Sanctification. “Are Sanctified” or “Progressive Sanctification”??
You either ARE SANCTIFIED or not at all. No such thing as “progressive sanctification”.
Eze 48:11 It shall be for the priests that ARE SANCTIFIED of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.
Paul relating to King Agrippa, what Jesus told him, of his mission to preach the Gospel…
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which ARE SANCTIFIED by faith that is in me.
1Co 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that ARE SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye ARE SANCTIFIED, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who ARE SANCTIFIED are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Heb 10:10 By the which will we ARE SANCTIFIED through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that ARE SANCTIFIED. (NKJV, NIV, ESV, NLT add “being”)
Jud 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that ARE SANCTIFIED by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
“Progressive sanctification” is NOT supported by any scripture, but “sanctified” is used to describe believers.
1 Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that ARE SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that ARE SANCTIFIED by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, [and] called:
G37
ἁγιάζω
hagiazō
hag-ee-ad’-zo
From G40; to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: – hallow, be holy, sanctify. means to separate from profane things and dedicate to God, to cleanse externally, to purify, free from the guilt of sin, to purify internally by renewing of the soul.
Total KJV occurrences: 29
1 Cor 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Heb 10:26-29 – For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he WAS SANCTIFIED, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
2 Tim 2:19-21 – Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, SANCTIFIED, and meet for the master’s use, [and] prepared unto every good work.
Rom 11:16-23 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
John 15:1-2 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
1 Thes 4:3-4 For this is the will of God, even your SANCTIFICATION, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in SANCTIFICATION and honour;
1 Thes 5:23 Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace SANCTIFY YOU WHOLLY; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
The wicked ESV states: I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. —>How about the NLT: “so that you will become holy”
—> Calvinists / reformed sects love the ESV particularly, and this verse is used to support their “progressive sanctification” doctrine spawned from the “P” in TULIP which is Perseverance of the Saints. The elect cannot be lost, but since their catechism says:
Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? Westminster Shorter Catechism:
A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.[173]
So, you never stop sinning EVERY DAY for life, BUT you cannot be lost (“P”), — BUT they can’t deny the abundance of scripture regarding believers living lives of holiness, bearing good fruit (Matt 7, John 15, Gal 5), DEPARTING from iniquity / evil (2 Tim 2 Prov 6:16), OBEYING God’s commandments (John 14, Heb 5:9, 2 Thes 1:7-10), FORSAKING SIN (Isa 55:7, Prov 28:13, 1 John 3). So what can you do with this glaring fallacious, heretical position? You invent more heretical concessions! You just keep gradually getting better… progressively sanctified.
—> BUT looking at KJV clear text, he’s simply exhorting holy living like the Bible does repeatedly ie. 1 Pet 1:15-16 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Everyone who is willing to depart from iniquity can receive cleansing of the blood of the covenant = sanctification. BUT with progressive sanctification I can always excuse sin because it’s not “depart from iniquity”. I’m “departing”. I’m “being” sanctified.
James 1:26-27 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Firstly religion is NOT of the devil, it’s of God! VAIN religion is earthly, sensual and devilish as stated in…
James 3: 6, 9-15 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”
—> Chapter 1 of James points out “bridleth not his tongue” = vain religion. Then Ch. 3 shows detailed examples of cursing tongues, and says this is “earthly, sensual, devilish”.
—> religious Gk. thrēskos thrā-sko’s (thray skahs’) Thayer’s and Strong’s
- fearing or worshipping God
- to tremble
- trembling, fearful
Examine three very powerful terms “pure, undefiled, unspotted”. All are synonymous with “sanctified”.
—> pure Gk. katharos kä-thä-ro’s (kah tha rahs’) Thayer’s clean pure free from the admixture or adhesion of anything that adulterates or corrupts
Strong’s
- clean, pure
- physically
- purified by fire
- in a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit
- in a levitical sense
- clean, the use of which is not forbidden, imparts no uncleanness
- ethically
- free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt
- free from every admixture of what is false, sincere genuine
- blameless, innocent
- unstained with the guilt of anything
- physically
1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
—> undefiled Gk. amiantos ä-mē’-än-tos (a me’ on tahs)
Strong’s and Thayer’s
not defiled, unsoiled free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed and debased, or its force and vigour impaired
Thayer’s adds: pure, free from adultery, pure from sin
—> unspotted Gk. aspilos ä’-s-pē-los (ah’ spee lahs) Strong’s and Thayer’s
- spotless
- metaph.
- free from censure, irreproachable
- free from vice, unsullied
—> Important to note: “keep himself unspotted from the world” makes it clear that sanctification is not some unconditional immutable state that has nothing to do with our obedience. As the false view of definite antinomian sanctification. They say we “should” strive for holiness, but sin is still inevitable, and sanctification is entirely dependent on one and only one act of God alone. Again (as in Pt.1) look at…
1 Thes 4:3-4 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that YE SHOULD abstain from fornication: That every one of YOU SHOULD know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
God does not abstain for you, NEITHER does he possess for you. He’s entrusted this vessel to us just as in the parable of the talents. Their LORD gave them the talents. What they did with them was entirely up to each servant… and again…
2Tim 2:19-21 – Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ DEPART FROM INIQUITY. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore PURGE HIMSELF from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, SANCTIFIED, and meet for the master’s use, [and] prepared unto every good work.
Phi 2:12-15 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Numbers 8 – Lighting of the Lamps, the Levites Cleansed for Service
Num 8:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 8:2 Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
Num 8:3 And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.
“When thou lightest the lamps”: The candlestick was described and made in Exodus 25:31-40;
Exo 25:31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Exo 25:32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
Exo 25:33 Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
Exo 25:35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
Exo 25:37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
Exo 25:38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Exo 25:39 Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
Exo 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.
BUT the candlestick by itself could give no light. It had to have lamps placed upon it that gave light. It was only an instrument to make the light more visible.
- The lamps were fueled by oil; and would need to be continually filled with oil to provide constant light.
- He lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick…—> face toward the front of the candlestick: Revelation 1:20 makes candlesticks a picture of the church… Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
The church is only the light the world in receiving the light:
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
That’s why the world hates the light… Jn 3:18-19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Luke 11:33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
—> Talk about unsanctified visible church offering ALTERNATIVES to THE LIGHT… ie movies, rock (CCM) worship, easy believism, sports/friendship evangelism, seeker sensitive blasphemy, letting sinners in the church, etc.
—> Read Rev 2:1-6 warning to remove candlestick of Ephesus in spite of good.
Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Description of the candlestick:
Num 8:4 And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.
- Cleansing and dedication of the Levites.
- (5-7) Cleansing and sprinkling.
Num 8:5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ‘
Num 8:6 Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
Num 8:7 And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
Sprinkle water of purifying upon them: This ceremonial cleansing pictured a cleansing of sin. It was part of the new covenant as described in Ezekiel 36:23-27 “And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
- …let them shave all their flesh: Just like a new born baby! As we are when we are born again!
- (8-15) The dedication of the Levites through sacrifice.
Num 8:8-15 Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may EXECUTE THE SERVICE of the LORD.And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.And after that shall the LEVITES GO IN TO DO THE SERVICE of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.
After the sanctification was perfectly executed, it was time to get busy with the Father’s business! They were sanctified unto the Lord for what? Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may EXCITE THE SERVICE of the LORD.
Rev 22:11-15 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
unjust v righteous
filthy v holy —> hagiazo!
let him be holy = hagiazō (ha gee ah’ dzo) to separate from profane things and dedicate to God, to cleanse externally, to purify, free from the guilt of sin, to purify internally by renewing of the soul
he that is holy = hagios (ha’ gee ahs)—> most holy thing, saint, partaker of salvation of the Kingdom of God
