And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are SANCTIFIED (emphasis added), but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1Corinthians 6:11)
In the passage above, Paul points out that some of the Corinthians had been fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, etc. I suppose if many of us were honest, we have some things in our past as well that we would like to forget. But Paul then explains that their position has changed and they took on the status of being sanctified.
Sanctification for the Christian is a good thing. The question is, what does it really mean? The word "sanctify" means to "set apart." We are set apart from the world and positioned in the family of God by our faith in Jesus Christ. We are changed from our old selves to become new creatures in Christ. The moment we receive the Lord as Savior, God sets us apart for Himself, once and for all.
I remember years ago listening to a wise old Saint talk about sanctification like this: he said that "as we grow older, we become more perfect." In essence, sanctification is a progressive work of continuing to be set apart during our lives. Sanctification is reflective in the way that we live.
Besides the Father who sets us apart, and the Son who died for our salvation, it is the Holy Spirit who continues to work in us to keep us living the Spiritual life. As Believers, we are to participate in the process by "letting go and letting God" have His way in our lives. We should avoid allowing our flesh to get in our way. We should pray more and worship God in Spirit and truth.
Are you sanctified? Well I am, and I am glad about it.
