Our GOD is HOLY. And His Word says that He makes us holy and is making us holy. What does that mean? I have heard snippets of scripture all my life that say something about "working out my own salvation" and "sanctifying myself". I never really gave that wording much thought. I never really thought it was important. Why? Because my pastors and preachers always told me all I needed to do was believe, and confess with my mouth that Jesus is LORD. That's it? Yes, that's it, they said.
But is that it?? Not by a long shot!
I have come across the word "sanctify" over and over in the last two weeks, so I think it is high time I dive in and really study this word...
One of the first things I read [in general] about sanctification is this quote below. WOW!
"The people of YAHWEH may sanctify each and every situation, even as it 'appears' to not be what one would expect, knowing that YAHWEH has allowed it to happen and He is certainly present in it, using it to fulfill His Perfect Will and Purpose for His glory."
Sanctify: set apart, make holy, redeem, set apart to its intended purpose purposed by its Creator or Designer, separation unto GOD, absolve, unburden, make legitimate or binding, free from sin, purify, consecrate, to cause to be or seem morally right or acceptable, hallow, the effect of obedience to the Word of YHWH in one's life that is to be pursued in a Believer's life, the act or process of becoming or acquiring sanctity, to be set apart for a particular purpose or work and to make holy or sacred
Hebrew: לקדש
YAHWEH used Pharaoh in dealing with His people, then he punished Pharaoh, and his nation, for not choosing blessing and good. YAHWEH used King Cyrus to judge his people, then he punished King Cyrus, and his nation, for choosing evil over good. Is YHWH using the president of the United States and its people to bring His chosen people to repentance, ultimately bless His chosen ones, and bring the events in His ages-long plan to fruition? Yes! I believe so. Will YAHWEH then punish the United States, its leaders and the people of the nation in general, for choosing evil over good and cursing over blessing? Yes, I believe so! Shema! Listen to the words of the One Who made us all.
It is a blessing to be used of YHWH to His glory and power, but woe to those who {individually} do not choose life over death and blessing over cursing. In Romans 11:20-21, Sha'ul (Paul) reminds his Jewish audience that when YAHWEH elected or chose them to be the redemptive agent for the whole world, that he did not guarantee redemption for every Israelite. Americans in general are obviously not his chosen ones! Certainly not! But neither are all who are borne of Israel, Israel (Rom 9:6). Some who are not borne of Israel are now of them, as we have chosen to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and call their God, our God, choosing life over death, blessing over cursing, good over evil, etc.
We serve a good God, a just God, a moral, righteous, loving God. We serve a God Who is trustworthy and will always fulfill His promises, to the good AND to the wicked.
Yeshua prayed to His Father in Yochanan (John) 17, saying, "Father, you must now make them holy [sanctify them] by means of the truth; Your Word is Truth". [paraphrased] Yeshua is the Living Word. Yeshua (Jesus) went on to pray that the Father would not take His own out of the World, but that He would protect us from the evil one and send us out into the world, as He was sent into the world on our behalf.
Is our faith true faith or only based on blessings? I Peter 1:15 "...now you must be holy in all your conduct, because it has been written that 'You will be holy because I AM holy".
Sanctification is the effect of obedience to the Word of YHWH in one's life and is to be pursued earnestly in a believer's life. We must be willing to stand up for Truth and follow the Word of the Living God, to remain true and steadfast, even unto the end, obeying His commands and listening to His Word, unto death, regardless of what comes our way, for this is the ultimate test of our faith.