Sanctified

 Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, AND to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (KJV)

I have been camped out on this particular verse since I came across it several weeks ago.  Actually it captured me.  There are two words in this part that I needed to look at:  inheritance and sanctified.  The latter we will look at first – which appears to me to be a condition to receive.

To “sanctify” here, as in other places, means to set apart for holy use (set apart for God to use) NOT holy-ness.  Since no man can cleanse himself from sin this cannot possibly be the meaning.  In this sense, a partnership with God.  The Greek word is hagiazo; basically it means to separate from a profane to a sacred use; to consecrate self wholly to God and His service.  The primary meaning is separation, not making holy.  It has to do with our being “use-able” by God for His purposes.  I don’t know about you, but that is reason to exhale in relief.  So my question now is, “How do I get to this set-apart place?”  Can you see now how this has made me ponder – a WHILE?

I believe and the Word bears witness that we are changed and separated (sanctified) when we are born again.  When we willingly give our lives to him, He literally separates us from the crowd. 

So, does that mean that I am to sell everything, abandon everyone and go to work in Africa?  Probably not, but maybe.  Here is the path my pondering has taken me.  In the second chapter of the Gospel of John, there is a wedding.  Mary, Jesus and a couple of close friends are there when the event runs out of wine.  Mary says an interesting thing, (verse 5) “Whatsoever he (Jesus) saith unto you, DO IT.  (KJV)

Beloved, there are “good works” and there are “God works”.  Good works are good things we do, necessary things, but these bring us the glory and have a temporary reward.  Things that need to be, should be done, things we have the means and talent to get done.  There is nothing wrong with these things or doing these things as long as this is not all we do.

On the other side of this coin are God Works.  Doing what He says, when He says IT.  This is sanctification – set apart for His use.  He gets the Glory, the work has an eternal purpose and we get the reward…a real Win-Win.

There are many “good people” who do “good things”, but does that make them sanctified?  Sanctification is something God does with us so that the “works” are initiated by Him, completed by us with His provision and power.  Exchange the word “works” for “obedience” (whatever He saith to do, do IT).  Then the understanding of the scripture in James 2 hits the mark; “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works (obedience) is dead.  (ASV)

We have the beginning of an understanding of sanctify..Let’s ponder this a few days and then talk about our inheritance.