Being Set Apart as Holy - Sanctification in the Wide Sense

Being Set Apart as Holy

The word "Sanctify" simply means to means to set apart, to declare as holy, or to consecrate. In the wide sense, sanctification is being set apart by God for holy service to God, which happens in Justification. This being set apart from the rest of the world by God is thoroughly monergistic (only a work of God).

In the Old Covenant, God sanctified his people (set them apart from the world) (Exodus 31:13, Leviticus 20:8; 21:8, 15, 23; 22:9, 16,32, Ezekiel 20:12; 37,28). In return, God’s people are to set God apart (sanctified Him) from other gods, by worshiping Him alone (Leviticus 10:2, 22:32, Isaiah 29:23).

Sanctified by Jesus' Atoning Sacrifice

In the New Covenant, the Church as a whole is sanctified by Jesus, through the atoning sacrifice and his body and blood Jesus sets us apart through his blood (Objective Justification). Because of what Jesus has done we are declared holy (Sanctified) (Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 10:10,14; Hebrews 13:12).

Jesus is God’s son. When he sets us apart, then God is our heavenly Father, we are adopted as sons, so we are like brothers to Jesus (Hebrews 2:11).

Sanctified by the Spirit through Faith in Jesus

The saved are sanctified by the Holy Spirit, through faith in Jesus during Subjective Justification (1 Corinthians 6:11, Acts 26:16-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

Sanctified for New Obedience

Part of the Old Covenant is that God’s people were supposed to follow Gods law. Therefore, the Israelites sanctified themselves (set themselves apart from the rest of the world, by what they did) (Isaiah 66:17).

Likewise, we set ourselves apart from the world for holy service to God (John 17:19).

Elected "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" -1 Peter 1:2

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth."

-or the footnotes also say some translations are as follows:

Set them apart for holy service to God, in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. For their sake I set myself apart, for holy service to God, that they also may be set apart, for holy service to God, in truth.

-John 17:17-19

Those who have been set apart walk by the Spirit and will produce the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-16).