Almost all would agree sanctification has to do with holiness, but beyond that there would be little agreement. Many are not sure how the holiness received at the cross is different from the holiness received after the cross or if there is additional holiness to be gained after the cross. This important difference is demonstrated by the wedding of two people that is repeated four times in the Bible.
Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
Two people separate from their parents and others, and are joined together at the wedding. The two become one flesh as they face the joys and heartaches of life. Their commitment to each other becomes stronger as time passes. They grow closer.
This marriage description is an analogy for our relationship with Christ. When a person comes to Jesus at the cross and receives his white robe, they are made holy.
The Greek word used this way for holy is hagiazo (37), a verb. It means: to make holy, to set apart as holy, to sanctify, to purify. This type of holiness is immediate. It happens at the moment of salvation. Jesus is doing this action because of your belief.
The process of becoming one flesh together with Jesus is a different form of this previous Greek word for holy. It happens over time. It is hagiamos (38), it is a noun not a verb. It is a process. It is: the process of becoming holy, the process of becoming sanctified, the process of advancing in holiness, the believer being progressively transformed by the Lord into his likeness. This is our branch growing and bearing fruit, after becoming connected to the Vine. This is a lifetime experience. Our heart, or spirit, is being filled with his light. The more light we have, the closer we are to Jesus. Our union with him is more and more complete.
John 15:1-11 is all about the vine, branches, connections, abiding and fruit. We cannot grow closer to Jesus unless we abide in him. We cannot bear the fruit of the spirit unless our branch is growing. Abiding in Christ is the key to holiness. The abiding relationship is the key to abiding in Christ, this relationship is summarized in the last portion of Revelation 3:20. The first portion of this verse is about salvation, the last portion is about sanctification. Which happens after salvation.
And will dine with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
This two-way dining experience is an expanded version of The Last Supper. It describes a relationship between each of us personally and Jesus our lord. This is a private relationship. It happens in our prayer closet. It does not replace the public communion service nor does the public service replace our private one. This private time with Jesus happens every day.
THE ABIDING RELATIONSHIP
STEP ONE: Jesus presents his sacrifice
Jesus is waiting for you at the table. He is always waiting for you to come. As soon as you arrive, he presents his body and his blood. This is his sacrifice for your redemption.
STEP TWO: We respond to his sacrifice
Our response is described in John, Chapter 6.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him. (John 6:56 NASB)
This can be done in many ways. Here are a few.
Remember what he has done for you
Contemplation
Meditation
Read the Bible
Read other spiritual works
Memorize Bible verses
Visit with fellow believers
Observe nature
Music
Song
Praise
Confession
Repentance
These will not all be done every day. The Holy Spirit will guide you.
STEP THREE: We present our sacrifices to the Lord
As a new testament priest, we can put our sacrifices on the table. However, we only have ourselves to sacrifice.
Our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God. Romans 12:2
Our broken spirit and our broken and contrite heart. (Psalm 51:17)
The members of our body as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:13)
And finally, we finish this part by pledging our love to him anew and ask to be ever closer to him. This completes our portion. We wait for his response in faith.
STEP FOUR: He responds to our sacrifice.
Jesus accepts our sacrifice and fills our heart with his love. As the love of God is poured into our hearts, the union between us and our Lord becomes stronger and closer. His values become more and more our values. We become more like him. We are becoming restored into his image.
This abiding relationship and the attending sanctification involve none of our works, none of our willpower and none of our promises. It is done in faith.
