Charles Stanley on Sanctification

Devotional from Charles Stanley on Sanctification:

1 Corinthians 1:1-2 (ESV) Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.

1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

In many places throughout the Scriptures, we find the word sanctification. Sanctification means “to make holy” or “to separate from a common use to a sacred use.” When you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, He sanctified you, setting you apart for a very sacred purpose.

The process of sanctification begins at salvation, where those who believe are deemed saints (1 Corinthians 1:1–2). Every believer is a saint, because God has made it so (1 Peter 1:2). Positionally, we are saints, even if our conduct is un-Christlike.

This is because, at the pivotal moment of salvation, we changed positions (Ephesians 2:1–5). We were born again, our sins were forgiven, we were adopted into the family of God, and we are now living under the grace of God instead of under His wrath.

It is important to understand that this first stage of sanctification was done for us by God. No human is holy in himself. We are sanctified only by the blood of Jesus Christ, the work completed for us by a loving heavenly Father. Stop to thank and praise God for His purifying love and grace.

  “Praise You, Lord, for setting aside this ordinary human to be used for Your sacred purposes. Thank You that it is not accomplished by my work, but by Your grace.”

May we live sanctified lives for the sake of Christ our king!

-         -  Bro. Dave