Are you certifiably sanctified? Yes, yes, you are! Do you know what that means? Many of you may not, so please feel free to read on for some insight on the amazing gift that you have that is called sanctification.

For 30 blogs, I am focusing on Getting to Know God. My launch guide for these 30 blogs is from The Navigators’ website. It is called 30 Days of Praying the Names and Attributes of God.

This is the second blog in the series and corresponds to Day 2 of the Navigators’ Guide which says: “God is Jehovah-M’Kaddesh: This name means “the God who sanctifies.” A God separate from all that is evil requires that the people who follow Him be cleansed from all evil.”

That statement may seem a bit scary to us as it is laying out the ground rules. God is Holy and by our human nature we are evil. Therefore, we are not able to come to God on our own merits. We are not able to even approach His throne because of our sinful nature and sin filled lives.

Focusing on that fact for too long can send you into a tail spin so, remember instead that God knew that we would not be able to come to Him so He set another plan into motion. He sent His ONE and ONLY Son to give Himself as a sacrifice in our place so we could indeed be sanctified and be therefore be reconciled to God. Once Jesus died on the cross we were able to adorn ourselves with His perfect life by accepting that sacrifice as our own and choosing to follow God’s design for our lives.

Thinking of God as the one who sanctifies can be confusing. To me, sanctification has a two-fold meaning and depending on which meaning you are focusing on it moves between a static state and active state.

A definition from www.biblestudytools.com may help us here:

“The generic meaning of sanctification is “the state of proper functioning.” To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer. A pen is “sanctified” when used to write. Eyeglasses are “sanctified” when used to improve sight. In the theological sense, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God’s design and purpose.”

This definition supports the active side of sanctification saying we are sanctified when we are used for the purpose God intends. He chose us to follow Him and has a definite plan and purpose for each of us. That sets us apart from the average bear and I think that is a truly awesome statement. God loves us so much, He designed a purpose to our lives, that only we can fulfill. We are sanctified when we actively walk in that God-given purpose.

Don’t let this leave you thinking that because you are not a missionary in Uganda that you are not walking in God’s Will. God can work His purposes through ANY place in this world so your calling/sanctification may be to shine His love at your workplace, to your family or to help finance ministries through your company, etc. God’s ways are much broader than we can understand. If you are wondering if you are walking in what He desires you to do, ask for confirmation, then open your eyes, heart and mind to what He will reveal to you.

In consideration of the static state of sanctification, I mean that we are sanctified by Jesus – once-and-for-all – with His sacrificial death on the cross. His death in our place allows us to draw close to God and be seen as sinless through Jesus’ righteousness. That is a forever sanctification, assuming we choose to accept that gift during our lifetime.

This once-and-for-all sanctification is even more of a blessing than what the Israelites had as it ALLOWS us to seek God DIRECTLY. We do not require a Priest to go to God on our behalf. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil (curtain) that separated the Holy of Holies part of the Sanctuary from the rest of the sanctuary tore in half. This physical tearing of the veil represented the fact that God’s people were now able to go directly to Him. Moreover, it gave Jesus the name of High Priest and He continually intercedes for us, to God on our behalf.

So, regardless of what you have done in your life, if you choose to repent, accept God’s grace and realign yourself to Christ, you are sanctified by the sacrifice of Jesus set up to be the vehicle of the saving grace of God.

This means there is no longer a need to “beat yourself up” and “try” to be good so you are worthy of God’s grace. The whole point is you are NOT worthy of God but His Grace covers YOU anyway, isn’t that miraculous? It is after you accept that grace that you then desire to serve God out of thankfulness for His Grace to you and that is where the life changing begins. Even in that post-grace state, you will never be sinless, but you are forgiven and will begin to transform your life and your thinking to God’s will for you.

The Bible Verse Cited today is:

Leviticus 20:7,8
(7) Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. (8) Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.

You, my friend, are sanctified by Jesus’ sacrifice AND you are set apart for a purpose by the Creator of the World! May focusing on the fact that God alone is the one who sanctifies us give you great peace in your heart.

Blessings and love to each of you,
Pamela 🙂