A New Look at an Old Word
Notes
Transcript
Introduction/Scripture Focus
Introduction/Scripture Focus
Good evening and welcome back!
In Isaiah 8, verse 13 we read the following . . .
The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread,
In the KJV it says . . .
Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; And let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
And over in Leviticus 20 it says . . .
“ ‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
And finally in 1 Peter 2, it tells us . . .
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Now, what do all of these passages have in common?
That’s what I want to spend a few minutes tonight talking about.
We are not going to talk about Samuel or David or the Apostles.
Tonight we are going to be talking about a word.
A word that all of us should know.
It is a word that has been or should have been defining Nazarene churches since the beginning of the denomination.
Not that it something that is unique to just the Nazarene Church.
But that word is "Sanctify."
What does the word "Sanctify" mean?
What does it mean to be "sanctified?"
Hopefully, tonight as we take "A New Look at an Old Word," we'll be able to answer some of these questions.
Article X from our Nazarene Manual Articles of Faith states:
We believe that sanctification is the work of God which transforms believers into the likeness of Christ. It is wrought by God’s grace through the Holy Spirit in initial sanctification, or regeneration (simultaneous with justification), entire sanctification, and the continued perfecting work of the Holy Spirit culminating in glorification. In glorification we are fully conformed to the image of the Son. We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect. It is wrought by the baptism with or infilling of the Holy Spirit, and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the believer for life and service. Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is wrought instantaneously by grace through faith, preceded by entire consecration; and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness. This experience is also known by various terms representing its different phases, such as “Christian perfection,” “perfect love,” “heart purity,” “the baptism with or infilling of the Holy Spirit,” “the fullness of the blessing,” and “Christian holiness.”
We believe that there is a marked distinction between a pure heart and a mature character. The former is obtained in an instant, the result of entire sanctification; the latter is the result of growth in grace. We believe that the grace of entire sanctification includes the divine impulse to grow in grace as a Christlike disciple. However, this impulse must be consciously nurtured, and careful attention given to the requisites and processes of spiritual development and improvement in Christlikeness of character and personality. Without such purposeful endeavor, one’s witness may be impaired and the grace itself frustrated and ultimately lost. Participating in the means of grace, especially the fellowship, disciplines, and sacraments of the Church, believers grow in grace and in wholehearted love to God and neighbor.
Defining the Word
Defining the Word
That says a lot about who we are and what we believe as a people.
And it is a lot of words used to describe one word, but do we really know what it means?
A. Sanctify means "(1) to cleanse or to make holy, (2) to separate for sacred service."
Nothing spectacular, no hocus pocus, nothing strange or mystical.
And if we translate that to us, if we are to be sanctified, then we are to be "cleansed, made holy" we are to be "separated for sacred service."
And, what are we to be cleansed from? Sin
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
And . . .
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
And . . .
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
But, How are we made holy?
(1) From the cleansing in the blood of the Lamb.
(2) From offering ourselves . . .
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Holiness also comes from being separated for God’s service like in Romans 12:1 and also being “set apart” and “separate” from the rest of the world . . .
Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him. In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.
And . . .
“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
And finally . . .
How Do We Get There (How Does it Apply to Us?)
How Do We Get There (How Does it Apply to Us?)
Now, that’s a lot of scripture and it can seem pretty overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be.
Just how do we get there?
How do we take all of those verses and apply them to our everyday life?
Well, first we realize that sanctification is a personal experience provided at Calvary . . .
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And . . .
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Second, sanctification begins when we are redeemed by Christ.
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
The key word there is “called to be holy” or “called to be saints” in the KJV.
When were we called to be saints? When we were first saved.
That’s when we received the calling and accepted it.
Also . . .
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The lat part of that, that’s what some of you were,” meaning that this was no longer the case, we have been “washed” and “sanctified” and “justified” in the name of the Lord.
Washed = made clean
Sanctified = set apart
Justified = saved
And then third, sanctification is achieved in a a “crisis moment.”
What does that mean?
What is a "Crisis Moment?"
Simply put, it is a time of great significance or change that takes place that defines a person from that point forward.
We often think of "crisis" as a bad thing, but not necessarily.
It is a "defining" time in our lives.
When there is a "crisis moment" in our lives, it is a time that will change us and define us from that point forward.
Have you had that type of experience since your salvation?
Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
It boils down to being able to do that which you know you should do even though the flesh is fighting against you.
It is keeping that flesh under subjection daily.
And finally, fourth, sanctification is not just a one and done deal. It is a daily growth in grace.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
The Danger of Not Being Sanctified
The Danger of Not Being Sanctified
Now, the elephant in the room, will you go to hell by not being sanctified?
I have no Bible that says "Be sanctified or die and go to hell."
You won't find that in your Bible.
However, here are two examples of what may happen to you if you are not . . .
First, Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu . . .
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: “ ‘Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’ ” Aaron remained silent.
Nadab and Abihu were carnal, fleshy and offered God "strange fire."
That "Strange Fire" was that fire that wasn't pure and holy, set apart for God's use.
It was ordinary, every day, fleshly offerings to God.
The "left overs."
God destroyed them and sent a message that He will be honored and all that approach Him, had better be able to be in His presence.
Remember Lev 20 from earlier . . .
“ ‘Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.
And a warning from 1 Peter . . .
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
The second example is Moses himself being denied entrance into the Promised Land . . .
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
See, what they had done is they had disobeyed God and had not sanctified themselves to God.
They had failed to honor God and be the example of Godliness to the people.
Therefore they were not fit to enter into God's promised land.
And they didn’t.
Also, Hebrews 12 tells us . . .
Altar/Challenge
Altar/Challenge
Like I said, the Bible never comes right out and says that failing to be sanctified will send you to hell.
However, there is compelling evidence that this is God's expectation for each of His children.
These are commandments and instructions of God.
These are the beliefs of this Church.
And, here's the question that Paul asked . . .
and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
And I ask the same questions.
Have you been sanctified since you believed?
You can't say that you've never heard about it.
We just spent the last 30 minutes talking about it.
The time is not for excuses, but it is now decision time.
Do you want more of God?
A deeper walk with God?
Do you want everything God has in store for you?
If you do, then this altar service is for you.
Of course, if you do not know Jesus as savior, that is the first step.
Nothing we have talked about can apply to you until you take that first step.
The place is here and the time is now.
Let’s pray . . .