The Holy Spirit Is the Great Sanctifier

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 9
 
The Apostle Peter, addressing believers, describes them as " Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ " (1 Peter 1:22Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2)).
Please note carefully that in this passage sanctification is put in order before the reception of the gospel. This is borne out by the Apostle Paul in a striking passage,
" We are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth ' (2 Thess. 2:1313But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (2 Thessalonians 2:13)).
Here the order is very clear. The Spirit of God sanctifies, sets the individual apart for Divine blessing. From the beginning God chooses men for salvation. This is His sovereign act. Sanctification comes first, then belief of the truth, and so salvation is reached.
This is again emphasized by the same writer,
"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 (1 Cor. 6:1111And 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. (1 Corinthians 6:11)).
Note the order here, sanctification comes before justification. What then does sanctification mean? In these passages it is the act of the Holy Spirit, and means the setting of the individual apart in the mind of the Spirit and by His work for Himself. It is often designated absolute sanctification as opposed to practical sanctification, in which latter the Spirit leads the believer to holiness of life in his practical ways as a Christian. This with all Christians is progressive as we learn ourselves and God, as we learn to distrust ourselves, and discover the incorrigible nature of the flesh, and learn God in all His holiness, who says to every Christian, " But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: because it is written, Be ye holy: for I am holy " (I Peter 1:25, 26).
The Holy Spirit of God dwells in holy people. We are to glorify God in our very bodies.
" Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's " (2 Cor. 6: 28-20).
" Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the Spirit of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are ' (1 Cor. 3: 16, 17).
This is most blessed, yet most solemn. How it behooves us, who are indwelt by the Spirit of God, ever to remember what a tremendous claim to holiness lies upon us.