Good morning. Today is Monday, July 27th!

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Genesis 2:3

What Is Sanctification?

“Sanctification” is one of those words that shows up all over the Bible, but what does it actually mean? Instead of starting with a theology book, let’s let the Bible define it.

The first time the word appears is in Genesis 2:3 (KJV):

“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

The Hebrew word translated “sanctified” is qādash (קָדַשׁ).

It means to set apart, to consecrate, or to make holy. Those all describe one simple idea. To sanctify something is to set it apart for God.

Notice what God sanctified first. It was not a person. It was not a priest. It was not even the nation of Israel. It was a day.

The seventh day did not become longer than the other six days. It did not become physically different. God sanctified it by giving it a different purpose. He set it apart from the other six days as holy. That is the Bible’s very first picture of sanctification.

Once you see that, you start noticing the same pattern everywhere.

God told Moses to sanctify the people before they came to Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10). He sanctified the altar (Exodus 29:36), the tabernacle (Exodus 29:44), and the priests (Exodus 28:41). None of those things were sanctified because they became perfect overnight. They were sanctified because God set them apart to belong to Him and to be used for His purposes.

The New Testament uses the same idea. The Greek words for holy, sanctify, sanctification, and saint all come from the same word family. A saint literally means a holy one, someone God has set apart as His own.

Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17, KJV). Paul wrote, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Hebrews says, “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10, ESV).

So what is sanctification?

According to the Bible, sanctification is God’s act of setting something or someone apart for Himself. From the seventh day in Genesis to every believer in Christ, the meaning stays the same.

To be sanctified is to belong to God and to be set apart for His purposes.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: Father, You are holy and worthy of all praise.

Confession: Forgive us for living for ourselves instead of You.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for setting us apart through Jesus.

Supplication: Help us live for You each day.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

“Air I Breathe” by Sondae (ft. Isabelle Brown)

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See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God