Rom. 6:19,22).
` He (chastises us) for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness' (Heb. 12:10).
` Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God'
(2 Cor. 7:1).
If the reader will turn back to the first of these headings with its quotation of 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and compare it
with the reference above, 2 Corinthians 7, he will see that the wheel has come full circle. Here we have the two
related aspects of sanctification, first that which is imputed, just as faith is imputed `for righteousness', and then that
which is the progressive and practical outcome of this holy standing before God. Encouraged by the ministry of the
Spirit, and cleansed and vivified by the word of truth, the believer is able to bring forth the fruit of holiness in his
life and service.