And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (ESV)
In this verse Paul uses a Greek word for sanctification that means to make holy, purify or consecrate. In Exodus 29 we read about the consecration to the priesthood of Aaron and his sons. It was a lengthy ceremony with every facet possessing great significance. Perhaps the most significant part of the ceremony was the shedding of blood. Animals were offered as sacrifices and their blood was sprinkled on an altar. Then part of the blood that was on the altar was sprinkled on Aaron and his sons. It was after the sprinkling of the blood that Aaron and his garments and his sons and his sons’ garments became holy.
Each year these consecrated priests would enter into the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle and sprinkle blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. This sprinkling of animal’s blood was to serve as an offering for the sins of the priests and the people. However, we know from the author of the book of Hebrews that, though sacrifices were offered each year, the blood of bulls and goats could neither take away sins nor cleanse the consciences of sinners (Hebrews 9:9, 10:4). Therefore, it was imperative that a better way of cleansing (making holy) and a new priesthood had to be established.
Before the foundation of the world God determined to send his son Jesus into the world to sanctify (make holy and blameless) a people he had chosen (Ephesians 1:4). It is for these people that Jesus first consecrated himself through the shedding of his own blood on the cross, so that they too would be sanctified (John 17:19; Hebrews 13:12). God saw it fitting (Hebrews 2:10, 11) to sanctify Jesus through the suffering of the cross not because Jesus had sinned for he was without sin (Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus was sanctified not in character but in his office as a priest.
Jesus submitted to the will of the Father (Hebrews 10:7) and in doing so he became the perfect sacrifice to sanctify all who come to him by faith (Acts 26:18).And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, . . . (Hebrews 10:10-12 ESV)
It is through the shed blood of Christ that he has become to us sanctification from God. Richard Phillips wrote, “In order to make us holy, He [Jesus] took up our nature so that we might share in his nature . . . He became like us so that we might become like Him.” To be sanctified we must have the one who was sanctified for us living in us. “We are made holy in the holiness of Christ.” John Piper. We do not take on Christ’s personal holiness; rather we are sanctified when the Holy Spirit applies Christ’s work on the cross to our hearts when we believe on Christ by faith.
Although our sanctification is secured and we are made perfect by the blood of Christ, we are also being sanctified. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14 ESV) After conversion, the Holy Spirit continues to apply the truth of God’s word to our hearts as we pursue Christ and holiness (John 17:17). “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Have you been sanctified by Christ? If so, are you actively pursuing holiness?
Scriptures for meditation:
Romans 6:22
1 Thessalonians 4:3