Sanctification I What does it mean Why need sanctification How are we sanctified What are the means of sanctification
Synonyms Holiness Godliness Purity
Definition Separation Unto God Partaking Of God’s Holiness Being God’s special
Why need sanctification? It is God’s commandment. For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy… You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: “You Shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” Leviticus 11:44,45 & 19:2 To be able to see God. –1 st beatitude Hebrews 12:14, 1 st Peter 3:18
How are we Sanctified? In the Old & the New there are always the Two steps of sanctification: 1.The setting apart = separation=cleansing 2.The partaking of God’s holiness
1. The Separation 1.Old covenant: mainly physical,: examples: Abraham, circumcision, Joseph, the Israelites, The leaven, the food regulation, washings, etc. 2.New: mainly spiritual, and moral: the commandments, “cleansing of the inside and the outside”. the purifying action of the Spirit
1. The Separation Note: both spiritual & physical separation are required in the old & new covenants but in different degrees and situations. Example -while the Israelites were asked not to eat with gentiles, the Christians are asked not to be under yoke with unbelievers. 2 Corinth. 6:14
2. Partaking of God’s Holiness In the old: sacrifices, certain foods and customs. In the new: Christ shares our humanity; by partaking of His flesh, we share in God’s Holiness He took what is ours and gave us what is His(Friday Theotokia)
New Testament Sanctity 1.Separation: examples. -Examination of Conscience, filtering thoughts & actions -Yielding to the discipline of the Gospel -Not to be yoked with unbelievers nor to imitate their ungodly ways -Hating sin in all forms physical Jude 1:23, or spiritual. (though loving the sinner)
New Testament Sanctity The Role of Christ & of the Holy Spirit in our Sanctification: 1.The Sanctification of Material: “ the Word made flesh” 2.The Spirit of Holiness: “becoming the temple of the Holy Spirit”